A DBS check is a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Employers in England and Wales use it to make safer recruitment decisions. There are four levels: basic, standard, enhanced, and enhanced with barred list checks. The level depends on the duties of the job, not on what you or the employer would prefer. From Monday 5 October 2026, official DBS fees fall: a basic or standard check costs £20 and an enhanced check costs £41.
This guide covers what each check shows, costs and timescales, the Update Service, and which checks care, education, aviation and security jobs typically need. It’s for job seekers going through vetting and for employers who want to get it right first time.
What is a DBS check?
A DBS check is an official record of what the Disclosure and Barring Service can disclose about someone’s criminal history on the date of the check. DBS is a public body sponsored by the Home Office. It took over criminal record checking from the Criminal Records Bureau in 2012, which is why some employers still call it a “CRB check”.
DBS checks cover England and Wales. Elsewhere in the UK:
- Scotland: checks are handled by Disclosure Scotland.
- Northern Ireland: checks are handled by AccessNI.
A DBS certificate isn’t a pass or a fail. It records what was found, and the employer then decides whether anything disclosed is relevant to the role.
The four types of DBS check
| DBS check level | What it shows | Who can request it | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Unspent convictions and conditional cautions | Anyone aged 16+ for themselves, or an employer | Many hospitality, logistics and office roles; airside airport roles (as part of the aviation background check) |
| Standard | Spent and unspent convictions and cautions, subject to filtering rules | Employers, for legally eligible roles only | Roles listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act exceptions, such as some legal and financial roles |
| Enhanced | Everything in a standard check, plus relevant information held by local police | Employers, for legally eligible roles only | Roles working with children or vulnerable adults |
| Enhanced with barred list check(s) | Everything in an enhanced check, plus whether the person is barred from working with children and/or adults | Employers, for roles in “regulated activity” | Care workers, support workers, teachers, teaching assistants |
What “eligible roles only” means
An employer can’t ask for a standard or enhanced check just because it would like more information. The role has to be eligible in law. Employers who aren’t sure should use GOV.UK’s “Find out what type of DBS check you can get” tool before starting an application. If you pick the wrong level, you may have to start the application again.
Will old convictions show up? How filtering works
Standard and enhanced checks can include spent convictions and cautions, but some older or minor records are filtered out. Under the current DBS filtering guidance:
- an adult caution for a non-specified offence is filtered after 6 years
- an adult conviction for a non-specified offence is filtered after 11 years, as long as it didn’t result in a custodial sentence
- a conviction received under 18 for a non-specified offence is filtered after 5.5 years
- youth cautions, warnings and reprimands aren’t disclosed automatically (youth conditional cautions are the exception)
“Specified offences” are never filtered. These are mainly serious violent, sexual and safeguarding-related offences. Any conviction that led to a custodial sentence is also always disclosed.
How much does a DBS check cost? New fees from 5 October 2026
| Check | Fee up to 4 October 2026 | Fee from 5 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Standard DBS check | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Enhanced DBS check (GOV.UK prices barred list checks the same as enhanced) | £49.50 | £41.00 |
| DBS Update Service (per year) | £16.00 | £15.00 |
| Checks for volunteers | Free | Free |
Source: GOV.UK, “DBS reduces fees for checks and Update Service from 5 October 2026” (9 September 2026).
Two things to know about cost:
- Admin fees are separate. Organisations that process checks for employers can add their own administration fee. DBS doesn’t set or regulate these charges.
- You can’t pay more for a faster check. GOV.UK says so directly.
Who pays? No single rule applies. Some employers cover the cost and others ask applicants to pay, so ask before you apply.
How long does a DBS check take?
Short answer: a basic check is usually processed within a few days. An enhanced check usually takes around 14 days but can take longer.
DBS publishes timeliness targets in its 2026–27 Business Plan:
| Check | DBS target |
|---|---|
| Basic | At least 85% of applications dispatched within 2 days |
| Standard | At least 85% dispatched within 3 days |
| Enhanced | At least 80% dispatched within 14 days |
“Dispatched” means the certificate has been issued, so allow extra time for it to arrive by post. For a basic check, GOV.UK says processing usually takes up to 3 days, after which a paper certificate is posted to you.
