Once your DBS application has been submitted, you can track its progress through the DBS tracking service on GOV.UK. The tracker shows which stage your application has reached and gives an indication of whether it is progressing normally or has been held for further checks.
This guide explains how to access the DBS tracking service, what the stages on the tracker mean, how long applications typically take, and when it is worth chasing for an update.
How to Access the DBS Tracking Service
The DBS provides a public tracking service for applications that have been submitted. It is available through the GOV.UK website at gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/tracking-application.
To use the tracker, you will need the application reference number that was provided when your application was submitted. If you applied through self-employed-dbs.co.uk, this reference number will have been shared with you by the platform after submission. Keep this number safe; it is the only way to track the progress of your specific application.
The tracker is updated as the application moves through the DBS’s processing stages. It does not provide real-time updates, and there may be periods where the displayed stage appears static even while processing is continuing behind the scenes. Checking every few days rather than multiple times per day gives a more accurate picture of progress.
If you applied through our platform, your application was submitted via eBulk. For an overview of the full process, see our self-employed DBS checks page.
What the Tracking Stages Mean
The DBS tracking system shows the application’s current position in the processing pipeline using a series of numbered stages.
The early stages cover receipt by the DBS and initial validation of the application. At these stages, the DBS is checking that the application form is complete, that the applicant’s identity has been verified, and that the correct check type has been applied for. Most applications pass through these stages quickly.
Later stages involve the criminal record checks themselves. For a Standard check, this primarily involves checking the Police National Computer. For an Enhanced check, the process may also include consultation with one or more local police forces. This is the stage where Enhanced checks most commonly experience delays, because the DBS cannot control the speed at which police forces consider and respond to requests for chief officer information.
The final stages cover the production and dispatch of the certificate. Once the certificate has been printed and posted, the tracker will update to show that the certificate has been issued. The certificate is then in the postal system, and delivery typically follows within a few working days.
If the tracker shows a stage labelled “sent to police” or similar, this means the DBS has completed the PNC check and is now waiting for responses from local police forces. This stage typically takes longer than any other and is where most delays occur for Enhanced checks. There is no way to bypass this stage, and the DBS will not issue a certificate until all police forces have responded.
How Long a DBS Application Typically Takes
The time from submission to certificate issue varies depending on the level of check and the complexity of the application.
Standard DBS checks are generally the fastest. Many are returned within a few days to two weeks of submission. The check is primarily a Police National Computer search, which does not involve consultation with individual police forces.
Enhanced DBS checks take longer on average. Most are returned within one to four weeks. However, applications where a local police force is consulted for chief officer information can take considerably longer, and there is no fixed upper limit on how long this stage can take. Applicants with address histories spanning multiple police force areas may also experience longer processing times.
The DBS publishes current average processing times on GOV.UK. These figures represent the DBS’s own processing time from receipt of the application to issue of the certificate. They do not include the time taken by the platform to prepare and submit the application before it reaches the DBS. The GOV.UK figures are the most reliable benchmark for managing expectations about when a certificate is likely to arrive.
If you applied through self-employed-dbs.co.uk, you can also contact the platform for an update. The platform can confirm whether the application has been received by the DBS and, in some cases, whether it has moved past the initial validation stage. For applications that appear to be stuck, the platform can contact the DBS on your behalf.
Common Reasons for Delays
Most significant delays in DBS processing fall into one of a small number of categories.
For Enhanced checks, the most common cause of a longer-than-average wait is that the application has been referred to one or more local police forces for consideration of chief officer information. This stage is at the discretion of each police force and the DBS cannot impose a deadline on it. The tracker will show that the application is at the police force stage, and the only practical course of action is to wait.
Identity issues are another common cause of delay. If the DBS has a query about the identity documents submitted, or if there is a discrepancy between information on the application form and the documents provided, the application may be paused while this is resolved. The platform that submitted the application will typically be contacted to help resolve identity queries.
A complex address history, particularly one that spans multiple regions or includes periods of residence abroad, can also slow processing. Each address area may involve a different police force consultation. Ensuring your address history is accurate and complete when you fill in the application form is the best way to avoid adding complexity at this stage.
Contacting the DBS by phone is usually faster than writing. The DBS helpline can confirm the current status and advise on expected timescales for the remaining stages of processing.
What to Do If the Tracker Shows No Movement
In some cases, the DBS tracking service may show no progress for several weeks. This is more common with Enhanced checks than Standard checks, and the most frequent cause is a delay at the local police force stage.
