ID Requirements for Obtaining Police Clearance in the Philippines

This guide focuses on identification (ID) rules and supporting documents typically required when applying for a police clearance in the Philippines, whether National Police Clearance (NPC) issued through the Philippine National Police’s system, or local police clearance issued by a city/municipal police station. Practices can vary by station and local government unit (LGU), so bring more than the bare minimum when possible.

1) Two kinds of police clearance, slightly different ID expectations

A. National Police Clearance (NPC)

Where issued: Any police station connected to the PNP’s National Police Clearance System (NPCS).
Usual ID rule: At least one (preferably two) valid, original, government-issued photo ID that shows your full name, clear photo, signature, and date of birth.
In-person appearance is required (for biometrics/photo). Photocopies or screenshots alone aren’t accepted.

B. Local Police Clearance

Where issued: Your city/municipal police station (often coordinated with the LGU).
Usual ID rule: Same as NPC plus some LGUs also ask for Barangay Clearance/Certificate of Residency and a Community Tax Certificate (CTC/Cedula). These aren’t “IDs,” but many LGUs treat them as supporting identity/residency proofs.

2) What counts as a “valid ID” (Primary)

Bring originals. Expired, damaged, or unreadable cards can be refused.

Commonly accepted primary IDs:

Philippine Passport
PhilSys National ID (PhilID) or ePhilID (paper with QR)
Driver’s License (non-expired; physical card or official temporary paper card if still within validity and with QR/barcode, as applicable locally)
UMID (Unified Multi-Purpose ID – SSS/GSIS)
SSS ID / GSIS eCard
PRC Professional ID Card
Postal ID (improved)
Voter’s ID (where still issued) or COMELEC Voter’s Certification (usually with dry seal; some stations treat this as secondary—pair it with another ID)
Senior Citizen ID, Persons with Disability (PWD) ID
Company ID or School ID (widely accepted at PNP stations, but some treat these as secondary unless paired with supporting docs)
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID (for lawyers)
Firearms License/PNP-FEO IDs (where presented as government photo ID)
OWWA/OFW e-Card and similar government-issued photo cards

General acceptance rules:

The ID should show full name, clear photo, signature, and date of birth.
If any of these are missing (e.g., some older PhilHealth/TIN cards), the card may be downgraded to secondary and must be paired with stronger ID/supporting documents.

3) Secondary IDs & supporting documents (bring if your primary is weak or details don’t match)

These do not usually stand alone but help resolve mismatches or absence of a strong primary ID:

PSA-issued Birth Certificate
PSA-issued Marriage Certificate (for newly married or name changes)
Barangay Clearance/Certificate of Residency (often asked by LGUs for local police clearance)
Community Tax Certificate (CTC/Cedula) (often for local police clearance)
Proof of current address: utility bill, lease, bank statement (some stations accept as address support, not as an ID)
NBI Clearance (supporting identity doc if your primary ID is weak)
Government service records with photo/signature (e.g., school Form 137/138 with school ID for students—station-dependent)

IDs often not accepted as sole primary (station policies differ): PhilHealth ID (older/no photo), TIN ID (especially paper/no photo), birth/marriage certificates (no photo), digital screenshots of any ID, expired cards.

4) Special situations and how to handle the ID piece

A. No primary government ID yet (first-time seekers, students)

Bring School ID + current registration (or certification) and one or more supporting docs (e.g., PSA birth certificate, barangay certificate).
If you truly have no photo ID, expect the station to insist on psa birth certificate + barangay certificate at a minimum; some may still require a school/company ID or another government photo card.

B. Name change or mismatched name formats (marriage, hyphenation, suffix)

Bring the PSA Marriage Certificate (or relevant court/order documents) and make sure your application name exactly matches your presented IDs.
If your IDs are still in your maiden name, apply under your maiden name or bring both your maiden-name ID and marriage certificate to bridge the difference.

C. Address mismatch / recent move

For NPC, strict address matching is less common, but mismatches can trigger extra questions.
For local police clearance, LGUs often want proof you actually reside in the barangay/city: bring Barangay Certificate/Residency and Cedula; bring a utility bill/lease if asked.

