A DBS check only covers criminal records held on UK databases. If you have lived or worked abroad, an employer or client may also ask for an overseas criminal record check covering the period you spent in another country. ACRO Criminal Records Office handles UK criminal record checks for international purposes.
This guide explains when overseas checks are required, what ACRO is and how its certificates differ from DBS checks, how to obtain overseas criminal record information, and what happens when a country does not issue the type of certificate requested.
Why DBS Checks Do Not Cover Time Abroad
The Disclosure and Barring Service checks criminal records held on UK databases, primarily the Police National Computer and, for Enhanced checks, information held locally by UK police forces. It does not have access to the criminal records of foreign countries, and it does not routinely include overseas convictions in its checks.
There are exceptions. In some cases, information about overseas offences may be held on UK systems through international law enforcement data-sharing arrangements. If this is the case, the information may appear on a DBS certificate without the applicant’s knowledge that it is there. However, this is not a comprehensive mechanism, and the absence of overseas information from a DBS certificate does not confirm that an applicant has a clear criminal history abroad.
For roles where an applicant has spent time abroad, an employer or client may therefore request a separate overseas criminal record check to fill this gap. The DBS check covers the UK period; the overseas check covers the time spent in another country. Together, they provide a more complete picture of the applicant’s history.
For UK-based criminal record checks as a self-employed worker, see our self-employed DBS checks page.
What ACRO Criminal Records Office Is
ACRO Criminal Records Office is a national police unit that manages criminal record information on behalf of UK policing. Among its functions, ACRO issues Police Certificates to individuals who need to provide evidence of their UK criminal history for purposes outside the UK, such as visa applications, overseas employment, or international adoption processes.
ACRO also issues the International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC), which is a specific certificate designed for UK nationals seeking to work with children abroad. The ICPC is recognised in a number of countries as evidence that the holder does not have relevant UK criminal history that would disqualify them from working with children.
ACRO certificates are not the same as DBS checks. They serve different purposes and are issued by different organisations. An ACRO Police Certificate is used to demonstrate UK criminal history to foreign authorities. A DBS check is used for UK domestic employment and vetting purposes. Depending on the context, an individual may need one, the other, or both.
When Overseas Checks Are Requested
There is no single rule about when an overseas criminal record check is required. The decision rests with the employer or organisation requesting the check, based on their safeguarding policies and risk assessment framework.
Many organisations set a threshold based on the duration of time spent abroad. A common threshold is any period of continuous residence abroad exceeding three or six months during the previous ten years. If you have spent time abroad above this threshold, you may be asked to provide a criminal record check from that country.
Others require an overseas check regardless of duration, particularly for roles with children, where the potential consequences of an overseas conviction being unknown are considered too significant to ignore. For roles in schools, children’s charities, and similar settings, the safeguarding policy often requires an overseas check for any applicant who has lived outside the UK, with limited exceptions.
Self-employed workers should be prepared for this question in any client engagement that involves regulated activity with children. If you have lived or worked abroad, having this information ready, including which countries and for what periods, allows you to address the request quickly rather than being caught unprepared when a client asks.
In education, a school or local authority that engages a self-employed worker who has lived abroad in the last five years will almost always require an overseas criminal record check covering that period. The same applies in health and social care settings where the worker will have unsupervised access to vulnerable adults or children.
For self-employed workers, this means being prepared to provide evidence covering any time spent outside the UK. If your address history on the DBS application includes an overseas address, the DBS will check UK databases only. The overseas element is your responsibility to arrange separately.
How to Obtain an Overseas Criminal Record Check
The process for obtaining an overseas criminal record check varies by country. Most countries operate some form of criminal record checking system, but the name, the process, and the format of the resulting certificate differ widely.
The starting point is typically the relevant authority in the country concerned: the national police force, the ministry of justice, or a designated government agency. Many countries allow applications to be made by nationals or former residents from outside the country, either through an embassy or consulate in the UK or through an online application process.
The GOV.UK website provides guidance on obtaining criminal record checks from a range of countries, including contact details for the relevant authorities. This guidance is updated periodically and is the recommended starting point for applicants unsure how to proceed with a specific country.
Some countries issue certificates that are equivalent in content to a UK Basic or Standard DBS check. Others produce documents that cover a narrower range of information. The certificate you receive will reflect the scope of the system in the issuing country, which may not map exactly onto what a UK employer is expecting. Being transparent about this with the requesting organisation is the appropriate approach when there is a mismatch.
For details on UK DBS check fees, see our DBS check costs page.