When a local police force receives a request from the DBS for information about an applicant who has lived in their area, they review their own records. If they hold potentially relevant intelligence, they must decide whether it meets the disclosure threshold. This review can take time, particularly if the force is processing a high volume of requests.
If your application has been at the same stage for longer than four weeks, it is reasonable to contact the DBS. The DBS can confirm which force is causing the delay and, in some cases, escalate the request. Your application platform may also be able to chase on your behalf.
Tracking and the DBS Update Service
The DBS tracking service only applies to applications that are in progress. Once a certificate has been issued and delivered, tracking ends. If you register for the DBS Update Service within 30 days of receiving your certificate, a different kind of status check becomes available.
The Update Service allows anyone with your permission and your certificate details to check the current status of your DBS record online. This is not the same as the application tracker. It confirms whether the information on your certificate is still current, or whether new information has been added since the certificate was issued.
For self-employed workers who take on multiple clients, the Update Service replaces the need to track multiple new applications. One certificate, kept current through the Update Service, can serve across all engagements. For more about how this works, see our self-employed DBS checks page.
What to Tell Clients While You Wait
If a client is waiting for confirmation of your DBS check, keep them informed about where the application stands. You do not need to share the tracking reference itself, but letting them know the application has been submitted and giving them a realistic timeframe helps manage expectations.
For Standard checks, a turnaround of a few days to two weeks is typical. For Enhanced checks, two to four weeks is a reasonable estimate, but it is worth explaining that delays at the local police force stage are possible and outside anyone’s control.
If you are registered for the DBS Update Service from a previous certificate, you can offer clients an instant online status check on your existing record while the new application is processed. This is one of the most practical benefits of the Update Service for self-employed workers who regularly take on new clients.
Enhanced Checks and the Local Police Force Stage
The local police force stage is the part of an Enhanced DBS check that most commonly causes delays. After the DBS has completed its check of the Police National Computer, it contacts every police force covering an area where you have lived in the last five years.
Each police force reviews its own records for any information that might be relevant to the role. This includes intelligence that has not resulted in a charge or conviction but that the chief officer considers relevant to disclose. The review takes time because it involves human judgment, not just a database search.
If you have lived in multiple police force areas within the last five years, the check requires responses from all of them. A delay at any single force will hold up the entire application. This is why applicants with frequent address changes often experience longer processing times than those who have lived at one address for the full five-year period.
Common Questions About Tracking a DBS Application
- How long does a DBS check take in 2026?
Most Standard DBS checks are completed within a few days to two weeks of being submitted to the DBS. Enhanced checks typically take one to four weeks, though some take longer if a local police force needs to be consulted or if the applicant has a complex address history. The DBS publishes current average processing times on GOV.UK. These figures represent the time from DBS receipt to issue, not from the date the application was started.
- Can I chase the DBS directly?
Yes. Once your application has been submitted, you can contact the DBS directly to ask about the status if you have been waiting longer than the published average processing time. The DBS contact details and the tracking reference number are available through the GOV.UK tracking service or from the platform that processed your application.
- Why is my DBS check taking so long?
The most common causes of delay in an Enhanced check are: the application has been referred to one or more local police forces for consideration of chief officer information; the applicant has an address history in multiple police force areas; there is an issue with the identity documents submitted; or the application is in a high-volume processing period. Standard checks are less prone to significant delays unless there is an identity verification issue.
- What is Stage 3 on the DBS tracker?
The DBS tracking system uses numbered stages to indicate where in the process an application is. Stage 3 typically indicates that the application is being processed by one or more police forces. This is the stage where Enhanced checks most commonly experience delays, because the chief officer consideration is at police force discretion and the DBS cannot control the speed of that process.
- Will I be told if there is a problem with my application?
If there is an issue with your application that prevents it from being processed, the DBS or the platform will typically contact you or the platform to resolve it. Common issues include identity document concerns, incomplete address history, or eligibility questions. The platform through which you applied is usually the first point of contact for resolving these issues.
- Can I speed up my DBS check?
There is no official fast-track service for Enhanced DBS checks for individuals. The DBS processes applications in the order they are received. Ensuring your application form is complete and accurate, and that your identity documents are clear and valid, is the best way to avoid avoidable delays. Digital ID verification, where available, can also reduce the time spent on the identity verification stage.
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 Standard and Enhanced DBS applications for paid self-employed workers in England and Wales. No employer needed. Apply online with digital ID verification available.