Police Clearance vs NBI Clearance; Uses and Difference Guide
Have you ever been confused when you come to submit your Police Clearance or NBI Clearance? A clearance certificate is required to be submitted to the applicants for a visa, a local or overseas job, and a residency permit. Both documents are used to verify the Clearance of an individual’s criminal record. But the crux of the matter is the wrong submission due to the mix-up of those documents.
In this article, we’ll explain that Police Clearance and NBI Clearance have different purposes. A detailed comparison of Police Clearance vs NBI Clearance encircles the scope, validity, and the relevant authority of both documents.
Police Clearance vs NBI Clearance Overview
NBI Clearance
NBI clearance is a document authorized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Issuance of this certificate means you have no pending criminal case. NBI checks your record from a national database throughout the Philippines, including courts, pending warrants, and local police reports.
If the NBI Clearance center finds “HIT” status on your name, it means you have a pending case, or it might be a mistake by the system due to the similar names of other people. By further identification, it is resolved.
Police Clearance
A Police Clearance certificate is a document authorised by the PNP (Philippines National Police). You obtain this certificate from your nearby police station working under the PNP. Police Clearance encompasses your record within your city or municipality.
Unlike the NBI Clearance, Police Clearance verifies your background record within your city, not the nationwide database, as it is valid for domestic-level employment, in schools and business licensing. So, the basic difference between Police Clearance and NBI Clearance is that Police Clearance scopes local purposes, while NBI Clearance is used in international processes.
Usage Difference of NBI vs Police Clearance
Uses of NBI Clearance
The NBI Clearance is used for:
Uses of Police Clearance
The Police Clearance is used for:
Basic Differences Between NBI Clearance and Police Clearance
Before you apply for Clearance, you must understand the difference between NBI Clearance and Police Clearance. Both these documents are used for a personal background record check. But the scope, place of implementation, validity, acceptance and release authority of these documents vary.
The distinguishing features of both documents are given in the table:
| Feature | NBI Clearance | Police Clearance |
| Scope | National / International | Local / Municipality |
| Issued by | NBI office | PNP station |
| Used for | Jobs, visas, legal | Local jobs, basic needs |
| Objective | Detailed Background check | Basic background check |
| Process time | Slower | Single day Process |
| Acceptance | Worldwide | Nationwide / Local |
| Validity | 1 year | 6 months |
| Requirements | ID card, biometrics | ID card |
NBI Clearance vs Police Clearance: Which One Do You Need?
The basic point is that for what purpose you need a Clearance. As we’ve already discussed, the NBI Clearance is used for criminal records checks from the database of the National Bureau of Investigation of the Philippines. On the other hand, Police Clearance verifies the criminal records from the applicant’s local stations of the Philippines National Police. Get the right Clearance by keeping in mind that NBI Clearance is required for the preparation of national or international documents like immigration, passport, overseas job seeking, etc. And the Police Clearance is used in local verification processes.
So, weigh the pros and cons to avoid wastage of time, money, and extra trips to the offices.
Costs of NBI Clearance and Police Clearance
| NBI Clearance | Approx. ₱130–₱170 |
| Police Clearance | Approx. ₱100–₱150 |
These costs, including overall expenditures like service and convenience, may vary.
Conclusion
It is essential to understand the basic differences and uses of Police Clearance vs NBI Clearance comparatively. The basic concept is that the NBI Clearance is for National/International use, while the Police Clearance is for local use.
So, make sense of what job you are applying for before you go.
