Frequently Asked
DBS Check Questions

Yes. Self-employed people can obtain DBS checks only where their role is legally eligible under Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) rules. Basic checks can be applied for directly. Standard and Enhanced checks must be submitted through a DBS-registered Umbrella Body.

Yes, as long as the role is eligible. From January 2026, self-employed people can apply directly for an enhanced DBS check through a DBS-registered Umbrella Body, with no employer required.

Keep in mind that standard DBS checks are not offered to self-employed applicants.

The official Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) fee is £21.50 for Basic and Standard checks and £49.50 for Enhanced checks. Umbrella Bodies may charge an additional administration fee.

Government Disclosure & Barring Fees

The correct level depends on the work performed. Roles involving unsupervised work with vulnerable children or adults usually require an enhanced DBS check. Lower-risk roles may only require a Standard or Basic check.

Basic checks often complete within hours. Standard checks typically take 24 to 48 hours. Enhanced checks commonly complete within ten working days, although some are faster.

A DBS Check shows key information from an individual's criminal record. This helps organisations make informed and safer decisions.

The information shown depends on the level of check. Options include Basic, Standard, Enhanced, and Enhanced with barred list checks.

No. The Disclosure and Barring Service does not offer a fast-track or priority service. All applications are processed through the same system.

CRB checks were replaced by DBS checks in 2012. DBS checks are the current UK system for criminal record checks and safeguarding.

Applicants must provide valid identity documents under DBS rules. A biometric passport allows digital ID verification by smartphone. Otherwise, original documents must be checked in person by an authorised ID checker.

The first step is to register with us. After registration, you receive secure login details.

You'll then complete the online application form and request your check. Once submitted, you'll receive a link to complete digital ID validation. We then submit the application electronically to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

After processing, you'll receive the physical DBS certificate by post. An electronic snapshot becomes available within one day of issue. The platform clearly shows each stage, and tracking updates are simple to follow.

Basic DBS Checks do not require an Umbrella Body. Anyone can apply directly through the Disclosure and Barring Service at the official fee of £21.50 — higher prices from third parties include an administration charge you can avoid by applying directly.

Apply for a Basic DBS Check on GOV.UK

Always confirm that a Basic check meets your requirements. If your role needs a Standard or enhanced DBS check, you will usually need an Umbrella Body such as self-employed-dbs.co.uk.

Self-employed roles involving work with children or vulnerable adults often require a DBS check. This includes carers, tutors, healthcare workers, and certain contractors working in regulated activity. Eligibility depends on the duties performed.

Roles involving close or unsupervised contact with vulnerable people often require an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check. This prevents barred individuals from carrying out regulated work.

Some support roles with limited responsibility may only need a standard DBS check — for example, basic admin, cleaning, or maintenance work.

Where work involves regular contact with vulnerable people but is not classed as regulated activity, an enhanced DBS check without a barred list check may still be required.

Review your duties carefully. The correct level depends on the nature of the work and who you work with.

DBS eligibility guidance  ·  DBS eligibility tool

barred list checks are only included with enhanced DBS checks where the role involves regulated activity. Not all roles qualify.

The Children's barred list is a confidential register held by the Disclosure and Barring Service listing people who cannot legally work with children. A person can appear on it without any criminal convictions — a barring decision is a legal restriction in its own right.

An enhanced DBS check may include this check if the role qualifies. Roles working only with adults do not qualify. There is no price difference with or without the Children's barred list.

The Adults' barred list is a confidential register held by the Disclosure and Barring Service listing people who cannot legally carry out regulated work with vulnerable adults. A person can appear on it without a criminal record — a barring decision is a legal restriction.

An enhanced DBS check may include an Adults' barred list check if the role qualifies. Roles without regulated activity do not require this check. There is no price difference with or without the Adults' barred list.

regulated activity includes work such as providing personal care, healthcare, or managing finances for vulnerable people. These roles usually require an enhanced DBS check. Common examples include:

• Providing personal care such as washing, dressing, feeding, or toilet support.
• Delivering healthcare services including nursing, dentistry, or physiotherapy.
• Providing social work services linked to health or care needs.
• Helping with finances such as handling cash, paying bills, or shopping.
• Transporting vulnerable adults to appointments for care or treatment.
• Managing or supervising people who carry out regulated activities.

Official regulated activity guidance PDF

A vulnerable adult is someone aged 18 or over who may struggle to protect themselves from harm or neglect. This can result from disability, illness, frailty, or mental health conditions. Social factors such as isolation or financial difficulty can also increase vulnerability.

Examples include individuals with dementia, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic illness, or mental health challenges. In England, the Care Act 2014 sets out the legal framework for protecting adults at risk.

Further guidance is available from:

• The Care Act 2014 England
• Adult safeguarding roles and competencies
• Safeguarding adults — NHS guidance

They are linked but serve different purposes. An Adults' barred list Check forms part of an enhanced DBS check and confirms whether someone is legally barred from regulated work with vulnerable adults.

