Basic DBS check: how to apply

Step-by-step guide to applying for a basic DBS check on your own: documents, payment and what the certificate actually shows.

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Published September 22, 2026

What a basic DBS check actually is

A basic DBS check is a criminal record check that you request on yourself, and it is the only level of DBS check an individual can apply for directly. The official name of the document is a Criminal Conviction Certificate, though almost nobody uses that phrase in everyday conversation; employers, landlords and licensing bodies just say “basic DBS certificate”. The check is carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), an executive agency that handles criminal record checks for England and Wales. It searches police records for unspent convictions and conditional cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and nothing beyond that. Because you apply for it yourself, no employer permission or registered body is involved at any stage.

One thing to be clear about before we go further: Apostilla UK is a private documentation-support company, not a government body. We are not the DBS, not ACRO and not any UK authority, and we do not issue certificates or documents on behalf of the state. What follows is a plain walkthrough of the application so you can complete it on your own.

What the certificate shows and what it leaves out

The basic DBS certificate lists unspent convictions and conditional cautions only. Spent convictions, old cautions, allegations, arrests that led nowhere and police intelligence stay off the paper entirely. This is the narrowest of the three DBS levels, and that narrowness is deliberate.

A basic check does not search the barred lists. The children’s and adults’ barred lists are checked only under standard and enhanced levels, which is one reason those checks exist at all. If a role involves regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, a basic certificate will not satisfy the legal requirement.

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Who can apply and when a check is required

Anyone can apply for a basic check on themselves; there is no eligibility restriction tied to profession or status. Typical situations include a new employer asking for confirmation of a clean record, a licensing application for taxi or security work, and freelance contracts where the client wants documented assurance.

Some visa routes also ask for criminal record certificates. The requirement for certain visa categories was introduced through the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC1078), according to Home Office guidance checked on GOV.UK in September 2026. Under the same guidance, applicants for Tier 2 (General) visas in the health, education and social care sectors must provide a criminal record certificate from every country where they lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, counted from age 18, with the UK itself excluded. Without the certificate, or a satisfactory explanation for missing it, the visa application will be refused.

How you pay

You pay online with a debit or credit card as part of the application itself, and the process will not move forward until payment clears.

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How to apply: the short version

The whole application runs through the DBS online service on GOV.UK. Here is the sequence:

• Check which level of check you actually need: a basic check can be applied for by individuals, while standard and enhanced checks are only available through umbrella bodies or registered bodies, not to private applicants.

• If you have questions about a criminal record check in the UK, the Disclosure and Barring Service is the body that handles them.

• Fill in the application form with your personal details and address history.

• Pay and submit your application.

• Track the progress and wait for the certificate to be issued.

Documents you need before you start

Identity verification is the part where applications most often stall, so it pays to prepare properly. The strongest combination is a passport plus your National Insurance number; a driving licence is also accepted as a primary identity document. If digital verification through One Login cannot match you, the service offers fallback routes, and if you have no passport at all you can sometimes prove identity through a share code tied to your immigration status, which lets the system pull your details electronically. Have your previous addresses for the last few years to hand as well, since the form asks for address history.

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What to do if it stalls

If your application has been sitting without progress, you have three contact routes:

• DBS helpline 03000 200 190 for status questions by phone.

• DBS webchat through the GOV.UK contact page for written answers.

• Relay UK if you have hearing or speech difficulties and need a relay assistant on the call.

When you call, have your application reference number ready. It shortens the conversation considerably.

Getting your certificate and sharing it

Once the check completes, the result arrives as a basic DBS certificate in electronic form, and you can view it through your DBS account. The certificate carries a unique reference that an employer can use to confirm it is genuine. For sharing, the practical route is showing the certificate itself or giving the employer the details they need to validate it; you remain in control of who sees the result, because you applied for the check personally. Keep a copy somewhere safe, since re-issuing means going through the process again.

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England, Scotland and Northern Ireland: three different services

The UK does not run a single criminal record check system, and this trips up a lot of applicants. The service you use depends on where you live, and the resulting document differs in name and legal basis. Here is how the three compare:

Applying through the wrong service is a common mistake. If you have lived in more than one UK nation, apply based on where the employer or licensing body requires the check to come from. Two Northern Ireland specifics are worth knowing, both per nidirect guidance checked in September 2026: the AccessNI basic check is not accepted by every country abroad, and AccessNI does not provide an apostille itself but is authorised by the FCO to sign basic certificates, with its signature confirming to the FCO that the certificate is genuine. That signing step matters later if your document needs legalisation for use overseas.

