A DBS certificate is an official document issued after a criminal record check has been completed by the Disclosure and Barring Service. It is commonly used by employers, charities, schools, healthcare providers and other organisations to help make safer recruitment decisions.

DBS checks are mainly used in England and Wales. They may be requested for paid work, volunteering, professional registration or regulated roles involving children or vulnerable adults.

If you need to use a DBS certificate outside the UK, the overseas authority may ask for the document to be legalised with an apostille. This is common for international employment, visas, teaching roles, healthcare work, volunteering, adoption and residency applications.

This guide explains what a DBS certificate is, the different types of DBS checks, what information may appear on the certificate, and when an apostille may be required.

What does DBS stand for?

DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. It is the organisation responsible for processing criminal record checks in England and Wales.

A DBS certificate may show different levels of criminal record information depending on the type of check requested. Some certificates show only unspent convictions, while others may include spent convictions, cautions or information relevant to a specific role.

DBS checks are used to help employers and organisations assess whether a person is suitable for certain work or volunteering positions.

What is a DBS certificate?

A DBS certificate is the document issued after a DBS check has been completed. It shows the result of the criminal record check based on the level requested.

A DBS certificate may be required for:

• employment
• volunteering
• teaching roles
• childcare work
• healthcare roles
• social care roles
• professional registration
• charity work
• financial or security-related roles
• regulated activity
• overseas employment
• visa or immigration procedures

The certificate is usually sent to the applicant. Employers may ask to see the original certificate before confirming a role.

What are the different types of DBS checks?

There are three main types of DBS checks: basic, standard and enhanced. Some enhanced checks may also include a barred list check.

GOV.UK guidance explains that applicants can apply for a basic DBS check themselves, but standard and enhanced checks must be requested through the employer or organisation asking for the check.

Basic DBS check

A basic DBS check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for a basic DBS check. GOV.UK states that a basic DBS check is available for people working in England and Wales, and can also be requested if you live in Northern Ireland or Scotland but the job you are applying for is in England or Wales.

A basic DBS check may be used for:

• general employment
• personal applications
• contractor roles
• non-regulated work
• visa or overseas requests where a basic check is accepted

For overseas use, a basic DBS certificate may need to be apostilled.

Standard DBS check

A standard DBS check shows more information than a basic check. It may include spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, subject to filtering rules.

Standard DBS checks are usually requested for roles with a higher level of responsibility, such as certain legal, financial, security or professional positions.

You cannot apply for a standard DBS check by yourself. It must be requested by an employer or eligible organisation.

Enhanced DBS check

An enhanced DBS check is the highest level of DBS check. It includes the information shown on a standard check and may also include relevant information held by local police.

Enhanced checks are commonly used for roles involving children or vulnerable adults, including:

• teaching
• childcare
• healthcare
• social care
• fostering
• certain charity roles
• regulated activity

Some enhanced DBS checks may also include a barred list check, depending on the role.

Enhanced DBS with barred list check

An enhanced DBS check with barred list check confirms whether a person is included on a list of people barred from working with children, vulnerable adults or both.

This type of check is only available for eligible roles. It is usually requested by an employer, school, healthcare provider, care organisation or charity.

It cannot be requested simply because an overseas authority wants a more detailed criminal record document. The role must be eligible.

What information appears on a DBS certificate?

The information shown depends on the level of check.

A basic DBS certificate may show unspent convictions and conditional cautions.

A standard DBS certificate may show spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, subject to filtering rules.

An enhanced DBS certificate may show the same information as a standard check, plus relevant local police information. If a barred list check is included, the certificate may also show whether the person is barred from certain regulated activities.

A clear DBS certificate does not mean the document can automatically be used abroad without legalisation. If an overseas authority asks for an apostille, the certificate must be prepared correctly before submission.

Is a DBS certificate the same as a criminal record check?

A DBS certificate is one type of UK criminal record check, but it is not the only one.

The correct document depends on the purpose and location:

• DBS checks are used in England and Wales
• Disclosure Scotland is used for Scottish disclosure checks
• AccessNI is used for Northern Ireland checks
• ACRO police certificates are often requested for visa, immigration and overseas police clearance purposes

This distinction is important. If a foreign embassy asks for a police certificate for immigration, they may expect an ACRO police certificate rather than a DBS certificate.

Is DBS the same as ACRO?

No. DBS and ACRO are different documents.

A DBS certificate is mainly used for employment, volunteering and regulated roles in England and Wales. An ACRO police certificate is commonly requested for visas, immigration, residency and overseas police clearance.