Why enhanced checks take longer
An enhanced check includes a search of records held by local police forces. If you’ve lived in several areas, more than one force may need to respond. GOV.UK notes that checks can take longer when the application details are wrong or several police forces are involved.
How to avoid DBS delays: a checklist
- not doneGive a complete five-year address history with accurate dates and no gaps.
- not doneList every name you’ve used, including previous surnames.
- not doneMake sure your details exactly match your ID documents, including spelling, middle names and date of birth.
- not doneHave your identity documents ready before you start. The organisation processing your check will tell you which ones it accepts.
- not doneReply quickly if your employer, agency or the umbrella body asks for more information.
- not doneConfirm the level of check and the workforce (children, adults or both) before you submit.
You can track a standard or enhanced application online with your application reference number.
The DBS Update Service: reuse your certificate
The Update Service keeps a standard or enhanced DBS certificate current, so you can take it from one job to the next when the new role needs the same level and type of check.
- Cost: £15 a year from 5 October 2026 (previously £16). It’s free for volunteers.
- Eligible certificates: standard and enhanced only. Basic certificates can’t be added.
- Deadline: join within 30 days of your certificate being issued. You can also join during your application using the application reference number, as long as DBS receives your application form within 28 days.
- Employer status checks: with your permission, an employer that is legally entitled to see that level of check can run a free online status check. It doesn’t need to register first.
For people who take temporary or agency assignments, the Update Service can save a lot of time between placements. Before an employer relies on an existing certificate, it should still confirm:
- The level is right. For example, enhanced with adults’ barred list.
- The workforce is right: children, adults or both.
- The identity matches. The person in front of them should match the name and details on the certificate.
Do DBS checks expire?
No. A DBS certificate has no official expiry date, but it only reflects what was known on the day it was issued. Employers set their own re-check periods. AESN’s own recruitment policy, for example, re-checks DBS for relevant posts every three years.
Some sectors set their own rules. In aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says a criminal record certificate used for an aviation background check is valid for 26 weeks from the date of issue. It must still be valid on the day the airport ID card application is submitted.
Which jobs need which DBS check?
The table shows typical requirements in sectors where AESN recruits. The exact level always depends on the duties of the specific role.
| Sector and role | Check usually required | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Care workers, support workers and senior care workers providing personal care | Enhanced with adults’ barred list | CQC-registered providers must carry out appropriate checks on staff, including criminal record checks where the role is eligible (Regulation 19) |
| Nurses and healthcare assistants | Enhanced, often with barred list check(s) | Depends on whether duties count as regulated activity with adults and/or children |
| Teachers, teaching assistants, cover supervisors and SEN support staff | Enhanced with children’s barred list | Schools in England follow Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, in force from 1 September 2026 |
| School and youth volunteers | Enhanced with children’s barred list, if in regulated activity (free for volunteers) | Since 1 September 2026 the “supervision exemption” no longer applies. Volunteers who teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children on more than 3 days in 30, or overnight between 2am and 6am, are now in regulated activity even when supervised |
| Airport staff with unescorted access to security restricted (airside) areas | Basic disclosure, as part of the aviation background check | The certificate is valid for 26 weeks for this purpose. Some roles also need Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance through the CAA |
| Security officers, door supervisors and CCTV operators | SIA licence | The Security Industry Authority runs its own criminal record check when you apply. You don’t arrange a separate DBS check for the licence |
| Hospitality, logistics, office and IT roles | Often none required by law, though some employers ask for a basic check | Standard or enhanced checks are only possible if the role is legally eligible |
Lived overseas? Employers may also ask for an overseas criminal record certificate (GOV.UK publishes country-by-country guidance). In aviation, the CAA expects an overseas certificate for each country where you’ve lived for six months or more during the previous five years.
What employers need to get right
- Check eligibility first. Only request a standard or enhanced check if the role is eligible, and use GOV.UK’s eligibility tool if you’re unsure.
