What is the DBS Update Service and is it worth it for self-employed workers?
The DBS Update Service is an annual subscription that keeps a Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate linked to an online status check. For self-employed workers, it can be worth it if you work with several clients who need to see the same level and workforce of DBS check, such as child workforce tutoring or adult workforce care.
It is not a replacement for DBS eligibility. You still need the right type of DBS check for the work you do. The Update Service is also not available for Basic DBS checks, so it will not help if your role is only eligible for a Basic check.
What the DBS Update Service does
The Update Service lets an individual keep a Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate up to date online. A person or organisation considering your services can then run a free status check, with your permission, to see whether the certificate remains current.
For self-employed workers, the practical benefit is portability. If you have a suitable certificate and the work is in the same workforce and at the same level of check, a new client may be able to check your existing certificate instead of asking you to apply again. This can be useful for tutors, care workers, coaches, visiting contractors and other eligible roles where several clients may ask about safeguarding.
The service does not turn an old certificate into a universal pass. The person checking it must still decide whether the certificate is right for the role, and whether they are legally entitled to check that level and workforce.
Who can use it if they are self-employed
The Update Service is only for Standard and enhanced DBS checks, including Enhanced checks with barred list information where the original certificate included it. You cannot subscribe with a Basic DBS check.
Since 21 January 2026, eligible self-employed people and personal employees in England and Wales have been able to apply for Enhanced or Enhanced with barred list(s) DBS checks through a DBS Umbrella Body. The role must still meet the eligibility rules. A self-employed maths tutor working regularly with children may be eligible for an Enhanced check with the relevant barred list, while a tradesperson who simply enters customers’ homes is unlikely to be eligible for that level on that basis alone.
If you are unsure which level applies, check the duties before you apply. Our DBS Eligibility Check tool can help you understand whether your self-employed role is likely to be suitable for a Basic, Standard or enhanced DBS check.
How much it costs and when to join
The DBS Update Service costs ยฃ16 per year for paid work. It is free for people who meet the DBS definition of a volunteer, but a paid role certificate cannot be added to a free volunteer subscription. If you move from volunteering into paid work, you may need a new DBS check and a paid subscription.
You can join during the DBS application process if you have the application form reference number or e-reference. DBS must receive the DBS application within 28 days of the Update Service subscription being created. Once the certificate is issued, it is added to the account automatically.
You can also join after the certificate has been issued, but only within 30 days of the date of issue printed on the certificate. If you miss that 30-day window, you will need a new eligible DBS check before you can subscribe. If you are planning to use the Update Service, it is usually safer to join while your application is in progress.
You can compare the wider cost of applying in our guide to self-employed DBS check costs.
How to use the DBS Update Service as a self-employed worker
The process is simple, but the timing matters.
Check your role first
Confirm whether the work is eligible for a Standard, Enhanced or Enhanced with barred list(s) DBS check. Do this before assuming the Update Service will help.
Apply through the right route
If you are eligible as a self-employed worker, apply through a DBS Umbrella Body that can process checks for self-employed applicants.
Join during the application if possible
Use your application reference or e-reference. This avoids missing the 30-day deadline after the certificate is issued.
Keep your original certificate
Clients must see the original certificate before they can run a status check. A copy or photo is not enough.
Renew every year
Keep your subscription active. If it expires, you will need a new eligible DBS check before you can rejoin.
What clients can and cannot see
A client, parent, private employer or organisation does not get a copy of your criminal record through a status check. They enter the details from your original certificate and receive a status result. The result can say that the certificate remains current, or that it is no longer current and a new DBS check is needed to see the latest information.
Before running a status check, the person checking must have seen your original DBS certificate, checked your identity, obtained your permission and be legally entitled to request the same level and workforce of check for the role. Copies, photographs and video calls are not a substitute for seeing the original certificate.
The Update Service records checks, and you can see which organisations have checked your certificate status through your account. If you withdraw consent, the organisation should stop checking.
When it is worth paying for
For many self-employed workers, the value depends on how often clients ask for DBS evidence and whether the same certificate can properly be used for those roles. If you work for several families, schools, clubs or care clients in the same type of eligible work, ยฃ16 per year may save repeat applications, delays and client uncertainty.
It is less useful if you only need a Basic DBS check, if you work with one long-term client who will not run Update Service checks, or if your work changes between different DBS workforces or levels. A child workforce certificate, for example, is not automatically suitable for adult workforce work. An Enhanced certificate without a barred list check is not the same as an Enhanced certificate with the relevant barred list check.
DBS certificates do not have an official expiry date, but they only show information that was accurate at the time of issue unless the certificate is linked to the Update Service. If you are weighing up whether a fresh check is needed, our guide on how long a DBS check lasts explains how clients usually think about certificate age.
What to do before you apply
Start by checking eligibility for the role you actually do, not the job title you use in your marketing. DBS eligibility depends on duties, setting, frequency and the people you work with. A private tutor, live-in carer, childminder, coach or healthcare professional may fall into a different position from a cleaner, photographer or general contractor.
If your role is eligible for an Enhanced or Enhanced with barred list(s) check, apply through a suitable Umbrella Body and decide whether you want to join the Update Service while the application is being processed. Keep your personal email address on the subscription, keep the Update Service ID safe, and renew each year if you still need the service.
If you need help starting the right application, Self Employed DBS can guide eligible self-employed workers through the online route and identity checking steps. You can read more about how to apply for a DBS check if you are self-employed before you begin.
This guide is for general information for England and Wales. DBS eligibility depends on the role, duties and legal criteria. Always check current DBS guidance or take appropriate professional advice where needed.
Need the right DBS check for self-employed work?
If your role is eligible, Self Employed DBS can help you start the appropriate DBS application and understand whether the Update Service may be useful for your work. We cannot guarantee eligibility or the result of a DBS check, but we can help you avoid common application mistakes.