NBI or Police Clearance? Which One Do You Actually Need?

Asked for “a clearance” and not sure which one? Short answer: if it’s for a job, a visa, or anything involving a national agency, you need an NBI Clearance. If it’s for a local permit, a police clearance is usually enough.

But there’s a detail almost every guide gets wrong, and it matters: there are three documents here, not two. Police clearance now comes in a national version and a local version, and they are not interchangeable.

The Quick Answer: Comparison Table

Feature	NBI Clearance	National Police Clearance (NPC)	Local Police Clearance (LPC)
Issued by	National Bureau of Investigation	Philippine National Police	Your local PNP station
Scope	Nationwide — NBI database	Nationwide — PNP database	Your city or municipality only
Apply at	clearance.nbi.gov.ph	pnpclearance.ph	Your local station
Fee	₱155–₱160	₱150 + online charge	₱200–₱250 (varies)
Valid for	1 year	6 months	6 months
Best for	Jobs, visas, immigration, firearms	Local jobs, banks, business permits	Barangay-level and city permits

Police Clearance Is No Longer “Local Only”

This is the part most guides still get wrong, including ones updated this year.

Before the PNP launched the National Police Clearance System (NPCS), a police clearance only checked records at the station that issued it. That is where the old “NBI is national, police is local” rule comes from.

Today, the National Police Clearance applied for at pnpclearance.ph cross-checks your name against the PNP’s nationwide database. It is not limited to your city. The Local Police Clearance, issued directly at a station, still is.

So the real difference between an NBI Clearance and a National Police Clearance isn’t geography — it’s which database gets searched. The NBI holds its own case files, court records and derogatory records. The PNP holds police records. They overlap, but they are not the same set, which is why some employers ask for both.

What Is an NBI Clearance?

An NBI Clearance certifies that you have no pending criminal cases or derogatory records in the National Bureau of Investigation’s database. The NBI sits under the Department of Justice, and its records include court and case files, not just police reports.

It’s the document embassies, immigration offices and most employers ask for by name. Commonly required for:

• Job applications, especially at medium and large companies
• Visa applications and immigration
• Passport processing
• Firearm licence applications
• Overseas employment

The process is the same for everyone: register online, book a slot, pay, and visit a branch once for biometrics. Full walkthrough in our complete NBI Clearance guide, or check the requirements and current fee first.

What Is a Police Clearance?

National Police Clearance (NPC)

Issued by the PNP through the NPCS portal at pnpclearance.ph. It checks the PNP’s national database, so it covers records from anywhere in the country.

The process mirrors the NBI’s — register online, book an appointment, pay, then visit your chosen station for fingerprints, photo and signature. Like the NBI, it can return a “hit” if your name matches an existing record, which adds a few days.

Local Police Clearance (LPC)

Issued directly at a city or municipal station, covering that jurisdiction only. Procedures vary between LGUs, and walk-ins are more often accepted. Typically used for:

• Mayor’s Permit or a local business licence
• Tricycle or pedicab permits
• Local government job applications
• A supporting document or secondary valid ID

If an office simply says “police clearance,” ask which one. Bringing an LPC when they wanted an NPC means a second trip.

Which One Do You Need?

• Job at a private company — NBI Clearance. Some employers also ask for a police clearance.
• Visa or travel abroad — NBI Clearance. Embassies name it specifically.
• Working overseas as an OFW — NBI Clearance. Some agencies additionally require a PCC-OE, the PNP’s overseas-employment version.
• Opening a small business — police clearance for the local permit, NBI Clearance for other registrations.
• Tricycle permit or barangay-level requirement — Local Police Clearance is usually enough. You may also need a barangay clearance.
• Bank or loan application — either is often accepted; ask which they prefer.
• Told only “a clearance,” no detail — assume NBI Clearance, then confirm. It’s the more widely accepted document.

Cost and Validity Compared

The NBI Clearance costs ₱130 plus an e-payment charge of roughly ₱25–₱30, so ₱155–₱160 total, and it stays valid for one year.

A National Police Clearance is ₱150 plus a small online payment charge, and is valid for six months. A Local Police Clearance usually runs ₱200–₱250 depending on the city, also for six months — confirm with your station, as LGU pricing varies.

Both are free for qualified first-time job seekers under Republic Act 11261, once in your lifetime.

The validity gap matters when planning. An NBI Clearance lasts twice as long, so if you’ll need documents over several months, get the NBI one first.

Can One Replace the Other?

Not reliably. They come from different agencies searching different databases, and the requesting office decides what it accepts. An NBI Clearance is broader and more widely recognised, but an office that specifically asks for a police clearance will usually want that document.

Some employers genuinely require both. If a checklist names both, get both — submitting one and hoping is how applications stall.

Frequently Asked Questions