There are three levels of DBS check in England and Wales, and each one reveals different information. The level you need depends on the type of work you do and who you work with. This guide breaks down what each DBS check covers, what it costs and how to work out which one applies to you.
The Three Levels of DBS Check
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) issues criminal record checks at three levels: Basic, Standard and Enhanced. Each level searches different databases and reveals different information. The difference between DBS checks is not just about depth; it is about legal eligibility. You cannot choose a higher level because you want one. The type of work you do determines which DBS check level you qualify for.
What Is a Basic DBS Check
A Basic DBS check is the entry-level criminal record check. Anyone can apply for one, regardless of their job or sector. There are no eligibility restrictions.
A Basic DBS check searches the Police National Computer (PNC) and shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions only. It does not reveal spent convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands or any locally held police information.
The Basic DBS check costs £21.50 and can be applied for directly through GOV.UK. You do not need an employer or any third party to apply. This is the only DBS check level that individuals can apply for entirely on their own without going through a registered platform.
A Basic DBS check is suitable for roles with minimal safeguarding responsibility, such as general office work, retail positions or companionship-only roles. If your work does not involve children, vulnerable adults or positions of trust, a Basic check is likely all you need.
What Is a Standard DBS Check
A Standard DBS check goes further than a Basic check. It searches the PNC and reveals both spent and unspent convictions, plus adult cautions, reprimands and warnings. This information is subject to filtering rules, which means certain old or minor offences may be removed from the certificate automatically.
The Standard DBS check costs £21.50. Despite covering more information than a Basic check, the DBS statutory fee is the same.
Not everyone can get a Standard DBS check. You must be working in a role that is listed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Typical roles that qualify include security industry (SIA) licence holders, court officers, and certain financial services positions. Standard checks are less common for self-employed workers than Enhanced checks, but they do apply in specific circumstances.
A Standard DBS check does not include any search of locally held police records. It also does not include any check of the Children’s or Adults’ Barred Lists.
What Is an Enhanced DBS Check
An Enhanced DBS check is the most thorough level of DBS check available. It includes everything a Standard check reveals, plus an additional search of information held by local police forces across the country. This is the key difference between a Standard and an Enhanced DBS check.
The Enhanced DBS check costs £49.50. It searches the PNC for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings. On top of that, police forces check the applicant’s details against locally held intelligence, non-conviction data and any other relevant information. A chief officer then decides what is relevant and proportionate to disclose on the certificate.
To qualify for an Enhanced DBS check, your role must fall under both the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and the Police Act 1997 regulations. In practice, this means roles that involve regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults.
Common self-employed roles that qualify include private tutors, care workers, nannies and childminders, teachers and sports coaches.
Apply for Your Self-Employed DBS Check
If you are a self-employed worker who needs a Standard or Enhanced DBS check, you can apply online through our platform. The process is fully digital, with online ID verification and e-Bulk submission to the DBS.
Enhanced DBS with Barred List Checks
An Enhanced DBS check with Barred List includes everything above, plus a check against the Children’s Barred List and/or the Adults’ Barred List. These lists contain the names of individuals who have been barred from working with children or vulnerable adults. There is no additional cost for the Barred List check; the DBS fee remains £49.50.
Barred List checks are only available to people carrying out regulated activity. Regulated activity means specific types of close, unsupervised or frequent work with children or vulnerable adults. Working in regulated activity while on a Barred List is a criminal offence that carries up to five years’ imprisonment.
If you are self-employed and your work qualifies as regulated activity, you will typically need an Enhanced DBS check with Barred List. This is the highest level of DBS check available.
Comparing DBS Check Levels at a Glance
| Feature | Basic | Standard | Enhanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unspent convictions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spent convictions | No | Yes (filtered) | Yes (filtered) |
| Cautions, reprimands and warnings | No | Yes (filtered) | Yes (filtered) |
| Local police intelligence | No | No | Yes |
| Barred List check (if eligible) | No | No | Yes |
| DBS fee | £21.50 | £21.50 | £49.50 |
| Can self-apply directly | Yes (GOV.UK) | No | No |
What DBS Check Do Self-Employed Workers Need
The DBS check level you need depends entirely on the nature of your work and who you work with. If your role involves unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults on a regular basis, you will almost certainly need an Enhanced DBS check, possibly with a Barred List check.
Since 21 January 2026, self-employed workers in England and Wales can apply for Standard and Enhanced DBS checks for the first time. Before this date, self-employed people could only obtain a Basic check through GOV.UK, which meant there was no way for a self-employed tutor, carer or childminder to get the same level of criminal record check as an employed person doing the same work.
That gap is now closed. Self-employed workers apply for their own DBS check through a registered platform like self-employed-dbs.co.uk. You cannot ask a client or parent to apply on your behalf. The application must come from you.
What Are Filtering Rules
Filtering rules determine which older or minor offences are automatically removed from Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates. Not every past conviction or caution will appear.
Adult cautions are filtered if they are more than six years old and the offence is not on the list of exceptions. Youth cautions are filtered after two years. Convictions are filtered if there is only one on record, it did not result in a custodial sentence and it is more than eleven years old for adults or five and a half years for those under eighteen at the time.
Certain offences never filter, regardless of age. These include sexual offences, violent offences and safeguarding-related offences. The filtering rules apply to Standard and Enhanced DBS checks. They do not apply to Basic checks, which only show unspent convictions by definition.
How Long Does Each DBS Check Take
A Basic DBS check applied for online through GOV.UK typically arrives within fourteen days. Standard and Enhanced DBS checks take an average of fourteen days, though Enhanced checks can take longer if police forces need additional time to review local records.
Applications submitted electronically through the e-Bulk system are processed faster than paper applications. There is no guaranteed fast-track option for Enhanced DBS checks.
If you work with multiple clients, the DBS Update Service (£16 per year) allows you to keep your DBS certificate current and share it with new clients without reapplying each time. You can find more details on our FAQs page.
How Much Does Each DBS Check Cost
The DBS statutory fees are set by the Disclosure and Barring Service and are the same regardless of which platform processes your application. Here is what each DBS check level costs:
| Check Type | DBS Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic DBS | £21.50 |
| Standard DBS | £21.50 |
| Enhanced DBS | £49.50 |
| Enhanced DBS + Barred List | £49.50 |
The DBS statutory fee is VAT-exempt. No payment is taken until your application is ready to submit. For a full breakdown of costs for self-employed applicants, see our pricing page.
Which DBS Check Is Right for You
If you are unsure which DBS check level applies to your work, the simplest test is whether your role involves direct, unsupervised or frequent contact with children or vulnerable adults. If it does, an Enhanced DBS check is almost certainly what you need. If your work involves a position of trust but not direct care or supervision, a Standard check may apply. If neither applies, a Basic check is sufficient.
Self-employed workers in England and Wales who need a Standard or Enhanced DBS check can apply through self-employed-dbs.co.uk. Basic DBS checks are handled directly through GOV.UK.
This guide applies to self-employed workers in England and Wales only. Self-employed workers in Scotland should apply through Disclosure Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent service is AccessNI. This page is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, contact our support team or consult a qualified legal adviser.
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Self-employed-dbs.co.uk processes Enhanced and Standard DBS applications for self-employed workers in England and Wales. No employer needed.