Police Clearance Fee in the Philippines: Complete 2026 Guide

The official National Police Clearance fee in the Philippines is ₱150. However, the amount shown at checkout may be higher because the payment provider can add a convenience or transaction fee.

Most applicants should therefore prepare approximately ₱150 to ₱180 for an online National Police Clearance application. The final amount depends on the payment method available through the National Police Clearance System, or NPCS. Separate local documents, transportation, photocopying, work permits, or municipal charges may increase the applicant’s total expenses, but they are not automatically part of the national police clearance fee.

This guide explains the official fee, possible additional costs, online payment methods, application requirements, local and national clearance differences, first-time jobseeker exemption, processing steps, validity, renewal, and common payment problems.

Cost or service	Expected amount	Important details
National Police Clearance base fee	₱150	Official NPCS application fee
Online payment charge	Varies	Displayed before payment confirmation
Common estimated online total	Around ₱150–₱180	Depends on the payment channel
Local Police Clearance	Varies by LGU	Controlled by the city or municipality
First-time jobseeker clearance	Free when qualified	Barangay certification is required
Renewal or new application after expiry	₱150 plus applicable payment fee	Processed as another clearance application
Barangay clearance, cedula or work-permit expenses	Varies	Only required when requested separately

The PNP application tutorial confirms that the clearance itself costs ₱150 and that an additional convenience fee may depend on the selected payment mode.

The official National Police Clearance application fee remains ₱150. This payment covers the processing of the application through the NPCS, identity and record verification, biometric registration, and issuance of the clearance certificate.

A payment-channel fee may be added when the applicant pays through an e-wallet, bank, payment card, QR service, or over-the-counter collection partner. The amount is not identical for every applicant because the available channels and charges can change.

LANDBANK confirms that Link.BizPortal supports several payment methods, including LANDBANK and OFBank accounts, participating BancNet banks, e-wallets, and eligible credit, debit, and prepaid cards.

For a straightforward online application, the total is generally calculated as:

Charge	Estimated amount
NPCS fee	₱150
Payment-provider fee	Amount displayed at checkout
Estimated total	Usually around ₱150–₱180

Older published Link.BizPortal schedules listed payment charges ranging from approximately ₱15 to ₱30 for several common channels. Current charges may be different, and some government-payment channels may temporarily waive transaction fees. Applicants should rely on the amount displayed during the actual NPCS checkout process.

The applicant’s overall expenses may be higher when the process also involves:

These are related expenses rather than a higher national police clearance fee.

National and local police clearances serve different purposes. Applicants should confirm which document their employer, school, licensing authority, visa office, or government agency requires.

Feature	National Police Clearance	Local Police Clearance
Issuing system	PNP National Police Clearance System	City or municipal police office
Base fee	₱150 plus payment-channel fee	Determined by the LGU
Coverage	Nationwide PNP record verification	Local records or locally defined checks
Application method	Online registration and appointment	Depends on the city or municipality
Payment method	NPCS-supported online channels	Local cashier, treasurer or municipal payment system
Common use	Employment, government transactions and nationwide requirements	Local employment, permits or municipal requirements
Biometrics	Captured at the selected police station	Depends on local procedure
Validity	Commonly six months	Depends on the issuing office

A National Police Clearance uses the centralized PNP system and is intended for nationwide use. A Local Police Clearance is governed by local procedures and may carry different requirements or charges.

The ₱150 NPCS fee applies to a National Police Clearance regardless of the city in which the applicant completes biometric capture. However, local police clearances, work permits, barangay documents and municipal certificates may have separate charges.

There is no single verified national table establishing one total Local Police Clearance price for every city in 2026.

City or area	National NPCS base fee	Local or separate charges	What applicants should do
Makati	₱150	May depend on the local service or permit being requested	Contact the Makati Police Department or relevant city office
Pasig	₱150	Local charges are not part of one national fee schedule	Confirm with the selected station or Pasig City office
Manila	₱150	Barangay, permit or municipal requirements may be separate	Check the exact document required before paying
Quezon City	₱150	Occupational and city-permit fees may be separately assessed	Use the relevant QC service guide or contact the office
Provincial cities and municipalities	₱150	Local fees and requirements differ by LGU	Confirm with the municipal or city police station

Official city documents show that LGUs may operate separate clearance, certification and occupational-permit processes. These should not be confused with the standard NPCS fee.

Some online articles quote the following totals:

Area	Frequently quoted online estimate	Verification status
Makati	₱750–₱800	Not confirmed as the standard NPCS fee
Pasig	Around ₱270	Not confirmed by one current official national schedule
Manila	Around ₱250	May combine barangay or local requirements
Quezon City	Around ₱180	May reflect the ₱150 fee plus a payment charge
Provincial areas	Around ₱150–₱250	Depends on the LGU and application type

These numbers should not be presented as guaranteed police clearance prices. A high total may combine the police clearance with a barangay clearance, cedula, occupational permit, identification card or another city service.