When a conviction becomes spent

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out when a conviction stops counting as unspent. The rehabilitation period depends on the sentence imposed and, in some cases, on your age when the offence was dealt with, so two people with similar offences can have different waiting times. Once the period runs out, the conviction becomes spent and disappears from any basic DBS certificate issued afterwards. If you are unsure whether something on your record is spent, the DBS publishes guidance, and checking before you apply avoids unpleasant surprises on the certificate.

Basic check versus Enhanced DBS Check

People often ask for a basic check when the role actually requires a higher level. An Enhanced DBS Check adds relevant police information and a barred list check, and it can only be requested through an employer or a registered body; per Home Office guidance, an individual cannot apply for a standard or enhanced check, only umbrella bodies and registered bodies can. So if a care employer tells you they need an enhanced level, applying for a basic one yourself will not help. Ask the employer exactly which level they require and who will submit the application.

Police certificate from ACRO for visas

A basic DBS certificate is a UK employment document, and some foreign authorities will not accept it for immigration purposes. For visa applications to countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Cayman Islands, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA, the required document is a police certificate issued by ACRO, the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Record Office, according to nidirect guidance. ACRO also issues the International Child Protection Certificate for work with children abroad. Check which document your destination country asks for before paying for either one.

If the certificate is going abroad

Should a foreign authority need your basic DBS certificate legalised, the apostille for UK documents is issued only by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through its Legalisation Office, which checks the signature and seal before attaching the certificate. Note that e-apostille is not available for DBS certificates in England and Wales, so the paper route applies.

Before you apply

The application itself is genuinely manageable without help, and the main risks are simple ones: wrong regional service, mismatched identity documents, and spelling that does not match your passport. For more walkthroughs on UK documents, from criminal record checks to apostilles, browse our blog, where we add new guides regularly. And if your situation involves documents from another country alongside a UK certificate, the overview on the main site is a sensible starting point.

See also

• ACRO certificate vs DBS check: what is the difference

• DBS check for Ukrainians in the UK: basic, standard and enhanced explained

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Apostilles for UK public documents are issued exclusively by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office; this site is not affiliated with any government body. Please consult a qualified professional before making decisions.

FAQ

It is a criminal record check you request on yourself, officially called a Criminal Conviction Certificate. It is issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service for England and Wales and lists only unspent convictions.

It shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions recorded against your name. Spent convictions, cautions, allegations and police intelligence do not appear on a basic certificate.

No. Barred list checks are part of standard and enhanced checks only. A basic DBS certificate does not state whether you are barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Any individual aged 18 or over can apply for a basic check on themselves. You do not need an employer, a registered body or a specific job role to request one.

The certificate is formally called a Criminal Conviction Certificate. Most employers and licensing bodies simply refer to it as a basic DBS certificate.

You apply online through the DBS service on GOV.UK, verify your identity with documents such as a passport or driving licence, pay by card and wait for the certificate. The result is delivered electronically and can be shared with an employer.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 the rehabilitation period depends on the sentence received and on your age at the time of the conviction. Once a conviction is spent it no longer appears on a basic certificate.

Employers use basic checks to confirm that a candidate has no unspent convictions for roles of trust, licensing or security. Because the check only covers unspent records, it is considered proportionate for most general employment.

Step by step

• 1. Confirm which service covers you: DBS for England and Wales, Disclosure Scotland for Scotland, AccessNI for Northern Ireland.
• 2. Prepare your identity documents: a passport or driving licence, plus your National Insurance number. If you have no passport, check the alternative document routes in the application form.
• 3. Create or sign in with GOV.UK One Login: One Login verifies your identity digitally. If digital verification fails, you can continue with document checks instead.
• 4. Fill in the application and pay: Enter your personal details, current address history and payment card details. Check every spelling against your passport before submitting.
• 5. Track and receive your certificate: You can follow progress in your DBS account. If the check stalls, contact the DBS helpline 03000 200 190 or use DBS webchat.

Related pages

Which UK documents can be apostilled: certificates, degrees, company and court papers, e-Apostille rules, FCDO rejections and embassy attestation explained.

Which countries accept a UK apostille, which require embassy attestation, and country-by-country guides for UK documents used abroad.

Apostille meaning explained for UK documents: what the FCDO certificate looks like, which documents qualify, e-Apostille and when embassy legalisation.

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