An Adult First Check is a quick initial check of the Adults' barred list, available only alongside an enhanced DBS check that includes the barred list. You usually receive a response within 72 hours — confirming the person is not on the list, or advising you to wait. A wait message does not mean the person is barred.

The enhanced DBS fee stays the same with or without the Adults' barred list. The Adult First Check is optional and costs extra. There is no equivalent fast-track check for the Children's barred list.

A DBS check has no official expiry date. It is a snapshot of records on the issue date. Clients or organisations decide when a new check is required.

The DBS Update Service is a paid subscription (£16/year) that lets you keep a Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate current and reusable across multiple roles of the same type. You must subscribe within 30 days of issue and renew annually.

With your consent, organisations can run a free instant status check using your certificate number, name, and date of birth. The result confirms either that the certificate is up to date with no new information, or that you should contact the DBS.

Official DBS Update Service information

You can view full tracking by logging into the platform. The system clearly shows each stage of the application. After submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service, a dedicated button links directly to the official DBS tracking system for the latest status updates.

This depends on the organisation's policy. Some allow supervised work while awaiting clearance. For roles involving regulated activity with children or certain vulnerable adults, it is illegal for barred individuals to work — so work rarely begins before barred list status is confirmed.

For regulated roles involving vulnerable adults, the Adult First Check may provide an early indication of whether someone appears on the Adults' barred list.

The Disclosure and Barring Service does not control whether certificates transfer between employers. Each organisation decides whether to accept an existing one. In practice, many do not — they may not know if the details were accurate or if the check suits the new role.

Delays in issuing certificates can cause real problems — delayed start dates, pressure on existing staff, and candidates who accept other roles rather than wait. However, DBS checks are non-refundable, so applying too early risks lost fees if a role does not proceed.

self-employed-dbs.co.uk only charges at the point of submission. You can register applicants early, complete their details, verify ID, and select the correct check — then submit and pay when the timing suits you.

There are no set rules on who must pay. Each organisation decides. self-employed-dbs.co.uk allows you to assign the fee directly to the applicant, who then pays through their own login without the organisation paying upfront.

A DBS Umbrella Body is an organisation registered to access DBS services and submit applications on behalf of employers and individuals. self-employed-dbs.co.uk operates as a DBS Umbrella Body, supporting self-employed workers, sole traders, and organisations that need DBS checks.

Umbrella Bodies act as a link between applicants and the DBS. Most businesses do not register directly — direct registration usually suits organisations handling very high volumes only.

The e-Bulk system was introduced by the Disclosure and Barring Service to speed up applications. It supports two-way data transfer, returning results and tracking details within two to three hours.

self-employed-dbs.co.uk uses e-Bulk to eliminate paper forms. When you submit an application, it is transmitted to the DBS within minutes, helping to accelerate the entire process.

A Home Based position is one where the applicant carries out regulated activity in their own home. For example, a music tutor teaching children at the tutor's home qualifies. A care worker visiting someone at that person's home is not Home Based for DBS purposes.

Home Based roles are uncommon and receive extra review by local police — only select this option when it clearly applies. There is no price difference versus a standard enhanced DBS check.

Filtering determines which convictions appear on Standard and enhanced DBS checks. Some older or minor offences are classed as protected and will not show.

Certain specified offences — usually serious violent or sexual offences and safeguarding-related crimes — must always appear unless they relate to a youth caution. Any conviction that led to a custodial sentence (including suspended) will always be disclosed. Most youth cautions, warnings, and reprimands no longer appear automatically, though Youth Conditional Cautions may still be included.

No. A DBS check only covers criminal record information held in the United Kingdom. It searches records from England and Wales, plus relevant information from Scotland and Northern Ireland held on the UK Police National Computer. Offences committed overseas will not appear.

If someone has lived or worked abroad, you should request an overseas criminal record check — often called a Certificate of Good Conduct. The UK government provides guidance for each country.

Yes, in most cases. A DBS check fee counts as an allowable business expense when the check is required for the work being done. HMRC uses the "wholly and exclusively" test — if a cost is incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade, it can be deducted from turnover. Full guidance: BIM37007 – Wholly and exclusively: overview.

A self-employed carer or private tutor needs a check before taking on work — the cost is for the trade and is allowable. A self-employed gardener has no business reason to hold a DBS check, so HMRC would likely refuse the claim.

Where the check qualifies, the official DBS fee, the Umbrella Body administration fee, and the annual DBS Update Service subscription can all be claimed. You cannot claim DBS costs if you use the £1,000 tax-free trading allowance.

Expenses if you're self-employed — GOV.UK

Keep the DBS receipt or invoice with your business records. Record the cost as an allowable expense when completing your Self Assessment tax return. The expense reduces your taxable profit — for example, if your turnover is £40,000 and allowable expenses (including a £49.50 Enhanced DBS fee) total £10,000, you pay Income Tax on £30,000.

self-employed-dbs.co.uk issues an invoice for every application, which can be saved directly to your accounting records.