How Much Is a DBS Check? Costs, Types and How Long It Takes

Standard and enhanced checks are free for volunteers. If an employer uses a responsible organisation to process a basic check, that organisation may also charge an administration fee.

Employers can check your criminal record whatever role you apply for, using a basic check. For certain roles, for example working with children or in healthcare, an employer can request a more detailed check. If an employer cannot get a more detailed check for your role, it can still ask for a basic check.

If you are hiring a self-employed person or a personal employee to provide services to you or your family, you cannot request a DBS check for them. They need to request one themselves, and you check their certificate. Childminders get a check through Ofsted.

GOV.UK's application page says a basic check usually takes up to 3 days to process, and a paper certificate is then posted to you. Its guidance for applicants says basic checks take up to 14 days. Standard and enhanced checks usually take around 8 weeks.

It may take a shorter or longer time depending on:

• the type of check
• whether the details given for the check are correct
• which police forces need to be involved in the check

For care roles with adults, DBS Adult First can confirm, usually within 2 days, whether the person can start work under supervision while they wait for the enhanced check. It costs an extra £6.

You can apply for your own basic check if you are 16 or over. It is for people working in England and Wales. You prove your identity with GOV.UK One Login and give your addresses for the last 5 years. The service is open from 8am to 11:30pm.

You can apply for an enhanced check, or an enhanced check with barred list, for yourself if:

• ✓Yes: your role is eligible
• ✓Yes: you get paid for your work
• ✓Yes: you are self-employed or a personal employee, employed directly by a private individual to provide services to them or their family

An employer may also run right to work checks and ask for references before you start.

A DBS check has no official expiry date. The information is accurate at the time of the check, and it is up to the employer to decide when a new one is needed. An employer can accept a certificate requested for a previous role if it checks your identity matches and the certificate is the right level and type for the new role.

The DBS Update Service keeps a standard or enhanced certificate up to date. It costs £15 a year, and there is no charge for volunteers. If you already have a certificate, you must register within 30 days of it being issued. For a basic check, you register for an online services account instead.

You only need to tell an organisation about an unspent conviction or caution if they ask you. You only need to tell a potential employer, university or college about a spent conviction or caution if all of these apply:

• ✓Yes: they ask you to
• ✓Yes: they tell you that the role needs a standard or enhanced DBS check
• ✓Yes: it is not removed (filtered) from DBS certificates

It is against the law for an employer, university or college to refuse you a role because of a spent conviction or caution, unless it makes you unsuitable for the role. You do not have to tell an insurance company or housing provider about any spent convictions.

Fixed penalty notices and penalty charge notices for minor driving offences do not appear on your criminal record unless a court gives you a conviction because of one. Our guide to speeding fines explains how penalty points work.

Scotland. Disclosure Scotland runs the checks. A Level 1 disclosure has replaced basic disclosure, anyone can apply, and it shows any unspent convictions. It costs £25 and is usually processed within 14 days. You will not get a paper certificate. Level 2 disclosures are for specific roles, and the PVG scheme is a five-year membership scheme for people working with children or protected adults.

Northern Ireland. AccessNI provides basic, standard and enhanced checks. A basic check has all unspent convictions, anyone can apply online, and it costs £16.00. A digital certificate is issued to your nidirect account. Our employment guides cover your other rights at work.