Basic DBS check: prepare your identity and address history
Apply for your own basic DBS check through GOV.UK after confirming that basic disclosure is the level you need. Prepare your identity verification and five years of addresses; jobs in Scotland or Northern Ireland have different services.
An employer’s request should identify the check it needs. Start with the official basic DBS page, and confirm the level before paying. Basic disclosure is not interchangeable with a standard or enhanced check.
Prepare before opening the application
- Confirm the job is in England or Wales. Residence elsewhere in the UK does not automatically change the route if the job is there.
- Check that you are at least 16.
- Write down each address from the past five years and the dates you lived there. Resolve gaps before entering the history.
- Have your passport, full or provisional driving licence and National Insurance number available if you have them.
- Follow GOV.UK One Login’s identity-verification instructions and the application’s payment step.
The basic check reports unspent convictions. For a check for personal use without an employment decision, GOV.UK's provider guidance instead says to use the service for where you live. Read the current service instructions for the fee and processing information before submitting; a processing estimate is not the same as the certificate's arrival date.
Keep a useful application record
Save the application acknowledgement and record which role the request relates to. Store it separately from the issued certificate so an unfinished application cannot be mistaken for the result.
When the certificate arrives, check the holder’s details before putting it away. Ask the employer how it wants to inspect the certificate and whether it needs an original or permits a copy. Do not assume that a phone scan proves authenticity.
A saved copy can help you find the right record later. The UK document-storage guide explains where personal copies belong. Before sending a separate identity attachment, read how to assess an ID-photo request.
Final check
- The requested disclosure level is confirmed.
- The job’s jurisdiction matches the service.
- Address dates have been checked against your own records.
- Application acknowledgements and the issued certificate are distinguishable.
Questions about a basic DBS application
Can I apply for my own basic check?
Yes. Use the official basic service and complete its identity verification. Confirm with the requesting organisation that basic disclosure is the correct level.
Is the same service used for a job in Scotland?
The GOV.UK page directs applicants for Scottish jobs to a different service. Follow the jurisdiction of the job.
Is a personal scan the issued certificate?
A scan is a reference copy. Follow the recipient’s inspection instructions and retain the certificate you receive.