The four levels of DBS check
In England and Wales, criminal record checks are issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The level you can ask for depends on the role, not on preference: requesting a higher level than the role is eligible for is unlawful.
| Level | What it shows | Which roles |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Unspent convictions and conditional cautions | Any job or purpose |
| Standard | Spent and unspent convictions and cautions that are not filtered | Roles listed in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 |
| Enhanced | Standard content plus relevant local police information | Roles in both the Exceptions Order and the Police Act 1997 regulations, such as regularly caring for children or some health and social care work |
| Enhanced with barred list(s) | Enhanced content plus the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists | Regulated activity with children or adults, and a few other listed positions |
Anyone using DBS checks must have a policy on employing ex-offenders. The minimum age to be asked to apply is 16.
Who can request each check
- Basic: the candidate can apply online themselves, or you can request one through a Responsible Organisation with their consent.
- Standard and Enhanced: only through a registered body. Organisations doing fewer than 100 checks a year must go through an umbrella body.
- Since January 2026, self-employed people and personal employees in eligible paid roles can apply for their own Enhanced checks through an umbrella body.
Fees
DBS announced lower fees from 5 October 2026. These are the DBS fees only; umbrella bodies and Responsible Organisations may add an administration fee.
| Check | Until 4 October 2026 | From 5 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Standard | £21.50 | £20.00 |
| Enhanced | £49.50 | £41.00 |
| Update Service (per year) | £16 | £15 |
The announcement does not list the Enhanced with barred list fee separately; check the DBS employer guidance for the current figure. Standard and Enhanced checks are free for eligible volunteers, and you cannot pay more for a faster check.
The DBS Update Service
The Update Service lets a candidate keep a Standard or Enhanced certificate up to date and lets an employer check it online, for free, instead of requesting a new check. For agencies placing the same worker with many clients, it is the main way to avoid paying for a fresh check every time.
- The candidate must subscribe within 30 days of the certificate being issued. The subscription is theirs, even if you paid for it.
- You can run a status check only with the candidate’s consent, if you are entitled to the same level of check for the same workforce and barred lists, and after you have seen the original certificate in person (not a copy) and checked their identity.
- DBS does not alert employers to changes. Set your own risk-based schedule for status checks.
What the status results mean
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Did not reveal any information and remains current | The certificate was clear and nothing new has been found |
| Remains current | The certificate contained information, and nothing new has been found since |
| No longer current | New information has been found: request a new check |
| Details entered do not match | The person is not subscribed, the certificate was removed, or the details are wrong |
Expiry, rechecks and turnaround
- A DBS certificate has no official expiry date. It is accurate on the day it is issued, and the employer decides when to recheck, unless sector guidance sets a schedule.
- Certificate information should usually be kept for no longer than 6 months.
- In 2025 to 2026, Enhanced checks took an average of 12.4 days, against a target of 80% within 14 days. Basic checks requested by the candidate usually take up to 3 days.
Supply staff in schools in England
Under Keeping children safe in education, schools must get written confirmation from the agency that it has carried out the checks the school would carry out, including that an Enhanced DBS certificate was obtained and a children’s barred list check made before the appointment. If the certificate disclosed anything, the school must get a copy.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Scotland: Disclosure Scotland issues Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures and runs the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. Since 1 April 2026, PVG membership lasts 5 years and then needs renewing.
- Northern Ireland: AccessNI issues Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks.
Frequently asked questions
Does a DBS certificate expire?
No. A DBS certificate has no official expiry date; it is accurate on the day it was issued. The employer decides when to recheck, unless sector guidance sets a schedule. The DBS Update Service lets you check a subscribed certificate is still current, for free.
How much is an Enhanced DBS check?
The DBS fee for an Enhanced check is £49.50 until 4 October 2026 and £41.00 from 5 October 2026. Umbrella bodies may add an administration fee.
Can an agency check a candidate’s existing DBS certificate instead of requesting a new one?
Yes, if the candidate subscribes to the DBS Update Service. With their consent, after seeing the original certificate and checking their identity, you can run a free online status check, provided you are entitled to the same level of check for the same workforce.
Collecting these documents without the chasing
Getting Docs asks each candidate for exactly the documents they still owe, over WhatsApp or email, checks that what comes back is the right document and can be read, and files it onto the candidate’s record in your ATS. It does not carry out the checks in this guide for you: the verification and the decision stay with your compliance team. It makes sure the documents are in front of them.
See how it works for healthcare staffing (UK), social care staffing (UK), education staffing (UK) and security staffing (UK), or book a short call.
Related guides
- UK right to work checks: a guide for recruitment agencies: The three ways to check right to work in the UK, how share codes and eVisas work, what to record, follow-up checks, and penalties, updated for the 1 October 2026 changes.
- NHS Employment Check Standards: a compliance checklist for healthcare agencies: The six NHS Employment Check Standards a healthcare staffing agency must meet before supplying a worker to the NHS in England, plus training and occupational health, as updated July 2026.
Official sources
This guide was checked against these sources on 2 October 2026:
- GOV.UK: DBS check requests, guidance for employers (updated 11 September 2026)
- GOV.UK: DBS reduces fees for checks and Update Service from 5 October 2026
- GOV.UK: DBS Update Service employer guide (updated 28 August 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check someone’s criminal record as an employer
- GOV.UK: Self-employed workers can now apply for Enhanced DBS checks
- mygov.scot: PVG scheme
- nidirect: AccessNI costs and turnaround times
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules, fees and document lists change: check the official sources above before you rely on any detail, and take advice for your own situation.