D. Lost/expired ID

Expired cards are commonly rejected. Renew if you can.
If lost, bring another primary or two secondaries (e.g., PSA birth certificate + barangay certificate) and be ready for closer scrutiny. Some stations may also ask for a lost-ID affidavit (check locally).

E. Foreign nationals

Typically: Passport + ACR I-Card (Alien Certificate of Registration).
If address or status changed, bring supporting immigration/visa documents.

F. Minors (below 18)

Policies vary. If allowed, the minor should bring School ID + PSA birth certificate, and appear with a parent/guardian carrying a valid government ID and a consent letter.

5) Practical acceptance rules stations actually apply

Originals over copies. Photocopies help for submissions, but originals will still be inspected.
Readable, undamaged card. Cracks, peeling lamination, or unreadable prints can lead to refusal.
Exact name matching. Use one consistent legal name across the form and IDs (watch accents, hyphens, Jr./III).
Bring one extra ID. Even when “one ID” is stated, a backup avoids repeat trips.
Check the “photo + signature + birthdate” triad. If the presented card lacks any of the three, expect to pair it with stronger documents.
Digital/e-IDs. Some e-IDs (e.g., ePhilID) are formally recognized; screenshots of IDs inside phones are generally not. Bring the printed/physical credential with scannable QR/barcode where applicable.

6) Local vs NPC: quick comparison on ID-related extras

Aspect	National Police Clearance (NPC)	Local Police Clearance
Primary ID	1 strong government photo ID (bring 2 to be safe)	Same
Barangay Clearance / Residency	Usually not required but may help with address issues	Commonly required by LGUs
Cedula (CTC)	Rarely asked	Often required by LGUs
Proof of Address	Sometimes helpful	Frequently requested
Biometrics/Photo	Captured at station	Captured at station

7) Common reasons IDs get rejected—and how to avoid them

Expired/temporary or damaged card → Renew or bring a different primary.
No signature or no birthdate on the ID → Pair with a PSA birth certificate or use a different primary.
Name discrepancies (married vs maiden, missing suffix) → Bring PSA marriage certificate/court order and ensure the form matches your ID.
Company/School ID only with no government ID → Add PSA birth certificate + barangay certificate (or present a government ID).
Digital screenshots only → Bring the physical card/ePhilID print with QR.

8) Quick ID prep checklist (use this on application day)

Primary ID: Passport / PhilID / Driver’s License / UMID / PRC / Postal ID (non-expired, original).
Backup ID: A second primary or your Company/School ID.
Supporting docs (if needed): PSA Birth/Marriage Cert, Barangay Residency, Cedula, proof of address.
Name consistency: Application form name matches ID(s); bring change-of-name docs if applicable.
Photocopies: Of IDs and supporting docs (some stations keep copies).
Cash for fees at the station/LGU and for Cedula/Barangay issuance if applying locally.

9) Frequently asked ID questions

Q: Is one ID enough? Often yes for NPC, but bring two to avoid rejection based on card quality or missing details.

Q: Are school/company IDs accepted? Frequently yes as primary or secondary depending on station. Pair with stronger docs if it lacks signature/birthdate.

Q: Is ePhilID acceptable? The ePhilID (printed with QR) is generally recognized. Bring the actual printout, not a phone image.

Q: My voter’s document is a “Certification,” not a card. Some stations accept it as supporting rather than primary; bring another strong ID.

Q: Can I apply without any government photo ID? It’s harder. Bring PSA birth certificate + barangay certificate (and ideally a school/company ID). Be prepared for stricter verification or to be advised to first obtain a government photo ID (Postal ID is a common starter).

Bottom line

Aim for one solid government photo ID + one backup.
Local clearances often add Barangay Residency and Cedula.
When in doubt, over-prepare with PSA certificates and proof of address to save yourself a second trip.

If you tell me which city/municipality and what IDs you currently hold, I can tailor a minimalist “bring list” for that specific station.