Tracking Service
Please enter the DBS application form reference number and the applicant’s date of birth.
For example, E0948425587 — it begins with a letter and appears on your DBS emails.
If you got a DBS application from self-employed-dbs.co.uk, you can track it here from within the app, please log into your account to access this feature. If you can not remember your application form reference number, please check your email inbox (and spam folder) or contact DBS directly:
| Phone: | 03000 200 190 | Post: | Disclosure and Barring Service |
| Minicom: | 03000 200 192 | PO Box 3961 | |
| Wootton Bassett, SN4 4HF |
DBS accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.
Opening the official DBS tracker
We’ve sent your details to the official Disclosure and Barring Service tracking page, which will open in a new tab. If it didn’t open, use the button below.
DBS accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.
DBS Tracking Service: Track Your DBS Application Online
What the DBS Tracking Service Is
The DBS tracking service is the free online tool that lets you check how far your DBS application has progressed. Once a Standard or Enhanced application has been submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service, you can track your DBS application at any time to see which stage it has reached and roughly how much longer it may take.
To track your DBS application you need two things: your DBS application form reference number (the ten-digit number that starts with an "E", sometimes "F0") and the applicant's date of birth. You do not need to create an account or log in. The tracker above takes those two details and opens your live result on the official DBS tracking service for you.
The DBS tracking service only shows the stage your application has reached. It never shows the result, any convictions, or the content of your certificate. Those appear only on the certificate itself, which is posted to the applicant.
Who Can Use the DBS Tracking Service
Applicants, employers and umbrella bodies can all use the DBS tracking service for Standard and Enhanced checks, as long as they have the reference number and date of birth. A Basic DBS check is tracked differently, through the GOV.UK account it was applied for under, so the reference-and-date-of-birth tracker does not apply to Basic checks.
How to Track Your DBS Application
Tracking your DBS application takes under a minute. The tool at the top of this page does it for you, but here is what happens step by step.
Step 1 — Find Your DBS Tracking Number
Your DBS tracking number is simply your application form reference number. It is the ten-digit number beginning with "E" that is generated when your application is sent to the DBS. If you applied through self-employed-dbs.co.uk it appears in your account and on the emails we send you. If you cannot find it, contact our support team and we will help you locate it.
Step 2 — Enter Your Reference and Date of Birth
Type the reference number and the applicant's date of birth into the DBS tracking service. Use the tracker above and it will build the correct secure link and open the official service for you in a new tab.
Step 3 — Read the Stage
The DBS tracking service shows each of the five stages and marks them as Completed, In Progress or Not Started. This tells you exactly where your check is and lets you estimate when it will finish.
The 5 Stages of a DBS Check Explained
When you track your DBS application, you will see up to five stages. An Enhanced check can pass through all five. A Standard check usually moves through Stages 1, 2 and 5 only, because the barred-list and local-police stages do not apply to it.
Stage 1 — Application Received and Validated
The DBS confirms it has received your application and checks the details for errors or missing information. Electronic applications submitted through an e-Bulk platform like ours are validated before they are sent, so they rarely fail at this stage.
Stage 2 — Police National Computer Searched
Your details are checked against the Police National Computer, which holds records of convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings. This stage applies to every Standard and Enhanced check.
Stage 3 — Barred Lists and List 99 Searched
For Enhanced checks that include a barred-list check, your details are cross-referenced against the Children's barred list, the Adults' barred list and List 99, where applicable. Standard checks skip this stage.
Stage 4 — Records Held by the Police Searched
For Enhanced checks, the relevant local police forces review their own records for any information they consider relevant. This is the stage where delays most often happen, as it depends on individual forces.
Stage 5 — Certificate Printed and Dispatched
Once vetting is complete, the certificate is printed under secure conditions and posted to the applicant's home address. When the DBS tracking service shows the certificate as dispatched, the check is 100% complete.
What Each DBS Tracking Status Means
Alongside the five stages, the DBS tracking service shows a status for each one. Understanding these helps you read your progress at a glance.
Not Started
This stage has not yet begun. Stages further down the list will show as Not Started until the check reaches them.
In Progress
The most common status you will see. Your application is actively being checked. A check that sits "In Progress" for a while is usually waiting at Stage 4 while a local police force reviews its records.
Completed
That particular stage has finished and the check has moved on. When every stage shows Completed, your certificate is ready to be printed.
Dispatched
Shown once the certificate has been printed and posted. At this point the process is finished and your certificate is on its way to you.
Why Is My DBS Application Taking So Long?