- Use the right route. GOV.UK says employers making fewer than 100 standard or enhanced checks a year must use an umbrella body. Those making 100 or more can register with DBS directly.
- Ask to see the certificate. DBS sends standard and enhanced certificates to the applicant only, so ask them to show you the original so you can check it’s genuine.
- Assess relevance, not just presence. A disclosure doesn’t automatically rule someone out. Consider how relevant it is to the role, how long ago it happened and the circumstances. GOV.UK has guidance on employing people with convictions.
- Never knowingly allow a barred person into regulated activity. It’s a criminal offence under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. Organisations that remove someone from regulated activity because they caused harm, or posed a risk of harm, also have a legal duty to refer them to DBS.
- Handle criminal record information securely, in line with data protection law and the DBS Code of Practice.
- Write down your re-check policy, so you apply it the same way to every worker.
How to apply for a DBS check: step by step
Basic DBS check (you can apply yourself)
- Apply through GOV.UK’s “Request a basic DBS check” service. You must be 16 or over.
- Prove your identity using GOV.UK One Login.
- Give your addresses for the past five years, plus your passport, driving licence or National Insurance number if you have them.
- Pay the fee, which is £20 from 5 October 2026.
- Your certificate is posted to you.
Standard or enhanced DBS check (your employer or agency starts it)
- The employer, agency or umbrella body confirms the role is eligible and sends you the application.
- You complete it, including your five-year address history and any previous names.
- The organisation processing the check verifies your identity documents.
- DBS processes the check. Enhanced checks may be passed to local police forces.
- Your certificate is posted to you. Show it to your employer.
- If the role suits it, join the Update Service within 30 days.
DBS checks when you work through a recruitment agency
When a recruitment agency places you, the agency usually manages your vetting before introducing you to an employer. That covers DBS, references and right to work. At AESN, consultants guide candidates through these steps, so you aren’t left to work out the paperwork alone.
Two practical tips:
- Mention your Update Service subscription early. If you already have an enhanced certificate at the right level, telling your consultant at the start can save days.
- Keep your documents in one place. Your passport or driving licence, proof of address and a list of your addresses with dates for the last five years cover most of what you’ll be asked for.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a DBS check in the UK?
From 5 October 2026, a basic or standard DBS check costs £20 and an enhanced check costs £41. The Update Service costs £15 a year. Checks for volunteers are free. Processing organisations may add an admin fee on top.
How long does a DBS check take to come back?
DBS aims to dispatch 85% of basic checks within 2 days, 85% of standard checks within 3 days and 80% of enhanced checks within 14 days. Allow extra time for postage, and longer if several police forces need to check their records.
Do DBS checks expire?
No. A DBS certificate has no official expiry date, but it only shows information up to the date it was issued. Employers decide how often to re-check, and some sectors such as aviation set their own validity periods.
Can I apply for an enhanced DBS check myself?
Usually not. Standard and enhanced checks are normally requested by an organisation that’s entitled to ask for that level of check. GOV.UK notes that people applying for a role can sometimes request an enhanced check for themselves, so check GOV.UK or ask the organisation offering the role. You can always apply for a basic check yourself.
What is the difference between a standard and an enhanced DBS check?
A standard check shows spent and unspent convictions and cautions, subject to filtering. An enhanced check shows the same, plus any relevant information held by local police. Enhanced checks for regulated activity can also include a barred list check.
Can a new employer use my old DBS certificate?
Yes, if you’ve subscribed to the Update Service, the new role needs the same level and workforce, and the employer runs a status check with your permission. If you haven’t subscribed, most employers will ask for a new check.
Do I need a DBS check for an SIA licence?
No, you don’t arrange one yourself. The SIA requests a criminal record check from DBS, Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI as part of your licence application. Which one it uses depends on where you’ve lived in the last five years.
Ready for your next role, or need compliant staff?
If you’re looking for work in healthcare, education, security, aviation or another of AESN’s sectors, you can or . Your consultant will tell you which checks the role needs and help you through them.
Employers who need vetted temporary or permanent staff can .
