Purpose: which one should I choose?
When you start a Clearance Application, the first thing the NPCS asks is the purpose. Choose the one that matches why you need the clearance.
| Term | What it means | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| General | General-purpose clearance | Most job applications, and general requirements that don't ask for anything specific |
| SOSIA | Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies, the PNP office for security agencies and security guards. See SOSIA meaning | Security guard licensing and security agency requirements |
| LTOPF | License To Own and Possess Firearms | Applying for or renewing a firearm license |
Not sure? Ask the office that requested it. If an employer or agency asked for a police clearance "for employment", General is normally what they mean. If they mention security guard licensing, it's SOSIA. Firearm licensing is LTOPF.
What does LTOPF mean?
LTOPF = License To Own and Possess Firearms. It's the license a private individual needs to own a gun in the Philippines, under RA 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Choose LTOPF as your police clearance purpose only if the clearance is for a firearm license application or renewal.
Why a police clearance is needed. Section 4 of RA 10591 lists the certifications an LTOPF applicant submits, and one of them is a police clearance. The NPCS offers LTOPF as a purpose for exactly this.
Who can get an LTOPF (Section 4). You must be a Filipino citizen, at least 21 years old, with gainful work, a business or an income tax return for the previous year. You also submit certifications that you:
- have not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude
- passed a psychiatric test by a PNP-accredited psychologist or psychiatrist
- passed a drug test at an accredited laboratory or clinic
- passed a gun safety seminar run by the PNP or a registered gun club
- have no conviction, and no pending criminal case, for a crime punishable by more than two years
License types (Section 9).
| Type | Registered firearms allowed |
|---|---|
| Type 1 | Up to 2 |
| Type 2 | Up to 5 |
| Type 3 | Up to 10 |
| Type 4 | Up to 15 |
| Type 5 | More than 15 (certified gun collectors) |
Every type needs a locked vault or container for safekeeping. Types 3 to 5 also need an inspection and a bond.
How long it's valid (RA 11766, 2022). Since RA 11766 amended Section 19, an LTOPF is renewed every five or ten years, at your option, counted from your birthdate. Firearm registration follows the same 5 or 10-year cycle. You can file for renewal with the PNP's Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) up to six months before it expires. If you don't renew in time, the license and your firearm registrations are revoked. Failing to renew on two occasions means you can never apply for a firearm license again.
Licensing fees are set by the PNP, so check the current amounts with the FEO.
Is there a police clearance application form?
There's no paper form to download. The application form is your online NPCS profile plus the Clearance Application you fill in on pnpclearance.ph. Based on the PNP's official how-to guide, the profile asks for:
| Section | Fields |
|---|---|
| Name | Given name, middle name, surname, qualifier (Jr., III) |
| Personal | Sex, civil status, birth date, birth place, nationality |
| Checkboxes | PWD, First Time Job Seeker (RA 11261) |
| Address | House no./building/street, province, city/municipality, barangay |
| Contact | Email, mobile number, telephone (optional) |
| Other information | Physical description details, such as complexion |
Fill them in exactly as they appear on your valid ID: this is what gets printed on your clearance.
Profile fields explained
- Qualifier: a name suffix such as Jr., Sr. or III. Leave it blank if you don't have one.
- Complexion: a physical description field about your skin tone. Choose the option that best describes you. It's used for identification, not for any check.
- PWD: tick this if you are a person with disability.
- First Time Job Seeker (RA 11261): tick only if you qualify. It gives you one free clearance. See the first-time job seeker guide.
- 1RegisterAccount on pnpclearance.ph
- 2Profile + bookingPurpose, station, date and slot
- 3Pay online₱150 + convenience fee
- 4Visit the station1 valid ID, biometrics, release
Source: PNP, How to Apply for a National Police Clearance.
Terms you'll see on the Transactions page
- Reference #: your appointment reference number. Bring it to the station.
- PENDING: you haven't paid yet, or the payment hasn't been posted.
- Change Police Station / Appointment Date: lets you move your booking.
- Clearance Certification: a separate PNP option meant only for specific first-time applicants: Filipinos working or based abroad, bedridden applicants, petitioners applying for probation or bail, and deceased persons.
Frequently asked questions
What does LTOPF mean on the police clearance?
License To Own and Possess Firearms. Choose LTOPF as your purpose only if the clearance is for a firearm license application or renewal under RA 10591.
How long is an LTOPF valid?
Five or ten years, at the licensee's option, counted from the birthdate, under RA 11766 (2022). Renewal can be filed up to six months before it expires.
I chose the wrong purpose. What should I do?
Check your Transactions page for an option to change the booking. If you've already paid, ask the police station on your appointment day before your clearance is printed.
What does HIT mean on the police clearance?
It means your name matched a record and needs manual verification. It doesn't mean you have a case. See the police clearance guide.
Keep reading
SOSIA meaning
What SOSIA stands for, and when to choose it as your police clearance purpose.
Read guide PoliceBook a police clearance appointment
NPCS registration, profile and booking, screen by screen.
Read guide PolicePolice clearance requirements
The ID, documents and profile details you need on appointment day.
Read guideSources
- PNP: How to apply for a National Police Clearance (PDF)
- National Police Clearance System
- RA 10591, Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Sections 4, 9 and 19)
- RA 11766, firearm license validity (2022)
Last checked 4 October 2026. See how we research and the updates log.