Terms and conditions

By using this service you accept these terms and conditions and agree to abide by them.

The service

The Basic DBS check is processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) which is responsible for processing criminal record checks for England and Wales.

The check compares the applicant's details to records on the Police National Computer and discloses any unspent convictions.

Eligibility

You must be 16 years old or over to apply for a Basic DBS check.

Fees and payment

The Basic DBS check costs £21.50.

You can pay the £21.50 fee or someone else can pay on your behalf, for example an employer or relative.

Cancellations and refunds

You are entitled to cancel your check at any point until the certificate is printed. To cancel your check you must contact the DBS. You are not entitled to a refund if you cancel your check after you have submitted your application and proved your identity.

If you choose to prove your identity at a UK Post Office using the DBS in-branch verification service, you must do so within 10 days of your application date, or your application will be automatically cancelled. The information you submitted will be deleted and you will get an automatic refund, made to the payment card that you used to pay for the application. If a third party is paying on your behalf, they will be refunded on their payment card and informed by email.

Information you provide

You must provide accurate and correct information in your application. You could be prosecuted if you knowingly give false information in your application.

The DBS may ask you to submit further information so they can complete your check.

GOV.UK One Login

To apply for a basic DBS check you must create or sign in to your GOV.UK One Login.

Email address

You provide DBS with your email address and mobile phone number when you fill in your online basic check application.

You should provide DBS with your own email address. Providing your personal email address will ensure you receive information on your application and the option to view your results online.

If you provide an email address which is not your own, others may be able to view the results of your check and you will not receive email updates on your application.

We will only use the email address provided to DBS by you to contact you about your application.

Proving your identity

You must prove your identity to get a Basic DBS check. If you choose to prove your identity at a UK Post Office using the DBS in-branch verification service, you must do this within 10 days of submitting an application. If you do not prove your identity, DBS will not process your check and will delete your application.

Possible matches to records

The information you provide in your application is used to identify possible matches to records held by the Police National Computer (PNC) in line with the DBS privacy policy.

The DBS is not responsible for the accuracy of police records or records held by other third party data sources.

Basic DBS check certificate

Your certificate will include any unspent convictions that appear to match your identity.

DBS certificates are issued in line with Part V of the Police Act 1997.

Incorrect information on the certificate

You should follow the DBS appeals and disputes process if you think any information on your Basic DBS check certificate is wrong.

Timescales

Your check should be processed within 3 days. This can be longer if DBS needs to ask you for more information to complete the check.

Printed information

You must not change any information you have printed or downloaded from DBS in any way.

Your privacy

The service will use cookies to temporarily store the information you enter in your application.

Your information will be used in line with our privacy notice and our cookie policy.

Last updated

These terms and conditions were last updated 5 June 2025.