For example, an international school may ask for a DBS certificate if it wants evidence of employment screening. A foreign immigration authority may ask for an ACRO police certificate as part of a visa application.

Before applying for a DBS check or apostille, always check the exact wording from the organisation requesting the document.

Can a DBS certificate be used abroad?

Yes, a DBS certificate can sometimes be used abroad, but only if the overseas authority accepts it.

A DBS certificate may be requested for:

• teaching jobs abroad
• healthcare roles overseas
• childcare or nanny positions
• international schools
• volunteering abroad
• adoption procedures
• work visa support
• professional registration
• overseas employment screening

If the certificate is being submitted to an overseas authority, employer or government department, they may ask for it to be apostilled.

What is a DBS apostille?

A DBS apostille is an official certificate attached to the DBS document or to a solicitor-certified copy of it.

The apostille is issued by the FCDO Legalisation Office. GOV.UK explains that the Legalisation Office checks whether a signature, stamp or seal is genuine and legalises the document by attaching an apostille.

The apostille does not confirm the criminal record information inside the DBS certificate. It confirms the recognised signature, seal or certification attached to the document.

Do you need solicitor certification before apostilling a DBS certificate?

In many cases, a DBS certificate needs solicitor certification before it can be apostilled.

This is because the FCDO may need to verify a solicitor’s signature rather than the DBS certificate itself. The solicitor can certify a copy of the certificate or certify the document in a way suitable for legalisation.

Solicitor certification may be required if:

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

Using the wrong certification wording may cause the document to be rejected or refused by the overseas authority.

How to get a DBS certificate apostilled

The process usually works as follows:

1. confirm the type of DBS certificate

Check whether you have a basic, standard, enhanced or enhanced with barred list DBS certificate.

2. check the overseas requirement

Confirm whether the receiving authority wants DBS, ACRO, Disclosure Scotland or another type of criminal record check.

3. check whether the document must be recent

Some authorities only accept criminal record checks issued within the last three or six months.

4. arrange solicitor certification if needed

If the DBS certificate cannot be apostilled directly, arrange correct solicitor certification before submission.

5. submit the document for FCDO apostille

The document can then be submitted for apostille legalisation through the FCDO.

6. arrange embassy attestation if required

If the country does not accept apostille alone, embassy or consular attestation may be needed after the FCDO apostille.

7. arrange translation if required

If the document is being used in a non-English-speaking country, a certified translation may also be needed.

Does a DBS certificate expire?

A DBS certificate does not have a formal expiry date. However, the information shown is only accurate at the time the certificate is issued.

An employer, embassy, visa office or overseas authority may require a recent DBS certificate. For example, they may ask for a document issued within the last three or six months.

The DBS Update Service allows employers to check online whether a standard or enhanced DBS certificate is up to date, if the applicant has subscribed to the service.

For overseas use, the receiving authority may still ask for a recent certificate even if you are subscribed to the Update Service.

Can a digital DBS certificate be apostilled?

This depends on the format of the certificate and the legalisation route.

Some digital documents cannot be apostilled in the same way as original paper documents. In many cases, a printed copy may need to be certified by a solicitor before an apostille can be issued.

Before printing or submitting a digital DBS certificate, check whether the receiving authority will accept a certified copy and whether the FCDO can legalise the document in that format.

Do DBS certificates need translation?

A certified translation may be required if the DBS certificate is being used in a country where English is not accepted.

The correct order depends on the destination country. Some authorities want the original DBS certificate apostilled first and then translated. Others may require the translation to be certified, notarised or legalised as well.

Before arranging translation, confirm whether the authority needs:

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

Common mistakes to avoid

Common mistakes include:

• applying for DBS when ACRO is required
• assuming a basic DBS is accepted for every purpose
• trying to apply for a standard or enhanced DBS without an eligible organisation
• using an old certificate when a recent one is required
• sending a digital or printed copy without solicitor certification
• forgetting to check whether apostille is required
• forgetting embassy attestation for non-Hague countries
• translating the document in the wrong order
• assuming the DBS Update Service replaces apostille legalisation
• sending the document too close to a visa or job deadline

These mistakes can delay your application or lead to rejection by the overseas authority.

How we can help

We can help prepare your DBS certificate for overseas use.

Our service can include checking whether your DBS certificate is suitable for apostille, 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 DBS, ACRO, Disclosure Scotland or another criminal record document, send us the wording from the organisation requesting it. We can help you identify the correct route before you start the legalisation process.