Please find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
DBS checks are required for many job roles, and the type of check your employee will need will depend specifically on the role they are applying for
Please visit https://dbs-service.org.uk/which-dbs-check for a list of job roles that require DBS checks
You might need one to apply for licences, such as if you are looking to sell alcohol, or also to apply for visas when travelling overseas
A full list of acceptable means of identification is listed below
Two documents must be produced: one from Group 1 and one from Group 2. If this is not possible, then five documents from Group 2 must be produced instead these must be in the name of the applicant. Also, it is preferred that one of these documents contains photographic identification
Group 1
- Valid passport (any nationality)
- UK Driving Licence Full or Provisional England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland/Isle of Man; either photocard or paper (a photocard is only valid if accompanied with the paper counterpart)
- Original UK birth certificate (issued within 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable)
- Valid photo identity card (EU countries only)
- UK Firearms license
- HM Forces ID card (UK)
- Adoption Certificate (UK)
Group 2
Statements and bills need to be dated within 3 months of your application
- Marriage certificate/Civil Partnership Certificate
- Non-original UK birth certificate (issued after 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable)
- P45/P60 statement
- Utility bill (electricity, gas, water, telephone, including mobile phone contract/bill)
- Valid TV licence
- Credit card statement
- Store card statement
- Mortgage statement
- Valid insurance certificate
- Certificate of British nationality
- British work permit/visa**
- Asylum Registration Card
- Personal correspondence or a document from a Government Department*
- Bank or Building Society Document**
- Financial statement e.g. pension, endowment, ISA **
- Valid vehicle registration document
- Mail order catalogue statement*
- Court summons
- Valid NHS card
- Court Claim Form
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. Therefore it replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)
It takes anywhere between 3 and 14 days to get your certificate, with the average being 10 days. However, certificates are issued by Disclosure Scotland and The Disclosure & Barring Service England & Wales, and therefore the issue time is out of our hands. Also, please note that it could take longer if further information is requested by us and / or the Disclosure & Barring Service
Track your Employers Standard & Enhanced DBS Checks here
The certificate is the property of the person named on it
| Sentence / Disposal | Rehabilitation period if aged 18 or over when convicted / disposal administered | Rehabilitation period if aged under 18 when convicted / disposal administered |
|---|---|---|
| A custodial sentence of over 48 months | Never spent | |
| Custodial sentence of over 30 months but not exceeding 48 months | 7 years from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed | 42 months from the date on which the sentence(including any licence period) is completed. |
| A custodial sentence of over 6 months but not exceeding 30 months | 48 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed. | 24 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed. |
| Custodial sentence of up to 6 months | 24 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed. | 18 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed. |
| Fine | 12 months from the date of the conviction in respect of the fine was imposed. | 18 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed |
| Community order | 12 months from the last day on which the order has effect | 6 months from the last day on which the order has effect |
| Simple, caution, youth caution | Spent Immediately | |
The application will be thoroughly checked by our professional team of advisers. If there are any errors or omissions, we will email you and ask you to correct these. As you are the employer, you will be able to verify the documents on behalf of the employee. Once we have received all of the information required, we will process the application, and email you your 11 digit unique reference number
I am afraid you cannot apply through this service
This service is classed as a Distance Contract under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, and you are entitled to a 14 day cancellation period, which starts on the day after you agree to our services
As the service that we carry out for you starts immediately we receive your application, when you submit the application and go through to payment, this assumes you have read this condition and therefore consent for us to start working for you within this cancellation period
If you cancel after we commence the service for you, you will be liable to pay us for the work we have already carried out for you, and a refund of the application fee minus £30 will be processed in 3 to 5 working days. If our service for you is completed in full within the 14 day period, these cancellation rights will not apply, and no refund can be given
If we have acknowledged your request for cancellation before any work has commenced on your application, a refund of your application fee minus £15 will be processed in 3 to 5 working days
Please note that if you haven’t provided us with the required information and documents within 6 months of your application date, no refund can be given and your application will have been deleted as we adhere to GDPR regulations
All documents have to be received electronically by us, and therefore if you post mail to us, we’re very sorry but it will be rejected and you will still need to upload it electronically
Please only use the Dropbox link we have provided you to send us your documents. We cannot guarantee the privacy of your documents if you use email or any other method
You can email our Customer Support team at support@dbs-service.org.uk. Our working hours are 9am and 5:30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am and 5pm on Fridays, so please dont expect a response outside of these hours. Please note that we WILL NOT accept identity documents posted to us. They will be immediately destroyed
This service is classed as a Distance Contract under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, and you are entitled to a 14 day cancellation period, which starts on the day after you agree to our services
As the service that we carry out for you starts immediately we receive the application, we need your consent to start working for you within this cancellation period. This consent is assumed when you submit an application and proceed to the payment stage
If you cancel after we commence the service for you, you will be liable to pay us for the work we have already carried out for you. If our service for you is completed in full within the 14 day period, these cancellation rights will not apply
Businesses can apply through our website for themselves and their employees