NBI Clearance VS Police Clearance in Philippines, What’s the Difference?
In the Philippines, to prove that you have no criminal record, two documents are necessary, which are NBI Clearance and Police Clearance. Both the clearance have the same sound but do not have the same functions. Each clearance is used for different purposes. To save your time and to avoid confusion, first, you have to know the purpose of Police Clearance and NBI Clearance. All the things you can know from the key differences table of NBI clearance vs Police clearance.
In this blog, we will discuss NBI clearance vs Police Clearance, and their uses along with Pros & Cons.
What are NBI and Police Clearance?
Both the clearances are official documents that prove the criminal record of a person, but both the clearances are used for different purposes.
NBI Clearance
NBI Clearance is an official document that proves your criminal record all over the Philippines, not just an area. This document is issued by the National Bureau of Investigation and is used for more serious purposes, like when you apply for a job, travel to another country, or in handling some legal matters.
Police Clearance
This is an official document that proves your criminal history in your local area. It is issued by the local police station in your area. In other words, this document shows whether you have a criminal record in the area where you’re living. This clearance is required when you are applying for a local job, and for some basic needs. You get this clearance faster as compared to the NBI Clearance, but this clearance has less value and authority as compared to the NBI Clearance
NBI clearance vs Police Clearance
The NBI clearance vs Police Clearance are explained in the table:
| Category | NBI Clearance | Police Clearance |
| Issuing Authority | NBI Clearance is issued by the National Bureau of Investigation, which is the government agency that handles criminal backgrounds. | Police Clearance is issued by the local police station in your city or municipality. |
| Coverage | It covers the criminal record of the person all over the Philippines in a national database. | It covers the criminal records in the specific area and city where you apply for a Police Clearance |
| Usage | This clearance is used for major purposes, like when you apply for a job, travel to another country, or in handling some legal matters like court proceedings. | This clearance is used for local purposes such as applying for a local government job, community permits, and for small business license |
| Validity Period | The validity period of an NBI Clearance is for one year from the date of issuance. | The validity period of Police Clearance is 6 months, but may vary according to the rules of local police in that area. |
| Processing Time | The processing time for an NBI Clearance is 1 to 5 working days | The processing time for a Police Clearance is 1 to 7 working days, depending on the area and volume of applications. |
Requirements for NBI Clearance Vs Police Clearance
The requirements for NBI Vs Police Clearance are explained in the table:
| Requirements | NBI Clearance | Police Clearance |
| Valid ID | To apply for the NBI Clearance, you should have at least one government-issued ID. | To apply for the Police Clearance, you should have at least one government-issued ID. |
| Barangay clearance | This is needed when you are applying for a job for the first time. | This clearance is required for all purposes. |
| Application form | You can download the application form from the official website of NBI Clearance to apply for the NBI Clearance | To apply for the police clearance, you can get the application form from the local police station |
| Payment receipt | Required after online payment | Required after paying the fee at the police station |
| Fingerprint | Required | Required |
| Photo | Required | Required |
When Should you Choose NBI Clearance?
NBI Clearance is needed for the following cases:
- When you are applying for a job at a higher company.
- For visa and passport proceedings
- When you are involved in legal matters
- To get admission to colleges and universities
When Should you Choose Police Clearance?
Police Clearance is needed for the following cases:
- Applying for a local job
- For business permits
- Used for community jobs and purposes
How to Apply for NBI Clearance Vs Police Clearance?
Follow the simple steps to apply for the NBI Clearance vs Police Clearance
NBI Clearance application
To apply for the NBI Clearance, follow these steps:
- Visit the NBI official website
- Download the application form
- Fill out the application form with correct information
- Book an appointment
- Pay the fee online
- Visit the NBI nearest branch for the fingerprinting and photo capture process
- Wait for your clearance, download and print it.
Police Clearance application
To apply for the Police Clearance, follow these steps:
- First, get a Barangay certificate because it is a requirement to apply for a Police Clearance
- Visit the nearest police station along with your ID and Barangay certificate
- Pay the required fee
- Some police stations might take your fingerprint and capture your photo
- Obtain your clearance even on the same day, but due to the large volume of applications, it takes some days
Pros and Cons of NBI Vs Police Clearance
Here are the pros and cons of both the NBI and Police Clearance:
NBI Clearance
You can check the pros and cons of NBI Clearance in the following table:
| Pros | Cons |
| This clearance can be used for working abroad, applying for a passport, and for visas. | This can take time in some cases, especially if there is a name match. |
| This shows a record of a person all over the Philippines, not just one area. | Not available in some towns, so people have to travel to apply and to get the NBI Clearance |
| It is accepted for international purposes | Has a high fee as compared to the Police Clearance |
Police Clearance
You can check the pros and cons of Police Clearance in the following table:
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to obtain | This is valid only for a specific area and city |
| You can get it faster | It is not accepted for international purposes |
| Less fee required as compared to the NBI Clearance |
Can we use NBI Clearance instead of Police Clearance?
In some cases, NBI Clearance can be used instead of Police Clearance because it covers all over the whole country. If you are applying for a local business permit, applying for a local job, or applying for a Barangay, you still need the Police Clearance. To avoid wasting time, make sure to check what clearance is required by the employer and the officer.
FAQs
Conclusion
In the Philippines, both the NBI Clearance and Police Clearance have their own importance. Both the clearances have their own purposes. NBI Clearance is best to apply for a job in companies and offices that are linked to high authorities. Police Clearance is best to apply for local jobs, to get a small business license. The main thing is that you can save your time if you know which clearance is required for which purpose, and also know about NBI clearance vs Police clearance..