No umbrella body or registered platform can speed up the DBS once an application has been submitted. The processing time is set entirely by the Disclosure and Barring Service and the police forces involved. Tracking your DBS application simply shows you where any hold-up is.
Common Reasons for Delays
The most frequent cause is Stage 4, where local police forces review their records. Busy forces, complex cases that need closer investigation, periods of unusually high application volumes, and details that have to be corrected can all add time. Standard checks, which skip Stages 3 and 4, are usually quicker than Enhanced checks for this reason.
When You Can Chase It
If your check has been stuck at Stage 4 for a long time, the applicant can contact the relevant local police force directly to ask them to chase it. If the application has been sitting at Stage 5 for more than ten working days, you can contact the DBS on 03000 200 190. Any estimated completion date shown by the tracking service is a guide only, not a guarantee.
Tracking, Your Certificate and the Update Service
When the DBS tracking service shows your certificate as dispatched, the paper certificate is posted to the applicant. Only the applicant receives the certificate, so keep it safe once it arrives.
The DBS Update Service
The DBS Update Service lets you keep your certificate live and lets future clients check its status online without seeing the original each time. You can subscribe using your application form reference number while your application is still being processed, or using your certificate number within a short window after it is issued (the DBS tracking page currently states 19 days). Check the deadline on GOV.UK before you subscribe. For self-employed workers who take on multiple clients, the Update Service is the easiest way to prove your DBS status quickly.
Tracking a Self-Employed DBS Check
Since 21 January 2026, self-employed workers have been able to apply for their own Standard and enhanced DBS checks through a registered platform, then track their DBS application in exactly the same way as anyone else. There is no employer in the middle and no extra step.
When you apply through self-employed-dbs.co.uk, your application is submitted electronically through e-Bulk, you receive your reference number quickly, and we send you email updates as the stages change, so you rarely need to track manually at all. If you have not applied yet, you can start your application here — you only pay when it is ready to submit. See the full cost breakdown or read our guide on how to track a DBS application.
DBS Tracking Service Frequently Asked Questions
How do I track my DBS application?
Enter your DBS application form reference number (the ten-digit number starting with "E") and the applicant's date of birth into the DBS tracking service. The tracker at the top of this page does this for you and opens your live result on the official Disclosure and Barring Service page.
What is my DBS tracking number?
Your DBS tracking number is your application form reference number. It is generated when your application is sent to the DBS and usually begins with the letter "E". If you applied through self-employed-dbs.co.uk it is shown in your account and in our emails. If you cannot find it, contact our support team.
How long does a DBS check take to track through all five stages?
Many Standard checks complete within a few days because they skip the barred-list and local-police stages. Enhanced checks vary widely; many finish within about ten working days, but Stage 4 can add time depending on the police forces involved. Tracking shows you which stage you are at so you can estimate the rest.
Why has my DBS been "In Progress" for weeks?
A long "In Progress" status almost always means the check is waiting at Stage 4, where a local police force is reviewing its records. This is outside the control of any umbrella body. If it has been a long time, the applicant can contact the relevant police force directly to chase it.
What does "dispatched" mean on the DBS tracking service?
"Dispatched" means the certificate has been printed and posted to the applicant and the checking process is fully complete. You should receive the paper certificate in the post shortly afterwards.
Can my client or employer track my DBS application?
Yes. Anyone with the application reference number and the applicant's date of birth can use the DBS tracking service for a Standard or Enhanced check. It only ever shows the stage, never the result, so sharing the reference for tracking purposes does not reveal any personal certificate information.
Can I track a Basic DBS check here?
No. Basic DBS checks are tracked through the GOV.UK account they were applied for under, not through the reference-and-date-of-birth tracking service. This tracker is for Standard and Enhanced checks.
Does the DBS tracking service show my result?
No. The tracking service only shows how far the application has progressed. The result and any disclosed information appear solely on the certificate, which is posted to the applicant.
I have lost my reference number. How do I track my DBS?
You cannot track a DBS application without the reference number. If you applied through self-employed-dbs.co.uk, sign in to your account or contact our support team and we will help you find it. If you applied elsewhere, ask whoever submitted the application.
This page is provided by Self Employed DBS (a brand of MJD Ventures Limited), an independent government-approved DBS umbrella body. It is not the official DBS tracking service. Tracking results are provided by, and displayed on, the official Disclosure and Barring Service at secure.crbonline.gov.uk. This guide covers Standard and enhanced DBS checks in England and Wales and is for general guidance only; it does not constitute legal advice.