Three clearances, three databases: NBI for national criminal records, PNP for police records, BI for immigration derogatory records — visas typically want the NBI and BI versions.
Overview
'Police clearance' in the Philippines is three different documents from three agencies, and immigration checklists are specific about which they want. The NBI Clearance, issued by the National Bureau of Investigation against its national criminal-records database, is the heavyweight: applied for online at clearance.nbi.gov.ph (PHP 130 plus the payment channel's service fee), completed with biometrics at an NBI clearance centre, valid for one year, and available to foreign nationals residing in the Philippines. The BI requires it for 13(a) marriage-visa applicants filing six months or more after first arrival; the PRA requires it for SRRV applicants who have been in the country 90 days or more. Distinct from both is the PNP National Police Clearance (pnpclearance.ph), drawn from the Philippine National Police's records and used mainly for employment, and the Bureau of Immigration Clearance Certificate (BICC), which certifies you are clear of BI derogatory records and is now demanded for visa conversions and — since September 2025 — every SRRV application. Incoming migrants also need the mirror-image document: a police clearance from their country of origin or last residence, no more than six months old, apostilled and in English. Verified against nbi.gov.ph, immigration.gov.ph and pra.gov.ph as of June 2026.
The Three Philippine Clearances Compared
| Document | Issuing agency / portal | Fee | Validity | Immigration uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBI Clearance | National Bureau of Investigation — clearance.nbi.gov.ph | PHP 130 + e-payment service fee | 1 year from issuance | 13(a) if filed 6+ months after arrival; SRRV if 90+ days in-country; naturalization; use abroad (after DFA apostille) |
| National Police Clearance | Philippine National Police — pnpclearance.ph | Modest fee set by the PNP (check the portal) | Commonly 6 months | Employment and local transactions; rarely demanded by BI/PRA |
| BI Clearance Certificate (BICC) | Bureau of Immigration | Per BI fee schedule | Issued per transaction | Required in 9(g) and 13(a) conversion folders; mandatory for all SRRV applicants since September 2025 |
| Barangay clearance | Barangay hall (local) | Small local fee | Short | Occasionally requested as supporting ID/residence proof — not a criminal-records check |
Continue reading — paid members only.
This guide is part of our full paid membership library. Upgrade to access all 10 Philippines guides, plus Migration Fee Protection up to USD 25,000 if your application doesn't go ahead for a qualifying reason.
See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Which clearance does my visa application actually need — NBI, police, or both?
Read the checklist literally, because the agencies are precise. The 13(a) marriage visa wants a valid NBI Clearance if you file six months or more after first arrival, plus the BI Clearance Certificate in every case. The SRRV wants a home-country police clearance (≤6 months old, apostilled, English) for everyone, an NBI Clearance additionally if you have been in the Philippines 90+ days before filing, and since September 2025 a BI Clearance Certificate for all applicants. The 9(g) work visa folder needs the BI Clearance Certificate. The PNP National Police Clearance is mostly an employment document — no major visa checklist demands it.
How do I get an NBI clearance and how long does it take?
Register at clearance.nbi.gov.ph, encode your details exactly as in your passport, book an appointment at an NBI clearance centre, and pay PHP 130 plus the payment channel's service fee (GCash, Bayad, 7-Eleven, banks). At the centre, biometrics — photo and fingerprints — are captured, and clean results are often released the same day. The wildcard is a 'HIT': if your name matches or resembles a record, release is deferred for manual verification, typically adding a week or more. Foreign nationals should bring passport and ACR I-Card. The clearance is valid one year, and renewals are processable online since your biometrics are on file.
Can I get a Philippine criminal-record certificate after I've left the country?
Yes — the NBI operates a mailed-clearance channel for applicants abroad. You obtain a fingerprint card (NBI Form No. 5) through the Philippine embassy or consulate, which takes your prints and authenticates the card; the completed card, copies of your passport and the fee are then transmitted to the NBI Clearance Center on UN Avenue, Manila, and the clearance is mailed back. Allow weeks rather than days, plus the DFA apostille step if the destination government requires authentication. If you anticipate needing a Philippine record check for a future visa elsewhere, the cheaper move is obtaining a fresh NBI clearance before departure — remembering it expires after one year.
What is a 'HIT' on my NBI clearance and should I worry?
A HIT means the system found a possible match between your identity and an existing record — commonly just a namesake, especially with common surnames, but also triggered by genuine pending cases. Your clearance is not refused; release is deferred while NBI staff manually verify whether the record is yours, usually adding around one to two weeks. If it is a namesake, the clearance issues normally. If a real case surfaces, you will be directed to the court or agency concerned — resolve it before any BI filing, because the same record will surface again in the BI Clearance Certificate check. Plan visa timelines assuming a possible HIT delay.
What are the rules for my home-country police certificate for the SRRV?
Four hard rules from the PRA checklist: (1) it must come from your country of origin or last residence abroad and state 'no criminal record' or similar findings; (2) it must be no more than six months old when you file; (3) it must be apostilled — or authenticated by the Philippine embassy/consulate if the issuing country is outside the Apostille Convention; and (4) it needs an English translation if issued in another language. It is required for the principal, spouse, and every dependent aged 18 or above, and the personal details must match the passports exactly. Time the request so the six-month validity window comfortably covers the PRA's 30–45 working day processing.
What is the BI Clearance Certificate and how is it different from the NBI clearance?
Different databases entirely. The NBI Clearance certifies the state of your criminal record across the Philippines' national index. The BI Clearance Certificate (BICC) certifies you are clear of the Bureau of Immigration's derogatory records — overstays, blacklist and watchlist entries, prior exclusions or deportations, pending immigration cases. Visa checklists frequently want both: the BICC appears in the 9(g) and 13(a) conversion folders and, since the September 2025 Expanded SRRV Program, in every SRRV application. You obtain the BICC from the BI itself. If a derogatory entry surfaces, fix the underlying record (fines, motions, blacklist lifting) before filing anything new — the BICC will keep failing until you do.