Police Clearance Requirements: The 26 Valid IDs
Philippine National Police · clearances
Quick answer
You need one valid ID from PNP's published list of 26. It must be unexpired, original and not a photocopy, carry a clear photo and signature, and bear your full name. If you have no valid ID, PNP accepts a Barangay Residency Certification instead.
Last verified
Where these figures come from
About these figures: the numbers below come from PNP's official published sources: PNP NPCS | Terms and Conditions (https://pnpclearance.ph/register, retrieved 2026-09-01); Philippine National Police | National Police Clearance (https://pnp.gov.ph/national-police-clearance/, retrieved 2026-09-01); PNP NPCS | How to Apply for a National Police Clearance (https://pnpclearance.ph/how_to_apply_v2.pdf, retrieved 2026-09-01). Agencies change fees and rates without notice, so confirm with PNP before you rely on them. Last verified: 2026-09-01.
For a National Police Clearance, PNP asks for one valid ID. Not two, and no supporting documents beyond it.
The four conditions
An ID is only valid to PNP if all four hold.
| # | Condition |
|---|---|
| 1 | Not expired |
| 2 | Original, and not photocopied |
| 3 | With a clear photo and signature of the applicant |
| 4 | Bears the full name |
The 26 accepted IDs
| Issued by a national agency | Issued by an employer, school or LGU |
|---|---|
| Passport | Barangay Residence Certification |
| Philippine Identification (PhilID) | School ID with Registration Form |
| LTO Driver’s License | AFP ID |
| PRC License | BFP ID |
| SSS ID or SSS UMID | BJMP ID |
| GSIS UMID | PNP ID |
| PAG-IBIG ID | PCG ID |
| PhilHealth ID | IBP ID |
| Postal ID | Senior Citizen’s ID |
| TIN ID | PWD ID |
| Voter’s ID | OFW ID |
| Birth Certificate | Marina ID |
| Alien Certificate of Registration | LTOPF ID |
Both PNP sites publish the same 26. pnp.gov.ph adds one line the NPCS Terms do not: if no valid ID is available, you can present a Barangay Residency Certification. That single sentence is the most useful thing on the page for a first-time applicant with no government ID at all.
Where to get the ones this site covers
Several of the accepted IDs have their own process, and four of them are free or cheap enough to be worth getting first.
| Accepted ID | What it costs | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Philippine Identification (PhilID) | No registration fee is published | National ID registration |
| ePhilID, the paper format | No printing fee is published | ePhilID |
| Birth Certificate | ₱130.00 for a viewable online copy | PSA birth certificate |
| Passport | Covered with the DFA appointment rules | New passport |
| LTO Driver’s License | Covered with the medical certificate rule | New driver’s licence |
| Student permit | The LTO route before a licence | Student permit |
A PSA birth certificate is on the list in its own right, which makes it the cheapest published route onto the list at ₱130.00 if you hold nothing else.
The renewal route asks for different things
If you are renewing without appearance, the ID requirement changes shape: instead of presenting an ID at a counter, you upload proof of it.
| Route | What you present |
|---|---|
| Appearance | One valid ID, at the police station, on the appointment date |
| Non-appearance renewal | A 2x2 picture with white background, plus a selfie holding a valid government-issued ID |
| Clearance Certification, for applicants abroad | A 2x2 photo, a selfie holding a government ID, a photocopy of the passport, proof of being an OFW, and a copy of an ID bearing a Philippine address |
The renewal guide covers the 3 year non-appearance window and the 6 month validity.
What each acceptable ID costs to obtain
Only some of the 26 have a published price. These are the figures the issuing agencies actually publish, which makes them the cheapest verified routes onto the list.
| Accepted ID | Published fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PSA Birth Certificate | ₱130.00 | Viewable online copy, valid 60 days |
| PSA CENOMAR | ₱185.00 | Not on the ID list itself, priced here for comparison |
| Philippine Identification (PhilID) | No fee published | Registration is open from age 1 |
| ePhilID, paper format | No printing fee published | Same legal recognition |
| Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Plus | ₱125 | Pag-IBIG members |
| PNP cards, LTOPF ID and LESPO | ₱200.00 | PNP Citizen’s Charter 2025 |
Refusing a National ID without just and sufficient cause carries a fine of ₱500,000.00 under RA 11055, which is worth knowing if any counter turns one away. The National ID guide sets that out.
The clocks attached to the documents around it
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| National Police Clearance validity | 6 months |
| Non-appearance renewal window | 3 years from the last appearance |
| Payment deadline before an appointment | 2 banking days |
| PSA viewable online copy validity | 60 days |
| LTOPF validity, if you hold one as your ID | 5 years or 10 years |
| LTOPF renewal processing | 7 to 15 working days |
An LTOPF ID is on the accepted list, and its own fee runs from ₱1,000.00 for a Type 1 covering a maximum of 2 firearms to ₱50,000.00 for a Type 5 over 10 years, with a 50% discount for law enforcement and government personnel and 20% for senior citizens. The firearms licence guide covers it.
What the other clearance asks for
An NBI clearance is the document people most often confuse this with, and its ID requirement is different.
| National Police Clearance | NBI clearance | |
|---|---|---|
| IDs required | 1 | 2 valid government IDs |
| Published fee | ₱150.00 | ₱130.00 plus ₱30.00, so ₱160.00 |
NBI clearance requirements covers the NBI side, and the comparison guide sets out which one an employer is likely asking for.
What this page does not cover
PNP does not publish, on the pages and documents read for this guide, an age requirement, a residency requirement, a rule for applicants using a married name, what to do when the name on your ID differs from your PSA record, or whether a digital or eID copy is accepted in place of a physical card. None of those are stated here.
Related
The main clearance guide covers the fee and process. The appointment guide covers booking.
Frequently asked questions
- How many IDs do I need for a police clearance?
- One. PNP states that on the day of your appointment you proceed to the chosen police station and will be required to present one valid ID.
- What makes an ID valid?
- PNP publishes four conditions: not expired, original and not photocopied, with a clear photo and signature of the applicant, and bearing the full name.
- What if I do not have any valid ID?
- PNP states on its National Police Clearance page that if no valid ID is available, you can present a Barangay Residency Certification. That line does not appear in the NPCS Terms and Conditions, only on pnp.gov.ph.
- Is a National ID accepted?
- Yes. Philippine Identification, listed as PhilID, is on PNP's published list, alongside the Postal ID, Passport, PRC License, LTO Driver's License, SSS or GSIS UMID and 20 others.
- Is a school ID enough?
- A School ID is on the list, but PNP qualifies it: the entry reads School ID with Registration Form. The registration form is part of the requirement, not an alternative to it.
- Do I need a birth certificate?
- Not as a separate requirement. A Birth Certificate appears on the list as one of the 26 acceptable IDs in its own right, so it can serve as the single ID rather than being an addition to one.
- What else do I bring besides the ID?
- Nothing else is published as a requirement for the appearance route. Your photo, electronic signature and biometrics are captured at the station. The non-appearance renewal route separately requires a 2x2 picture with white background and a selfie holding a valid government-issued ID.
- Are the lists on the two PNP sites the same?
- Yes. Both pnpclearance.ph and pnp.gov.ph publish the same 26 entries. The only difference is that pnp.gov.ph adds the Barangay Residency Certification fallback line.
More PNP guides
Sources
- PNP NPCS | Terms and Conditions, retrieved
- Philippine National Police | National Police Clearance, retrieved
- PNP NPCS | How to Apply for a National Police Clearance, retrieved