What documents do you need for a DBS check?
The documents needed for a DBS check depend on the identity route used for the application. For most self-employed people applying for an enhanced DBS check, the usual starting point is Route 1: one primary identity document and two further documents from the accepted DBS document groups.
Your documents must confirm who you are. The application also needs your current official name, any previous names and a full five-year address history. If your role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check, Self Employed DBS can help you apply through the correct route.
The short answer: most applicants need three documents
For a standard or enhanced DBS identity check, Route 1 should be used where possible. Under Route 1, you must show:
- one document from Group 1
- two further documents from Group 1, Group 2a or Group 2b
The documents must confirm your name and date of birth. Your current permanent address also needs to be verified as part of the identity process. This matters because DBS sends the certificate to the applicant’s correspondence address.
Group 1 documents include stronger identity evidence, such as a passport, eVisa, UK photocard driving licence, birth certificate issued within 12 months of birth, adoption certificate, biometric residence permit in limited circumstances, or Application Registration Card where the relevant Home Office check is completed.
If you do not have a Group 1 document, the application may move to Route 2 or Route 3, but only if the earlier route is not possible. Those routes involve different document combinations and may add extra checks or delays.
Common documents that can help prove your identity
A valid passport or UK photocard driving licence is often the simplest starting point. A UK passport can be accepted if it expired no more than six months ago, but other passport rules differ. Do not assume an expired overseas passport will be accepted.
Useful supporting documents can include a UK or Channel Islands bank or building society statement issued in the last three months, a UK credit card statement issued in the last three months, a UK council tax statement issued in the last 12 months, a UK utility bill issued in the last three months, a mortgage statement issued in the last 12 months, or a valid PASS accredited card.
Some documents have tighter rules. A mobile phone bill is not accepted as a utility bill for this purpose. A P45 or P60 must be an original document, not a printout from an online account. A bank statement printed from online banking is not enough unless the bank prints it and endorses it with a stamp and signature.
If you are unsure whether your documents will work, it is usually better to check before you start. Our guide on completing your DBS identity check without delays covers the practical details that often cause applications to stall.
Address history and name details are part of the document check
Your identity documents are only one part of the DBS application. You must also provide your full five-year address history. If you have lived in student accommodation, a hostel, abroad, with family, or at a temporary address, the form still needs to be completed accurately.
The name on the DBS application should be your official current name. You should also declare previous names, such as a former surname after marriage or a name changed by deed poll. If a document shows a common spelling variation or an extra name, the ID checker may need to record that properly so the application can be searched correctly.
Small errors can lead to avoidable delays. Common examples include missing a middle name, using a shortened first name, entering an address with the wrong dates, or leaving out a previous surname. If you have a complicated address history, read our guide to DBS checks and address history before you apply.
How to prepare your DBS documents
A few checks before you apply can prevent most document problems.
Check the role first
enhanced DBS checks are only available for eligible roles. Confirm the workforce and level before collecting documents.
Choose your Route 1 documents
Start with a Group 1 document if you have one, then add two accepted supporting documents.
Match your names
Use your official current name and prepare evidence for recent name changes, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll.
Build your address history
List every address for the last five years, including temporary addresses and time spent abroad where relevant.
Check document dates
Make sure statements, letters and bills are within the accepted issue period and are not online printouts unless the rules allow them.
What counts as an original document?
For a manual DBS identity check, documents should normally be physical documents. Photocopies and scanned copies are not accepted as the main evidence. There are limited exceptions, including an eVisa viewed through the Home Office View and Prove service, and a digital PASS card where the QR code has been checked.
DBS identity guidance also explains three ways documents may be viewed. Option one is an in-person check, where the ID checker sees the physical documents in the applicant’s presence. Option two allows a video call if the ID checker already has the physical documents, for example because they were posted securely in advance. Option three allows an initial video check without the physical documents, but the full set of physical documents must then be checked before the person starts work, except in exceptional circumstances when this may happen on the first day.
If you are self-employed, your umbrella body or registered body will explain which identity process it uses. Do not send original documents to a client or parent unless a formal process specifically requires it. Clients usually need to see your DBS certificate after it is issued, not handle the documents used to apply for it.
Digital identity checks and when documents may be checked online
Some DBS applications can use digital identity verification. For standard and enhanced checks, digital identity must reach the required level of confidence and be handled through a certified digital verification service used by the registered body or umbrella body.
Digital identity does not remove every requirement. The application still needs the applicant’s official name, date of birth, current address and five-year address history. If a reusable digital identity is accepted, the current address still has to be verified within the required time before the DBS application is sent.
Digital checks can be convenient, especially for self-employed professionals who work across different client sites, but the route depends on the provider handling the application. If your role may be eligible for an enhanced check, you can start by checking the role with our DBS eligibility tool.
What clients should ask to see after the DBS check is complete
If you are buying services from a self-employed tutor, carer, coach or similar professional, you normally cannot apply for an enhanced DBS check on their behalf. If the role is eligible, the self-employed person applies through an umbrella body and can show you the DBS certificate when it arrives.
You should ask to see the original DBS certificate, not a photocopy or a phone photo. You can also ask to see a government-issued photo ID so the name and details match the certificate. Check the workforce wording, the date of issue and whether the certificate is the right level for the role.
A DBS certificate is only one part of a safer hiring decision. You may also want references, clear service terms and a conversation about how the work will be carried out. If you want to understand the certificate itself, read what a DBS certificate is.
This guide is for general information for England and Wales. DBS eligibility depends on the role and duties being carried out. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee that any application will be accepted or that a particular certificate result will be issued.
Apply for an enhanced DBS check with support
If your self-employed role is eligible for an enhanced DBS check, Self Employed DBS can help you apply online and understand which documents you need before submission.
We only provide enhanced DBS checks, so we will focus on the level of check that fits eligible self-employed roles such as tutoring, care, coaching and similar work with children or adults.