Countries Where No Equivalent Check Exists
Some countries do not operate a criminal record check system that produces a certificate comparable to a UK DBS check. In these cases, it is not possible to provide the specific document an employer or client might request, because it simply does not exist in that jurisdiction.
Where no equivalent check is available, the standard approach is to provide a self-declaration in writing. This document sets out the period of time spent in the relevant country, confirms that no equivalent criminal record check is available, and states that you are not aware of any criminal history in that country that would be relevant to the role. The employer or organisation receiving this declaration then makes their own decision about how to proceed, based on their risk assessment.
A self-declaration is not the same as a criminal record check and does not provide the same level of assurance. However, it is an accepted response in situations where the overseas check route is genuinely unavailable, and it demonstrates that the applicant has engaged honestly with the request rather than ignoring it.
If you lived in a country where the system has changed or was disrupted during your time there, your best option is to explain the situation in writing and provide whatever evidence you can, such as a letter from an embassy confirming that no criminal record service is available. Most UK employers and commissioning bodies will take a pragmatic approach where the applicant has made a genuine effort to obtain the documents.
ACRO Certificates for UK Nationals Working Abroad
For UK nationals working or volunteering abroad in roles with children, the ACRO International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) is often the required document. It confirms that the holder does not have a UK criminal history that would disqualify them from working with children.
The ICPC is specifically designed for the international context. It is not a DBS check and is not used for domestic UK purposes. An applicant who needs both a UK DBS certificate for domestic work and an ICPC for overseas work will need to obtain both separately.
ACRO applications are made directly through the ACRO website. Processing times, fees, and the specific documents required for the application are published there. Current information is available at GOV.UK.
The ICPC is separate from a standard DBS check and covers a different purpose. It confirms that the applicant has no UK criminal record that would prevent them from working with children abroad. It does not cover overseas criminal history. For self-employed workers moving overseas to take on roles with children, both the ICPC and any local checks required by the destination country may be needed.
How Long Overseas Checks Take
Processing times for overseas criminal record checks vary widely depending on the country. Some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, operate efficient online systems that return results within a few weeks. Others may take several months, particularly where the process involves postal applications to government agencies in countries with limited digital infrastructure.
ACRO Police Certificates for UK nationals typically take around two weeks, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the applicant’s record. Applications made during busy periods may take longer.
If you need both a UK DBS check and an overseas criminal record check, it is worth starting both processes at the same time. The DBS check and the overseas check run independently, and applying for both in parallel reduces the total wait rather than completing one before starting the other.
Common Questions About Overseas Checks and ACRO
- Does a DBS check cover time I spent living abroad?
No. The DBS checks UK criminal record databases and does not routinely include overseas criminal history. If you have lived abroad, a DBS check will not disclose offences that were committed and convicted in another country, unless information has been shared with UK authorities through international law enforcement channels and is held on UK systems. For roles where overseas history is relevant, a separate overseas criminal record check may be required.
- What is an ACRO Police Certificate?
An ACRO Police Certificate, sometimes called an International Child Protection Certificate or ICPC, is a document issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office that shows UK criminal record information in a format that can be recognised internationally. It is typically used when a UK national needs to provide evidence of their UK criminal history to a foreign employer, authority, or visa application. It is not the same as a DBS check.
- How long does an ACRO Police Certificate take?
ACRO Police Certificates are typically processed within around 10 working days for standard applications, though this can vary. ACRO publishes current processing times on its website. An enhanced check element can take longer. The certificate is sent to the applicant’s registered address.
- Do I need an overseas check if I only lived abroad briefly?
Whether an overseas check is required depends on the employer or organisation requesting it, not on a fixed threshold of time spent abroad. Some organisations require an overseas check for any period of residence abroad exceeding three months. Others set a higher threshold. The specific requirement will be set out by the organisation requesting the check. If you are unsure, ask the requesting organisation directly.
- Can a foreign criminal record check be translated?
If an overseas criminal record check is issued in a language other than English, most UK employers and organisations will require a certified translation alongside the original document. A certified translation is one produced by a qualified translator and endorsed with a statement confirming that it is a true and accurate translation of the original. Requirements vary, so it is worth confirming with the requesting organisation what translation standard they accept.
- What if I cannot obtain an overseas criminal record check?
Some countries do not operate a criminal record check system that produces a certificate equivalent to a DBS check. In these cases, it is not possible to obtain the specific document requested. The typical approach is to provide a self-declaration in writing, explaining that no equivalent check is available for the relevant country, together with evidence of the period of residence abroad and any other information the requesting organisation considers relevant. The organisation then makes a decision based on the information available.
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.
Apply for Your UK DBS Check
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.