When applying for a basic, standard or enhanced DBS check, you will need supporting documents to verify your identity. Without these documents, your application will not be processed.

So to help you understand what is needed and why, DBS Checks Online has compiled this guide to what is required for a DBS check. Keep reading to know exactly what documents you need to verify your identity for each type of DBS check.

Once you have gotten these documents together, you can apply for your or your entire staff’s DBS check online with us. We are experts at processing large quantities of DBS checks and are ready for anything.

What Do I Need For DBS Check?

In order to apply for a DBS check, you need documents that will verify your identity. Then, for the more thorough checks, documents that verify your proof of address will also be required. Lastly, you may need documents that prove your financial and social history.

These document requirements are split into two groups; one of which has two subsets. These are:

• Group 1: Primary identity documents
• Group 2a: Trusted government documents
• Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

What DBS ID Documents Are in Each Group?

Each group of DBS documents have different options of what you can provide, as the Disclosure and Barring Service is well aware that not all UK citizens will have a passport or a driver’s licence, for example. 

You will only need one or two documents from a group and may require documents from only one group, or all, depending on the check you apply for. Here are the groups and the possible documents that you can provide for each.

Group 1: Primary Identity Documents

• Passport
• Driving licence (full or provisional)
• Biometric Residence Permit
• Birth or adoption certificate

Group 2a: Trusted Government Documents

• Driving licence (full or provisional)
• Current driving licence photocard 
• Birth or adoption certificate
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• HM Forces ID card
• Firearms licence

Group 2b: Financial and Social History Documents

• Bank/building society statement
• Mortgage statement
• Council tax statement
• EU National ID card
• Government entitlement document
• Credit card statement
• Statement showing pension, endowment or benefit
• P45/P60
• Work permit or visa
• Letter of sponsorship from a future employer
• Letter from your headteacher or school principal (Only to be used if other documents cannot be provided, for 16 – 19 year olds)

What Documents Do I Need for A DBS Check?

As previously mentioned, different DBS checks have different document requirements. Here is what is needed for each type of check:

Basic DBS Check

Basic DBS checks are the lowest level of DBS check and only involve searching an individual’s criminal record for unspent convictions. Therefore, they have the simplest DBS ID document needs. When applying for a basic DBS check, you will need the following:

• One document of identification, such as a passport or driving licence.
• One document that verifies your proof of address, dated within the last three months. This can be a utility bill, bank or credit card statement or driving licence (provided it shows your current address and has not been used as the ID document).

Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks

The Disclosure and Barring Service has set the criteria for both standard DBS checks and enhanced DBS checks, as these are requested by employers and generally involve roles where the applicant will work with children or vulnerable adults. 

These two checks have the same document criteria. However, with the enhanced check disclosure, local police forces will verify the documents and relevant applicant information. Some checks, depending on the role that is being applied for, will involve a Children or Adults Barred List and List 99 check, too, to ensure that the applicant can in fact work with children or vulnerable adults.

For both the standard and the enhanced checks, the following DBS documents are required:

• One document from Group 1
• Two documents from either Group 2a or 2b, one of which must contain proof of address

If the applicant is unable to produce a Group 1 document, they must provide the following:

• At least one document from Group 2a
• Two (different) documents from Group 2a or 2b

Do You Have The Documents For DBS?

If you have all the correct DBS check documents, you can start your individual application right now! If you are an employer, you will now know what your applicants need for their DBS application and can direct them to this blog post to ensure that nothing is missing from their application.

Having all the right DBS documents will help applications get checked quickly and efficiently so that DBS check certificates can be issued within one to ten working days, depending on the type of check. This will enable you to make your hiring decisions quickly, with all the necessary information at hand.

If you want to know more about our services, contact us today.