If you need to prove your criminal record status, you may be asked to provide a UK criminal record check. This is common for visa applications, overseas employment, residency, volunteering, adoption, professional registration and regulated roles.

However, the UK does not have just one type of criminal record check. Depending on where you live, why the document is needed and who is requesting it, you may need an ACRO police certificate, a DBS certificate, a Disclosure Scotland certificate or an AccessNI check.

If the document is being used outside the UK, the receiving authority may also ask for the criminal record check to be legalised with an apostille. In some cases, embassy attestation or certified translation may also be required.

This guide explains the main types of UK criminal record checks, when each one is used, and how to prepare the document for overseas use.

What is a UK criminal record check?

A UK criminal record check is a document that provides information about a person’s criminal record history, or confirms that there is no relevant criminal record information to disclose.

The exact information shown depends on the type of check and the purpose of the application.

Criminal record checks are often requested for:

• employment
• visa applications
• immigration
• residency permits
• professional licensing
• teaching roles
• healthcare roles
• childcare or care work
• volunteering
• adoption or fostering
• international study
• regulated activities

For overseas use, it is important to choose the correct document. A foreign authority may reject the wrong type of check, even if it has been apostilled.

Which criminal record check do you need?

The correct criminal record check depends on the reason for the request.

The most common UK options are:

• ACRO police certificate
• DBS certificate
• Disclosure Scotland certificate
• AccessNI certificate

Each document has a different purpose. Before applying, check the wording from the embassy, employer, licensing body or overseas authority. If they ask for a “police certificate” for a visa, they may mean ACRO. If they ask for a work-related background check in England or Wales, they may mean DBS.

ACRO police certificate

An ACRO police certificate is often required for visa, immigration, residency and overseas employment purposes. ACRO describes its police certificate service as being for visas, immigration, employment or travel abroad.

Police.uk also explains that a police certificate confirms whether or not a person has a criminal record in the United Kingdom and is required as part of the visa process by the relevant high commission or embassy.

An ACRO police certificate is commonly requested for:

• visa applications
• residency applications
• immigration procedures
• overseas employment
• citizenship applications
• international adoption
• police clearance requests

If you are applying for a visa or residency overseas, ACRO is often the first document to check.

DBS certificate

A DBS certificate is issued through the Disclosure and Barring Service and is commonly used in England and Wales. It is often requested for employment, volunteering and regulated roles.

There are different levels of DBS check, including basic, standard and enhanced. The level required depends on the role and who is allowed to request the check.

A DBS certificate may be requested for:

• employment in England or Wales
• education roles
• healthcare work
• childcare roles
• social care
• volunteering
• regulated activity
• professional registration

If a DBS certificate is being used overseas, it may need an apostille. Some authorities may also ask for solicitor certification before the apostille can be issued.

Disclosure Scotland certificate

Disclosure Scotland is used for criminal record checks in Scotland. Current Scottish disclosure services include Level 1, Level 2 and PVG scheme checks. The mygov.scot disclosure guidance explains that disclosures can show unspent convictions, certain spent convictions and, depending on the level, other information such as whether someone is barred from roles with children or protected adults.

A Disclosure Scotland certificate may be needed for:

• Scottish employment checks
• Scottish volunteering roles
• regulated roles in Scotland
• PVG scheme membership
• overseas employers requesting Scottish disclosure
• professional or licensing procedures

If you need to use a Disclosure Scotland certificate abroad, the document may need to be apostilled and, in some cases, certified by a solicitor first.

AccessNI certificate

AccessNI is used for criminal record checks in Northern Ireland. It is similar in purpose to DBS and Disclosure Scotland, but it applies to Northern Ireland.

An AccessNI certificate may be requested for:

• employment in Northern Ireland
• volunteering
• regulated activity
• healthcare or care roles
• childcare roles
• professional registration

If the certificate is being used outside the UK, the overseas authority may require an apostille.

ACRO vs DBS: which one should you choose?

ACRO and DBS are often confused, but they are not the same document.

An ACRO police certificate is usually used for immigration, visa and overseas police clearance purposes. A DBS certificate is usually used for employment or regulated roles in England and Wales.

For example, if a foreign embassy asks for a police certificate for a visa application, ACRO may be the correct document. If an employer in England asks for a criminal record check before you start work, DBS may be the correct route.

If the document is for overseas use, always check the exact requirement before applying. Ordering the wrong certificate can delay your visa, job offer or relocation.

