NAPOLCOM exam fees: what each examination costs, where you pay, and what the fee does not cover.
The examination fee is the easy part of the NAPOLCOM budget, and the one figure NAPOLCOM publishes clearly with every announcement. The harder part is the rest of what an application costs, which nobody publishes because it depends on where you live. This guide gives the fees as NAPOLCOM announced them for the 2026 sittings, explains when and how they are paid, and lists the other costs so the total is not a surprise on processing day.
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Exam guide
NAPOLCOM Exam Fees: ₱400 for the Entrance Exam, and the PROMEX Ladder
Short answer
The PNP Entrance Examination fee is ₱400, for civilians and for temporary patrol officers alike. The promotional examination fees are ₱400, ₱450, ₱500 and ₱600 for the 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Class. The fee is paid at the regional office during on-site processing, not online, and it is the smallest cost of applying once documents, photos and travel are counted.
Quick facts
- PNPE
- ₱400
- PROMEX 4th / 3rd Class
- ₱400 / ₱450
- PROMEX 2nd / 1st Class
- ₱500 / ₱600
- Paid
- At the regional office, on-site processing
- Online payment
- None
Primary keyword: napolcom exam fee
Key takeaways
- ₱400 for the entrance examination, the same for a civilian and for a temporary patrol officer.
- The four promotional classes climb from ₱400 to ₱600 with the rank sought.
- Payment is in person at the regional office when your documents are processed. There is no online payment step.
- The fee is per sitting. A repeat examinee pays again.
- The documents cost more than the exam: a PSA birth certificate, a transcript or diploma copy and two passport photos, plus the trip to the regional office.
The fees NAPOLCOM announced for 2026
NAPOLCOM's announcement for the April 2026 sittings set the fees below, and the October 2026 announcement carried the same figures. They are set per announcement, so confirm the current one before you go, but they have been stable.
| Examination | Who | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| PNP Entrance Examination | Civilian applicants | ₱400 |
| PNP Entrance Examination | Patrolmen/Patrolwomen on temporary appointment | ₱400 |
| Promotional, Police Officer 4th Class | For Corporal and Staff Sergeant | ₱400 |
| Promotional, Police Officer 3rd Class | For the Master Sergeant ranks | ₱450 |
| Promotional, Police Officer 2nd Class | For Lieutenant and Captain | ₱500 |
| Promotional, Police Officer 1st Class | For Major and Lieutenant Colonel | ₱600 |
Source: the Philippine Information Agency's report of NAPOLCOM's 2026 examination schedule
When and where you pay
The fee is paid at your regional office during on-site processing, on the appointment date your online registration gave you, at the same visit where your documents are evaluated and you complete the application form. NAPOLCOM's announcements describe no online payment and no bank deposit; the online step is scheduling only.
Bring cash. Regional offices are government offices with a cashier, and card acceptance should not be assumed. Bring the exact amount if you can; a queue behind you is not the place to wait for change.
Source: the Philippine News Agency's report on the NAPOLCOM online scheduling system
What the fee does not cover
The examination fee is the smallest line in an honest application budget. The documents NAPOLCOM asks for at processing each have a cost, and the trip to the regional office is a real expense in most regions, since there is one office per region and it is not always in the largest city.
- PSA birth certificate on security paper: the PSA's current fee, plus courier if ordered online.
- Transcript of records or a certified copy of your diploma from your school: varies by school; a transcript with the CHED special order can take days to weeks.
- Two passport-size photos with a white background and name tag.
- Photocopies of your ID and documents.
- Transport to the regional office and back, and an overnight stay if the office is far. MIMAROPA's office is in Calamba, Laguna; the Zamboanga Peninsula's is in Pagadian; every island province involves a crossing.
- Transport to the testing center on exam day, which may be in a different city from the regional office.
Source: the Philippine Information Agency's report of NAPOLCOM's 2026 examination schedule
Repeat sittings and refunds
The fee is per examination. An examinee who does not pass and registers for the next sitting pays the fee again and goes through processing again with fresh documents where the office requires them.
NAPOLCOM's announcements do not describe a refund for an applicant who registers, pays and does not sit. Treat the fee as non-refundable once paid, and do not pay until you are certain of the date.
Unresolved. We could not find a published NAPOLCOM refund policy for examination fees. If you have to withdraw after paying, ask the regional office that processed you; do not assume the fee comes back.
Source: NAPOLCOM's examination information page (Regional Office CALABARZON)
Frequently asked questions
How much is the NAPOLCOM entrance exam?
₱400, for civilian applicants and for Patrolmen and Patrolwomen on a temporary appointment.
How much is the promotional exam?
₱400 for Police Officer 4th Class, ₱450 for 3rd Class, ₱500 for 2nd Class and ₱600 for 1st Class, per NAPOLCOM's 2026 announcements.
Can I pay the NAPOLCOM exam fee online or through GCash?
No. NAPOLCOM's announcements describe payment at the regional office during on-site processing only. Bring cash.
Is the fee refundable if I do not take the exam?
NAPOLCOM has not published a refund policy. Assume it is not, and ask your regional office if you must withdraw.
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