DBS checks in England: the four levels, the £20 fee and the deadlines people miss

An employer in England will almost certainly ask for a DBS check — a Disclosure and Barring Service certificate about your criminal record. For many roles the employer orders it, but in some cases you apply yourself, and then it helps to know the cost, the timings and the documents in advance. Here is the process as set out on GOV.UK.

What types of DBS check are there?

Four levels, each covering different ground:

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Basic — shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions. Available for any role.

Standard — shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings.

Enhanced — the same as standard, plus any information held by local police that is considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with barred lists — the same as enhanced, plus whether you are on the list of people barred from doing that role.

An employer may request a basic check for any vacancy. The more detailed checks are only for eligible roles, for example in healthcare or working with children. If a detailed check is not available for your role, the employer can still request a basic one.

How much is a basic DBS check and how long does it take?

A basic check for work in England and Wales costs £20. An application usually takes up to three days to process, after which a paper certificate is posted to you. You must be 16 or over to apply.

You do not have to live in England: you can get a basic check while living in Scotland or Northern Ireland if the job is in England or Wales. Work in Scotland and Northern Ireland itself follows different rules.

The online service runs from 8am to 11:30pm.

What do you need before you apply?

You prove your identity through GOV.UK One Login; if you do not have an account you create one as you go. You will need addresses for the last five years, with the dates you lived at each — usually the most laborious part for anyone who has moved recently, so gather them first. Plus, if you have them: passport, driving licence (full or provisional) and National Insurance number.

Separately: transgender applicants can request not to reveal a previous name or gender.

When do you apply rather than the employer?

If you are hired as self-employed or a "personal employee" — someone employed directly by a private individual to deliver services to them or their family — the person hiring you cannot request a DBS check on you. You apply yourself and they check the finished certificate.

You can also apply yourself for an enhanced check or enhanced check with barred list, but only where three things hold: the role is eligible, you are paid for the work, and you are self-employed or a personal employee. Childminders have a separate route, through Ofsted.

How long is a certificate valid?

A DBS certificate has no official expiry date. The information is accurate as at the day the check was carried out, and it is for the employer to decide when a new one is needed.

An employer may accept a certificate obtained for a previous role, but must check that the applicant's identity matches the details on it, that it is the right level and type for the role applied for, and whether anything has changed — the last of these online, if the person is signed up to the Update Service.

What does the Update Service do, and why do 30 days matter?

The Update Service keeps a certificate current so you do not reorder a check with every job move. It costs £15 a year and is free for volunteers. To count as a volunteer you must not be paid for the role apart from approved travel and out-of-pocket expenses, benefit financially from it, be on a work placement, be a trainee or studying for a qualification leading to a full-time role, or be a paid foster or kinship carer or a member of their household.

The service covers standard and enhanced checks only. It is not available for basic checks.

Two deadlines are easy to miss. If you already hold a certificate, you must register within 30 days of it being issued. If a check is still in progress, you need the application reference number (called "form ref" on the form), and DBS must receive your application form within 28 days. Progress is followed through the DBS tracking service.

What must an employer show you?

An organisation that carries out criminal record checks must have a policy on employing ex-offenders and show it to any applicant who asks. That is the applicant's right, not a favour.

DBS helpline: 03000 200 190 (Welsh 03000 200 191, international +44 151 676 9390, Relay UK 18001 then 03000 200 192), Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm except public holidays.