How to get a UK criminal record check

The process depends on the type of check you need.

1. Check the exact requirement

Start by checking the wording from the organisation requesting the document.

Look for phrases such as:

• police certificate
• criminal record check
• DBS check
• basic disclosure
• certificate of good conduct
• background check
• police clearance
• ACRO certificate
• disclosure certificate

If the request comes from a visa office, embassy or immigration authority, check whether they specifically name ACRO.

2. Apply to the correct authority

Once you know which document is required, apply through the correct organisation:

• ACRO for police certificates used for many visa and immigration applications
• DBS for checks in England and Wales
• Disclosure Scotland for Scottish disclosure checks
• AccessNI for Northern Ireland checks

Do not apply for a DBS certificate if the authority has specifically requested an ACRO police certificate.

3. Check whether the document must be legalised

If the criminal record check will be used outside the UK, ask whether it needs an apostille.

Many overseas employers, immigration departments and government authorities will only accept the document if it has been legalised.

4. Arrange solicitor certification if needed

Some criminal record checks may need solicitor certification before they can be apostilled. This depends on the document type, format and whether the FCDO can verify the signature, stamp or seal directly.

Solicitor certification may be needed if:

• the document is a copy
• the document is digital
• the document does not have a verifiable signature
• the receiving authority asks for a certified copy
• the FCDO requires certification before apostille

5. Apply for the apostille

The UK apostille is issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Once attached, it confirms the signature, seal or stamp on the document for overseas use.

For Hague Convention countries, the apostille is usually enough. For non-Hague countries, further embassy or consular legalisation may be required.

Do criminal record checks need an apostille?

A criminal record check may need an apostille if it is being used outside the UK.

This is common for:

• work visas
• residency applications
• overseas jobs
• teaching roles abroad
• healthcare jobs abroad
• international volunteering
• adoption procedures
• citizenship applications
• professional licensing
• government registration

The apostille confirms the recognised UK signature, seal or certification attached to the document. It does not confirm whether the information inside the document is correct or up to date.

Can a digital criminal record check be apostilled?

This depends on the document and the legalisation route.

Some digital documents cannot be apostilled in their original digital format. In those cases, a printed copy may need to be certified by a solicitor before the apostille can be issued.

If you have a digital DBS, Disclosure Scotland or other online certificate, check the requirements before printing and sending it. Submitting the wrong format can lead to rejection.

How long does it take to get a criminal record check?

The timescale depends on the type of check and the issuing authority.

Some checks can be processed relatively quickly, while others may take longer if identity verification, police records or employer involvement is required.

You should also allow extra time for:

• receiving the original certificate
• solicitor certification
• FCDO apostille
• embassy attestation
• certified translation
• international courier delivery

If the document is needed for a visa appointment or job start date, begin the process as early as possible.

Does a criminal record check expire?

The criminal record check itself may not have a formal expiry date, but the receiving authority may require a recent certificate.

For example, an embassy, employer or immigration department may ask for a certificate issued within the last three or six months.

Before legalising an older document, check whether it will still be accepted. Apostilling an outdated certificate may not solve the problem if the authority requires a newer check.

Do you need a translation?

If the criminal record check is being used in a non-English-speaking country, a certified translation may be required.

The correct order depends on the destination country. Some authorities want the original document apostilled first and then translated. Others may ask for the translation itself to be certified, notarised or legalised.

Before arranging translation, confirm whether the authority needs:

• the original apostilled certificate
• a certified translation
• an apostilled translation
• both the English document and translation
• embassy attestation after translation

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistakes include:

• applying for DBS when ACRO is required
• applying for the wrong regional check
• assuming all UK criminal record checks are the same
• using an old certificate when a recent one is needed
• submitting a scan instead of an original or certified copy
• forgetting solicitor certification
• not checking whether apostille is required
• forgetting embassy attestation for non-Hague countries
• arranging translation in the wrong order
• leaving the process too late before a visa deadline

These mistakes can delay an application or cause the overseas authority to reject the document.

How we can help

We can help you prepare a UK criminal record check for overseas use.

Our service can include checking which document you have, confirming whether solicitor certification is required, arranging certification, submitting the document for FCDO apostille, advising on embassy attestation and helping with certified translation where needed.

If you are unsure whether you need ACRO, DBS, Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI, send us the wording from the organisation requesting the document. We can help you identify the correct legalisation route before you start.