Applicants should ask for an official order of payment or receipt showing what each charge covers.

The NPCS allows applicants to create an account, complete their information, choose a station, schedule an appointment and pay online. Personal appearance is still required for identity verification and biometric capture.

Applicants should prepare the following:

The ID should be original, unexpired, readable and consistent with the name entered in the NPCS account.

Common government-issued IDs may include:

Applicants should confirm station requirements when their identification has expired, contains a different surname, or does not show a clear photograph or signature.

Link.BizPortal is accessible through the internet and supports payments for participating government and private institutions.

Never send the payment through GCash to a personal mobile number claiming to represent the PNP.

The payment method is normally selected after the applicant has:

The applicant should compare the available service fees before confirming payment.

When payment has not been completed, the applicant may return to the payment page and check whether another channel can be selected.

When the transaction is already marked successful, do not create a second payment merely to change the channel.

When the amount has been deducted but the NPCS status remains pending:

Republic Act No. 11261, known as the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, exempts qualified first-time jobseekers from fees and charges for specified government pre-employment documents, including a police clearance certificate.

The applicant must generally be:

Applicants should prepare:

The barangay certification must state that the person is a first-time jobseeker and a resident of the issuing barangay.

The exemption covers the government fee for the police clearance when the applicant qualifies and follows the required procedure.

The benefit is intended to support first-time entry into employment. It should not be treated as a reusable waiver for every future renewal or replacement.

Applicants should notify the police station that they are claiming the exemption and present the original barangay certification before payment or processing.

There is no confirmed nationwide PNP schedule establishing a standard ₱50 to ₱200 express-lane fee for National Police Clearance applications.

Processing speed can depend on:

Applicants should not pay an unofficial “express” or “priority” charge without an official order of payment and receipt.

When the clearance is urgent:

The following expenses are commonly mentioned in online police-clearance guides. They are not fixed national NPCS charges.

Possible expense	Commonly quoted estimate	When it may apply
Barangay clearance	₱50–₱100	Separate local requirement or first-time jobseeker documentation
Cedula or community tax certificate	₱50–₱70	When requested by an LGU or related local process
Optional local ID printing	₱150–₱200	Only where offered or required
Photocopying, printing or internet service	₱10–₱30 or more	Depends on the service provider
Transportation	Varies	Travel to and from the selected station
Occupational or work permit	Varies by city	Separate from the National Police Clearance

These figures are estimates rather than an official nationwide price list. Ask which documents are actually required before paying for them.

The official public materials reviewed do not establish one detailed nationwide refund and rescheduling rule covering every payment channel and appointment problem.

Applicants should not assume that:

Before paying, verify the station, appointment date, name and transaction amount.

For a payment problem:

When the certificate is lost:

Keeping a PDF copy, screenshot of the transaction details and printed backup can prevent unnecessary reapplication.

An expired Police Clearance is generally replaced through another application rather than extended indefinitely.

A new NPCS application normally requires:

The base application fee is ₱150, with any payment-channel charge shown during checkout. The commonly stated validity period for a National Police Clearance is six months from issuance.

A Police Clearance and an NBI Clearance are not identical.

Feature	National Police Clearance	NBI Clearance
Issuing agency	Philippine National Police	National Bureau of Investigation
Main database	PNP records and police information	NBI national criminal-record database
Common purpose	Employment, identification and government requirements	Employment, travel, visa and government requirements
Application system	NPCS	NBI clearance system
Interchangeable	Only when the receiving organization allows it	Only when the receiving organization allows it

An employer or government agency may request one document or both. Applicants should obtain the exact document stated in the requirement rather than assuming that one automatically replaces the other.

A person may contact or visit a local police station for guidance, but the National Police Clearance process is designed around online registration, payment and appointment scheduling.

A local police office may operate a separate walk-in procedure for Local Police Clearance. The fee, requirements and processing method depend on the city or municipality.

To avoid being turned away, applicants should check whether online registration or an appointment is required before visiting.

The official application process requires valid government-issued identification.

A barangay clearance, birth certificate or school ID may support identity verification in some circumstances, but it should not be assumed that these documents automatically replace the required government photo ID.

An applicant without an accepted ID should:

The official NPCS portal provides a separate clearance-certification process for categories that include Filipino citizens working or based in another country. Approved applicants under that procedure may download the certificate from their account.

Overseas applicants should:

The normal online appointment process should not be confused with the special certification procedure for applicants who cannot personally visit an ordinary NPCS station.