You might need one to demonstrate your suitability to a potential employer for a job, apply for licences, such as if you are looking to sell alcohol, or also to apply for visas when travelling overseas.

A full list of acceptable means of identification is listed below. Three documents must be produced; one from Group 1 and two from Group 2. If this is not possible, then five documents from Group 2 must be produced instead these must be in the name of the applicant. Also, it is preferred that one of these documents contains photographic identification.

Group 1

• Valid passport (any nationality)
• UK Driving Licence Full or Provisional England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland/Isle of Man; either photocard or paper (a photocard is only valid if accompanied with the paper counterpart)
• Original UK birth certificate (issued within 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable)
• Valid photo identity card (EU countries only)
• UK Firearms license
• HM Forces ID card (UK)
• Adoption Certificate (UK)

Group 2

Statements and bills need to be dated within 3 months of your application

• Marriage certificate/Civil Partnership Certificate
• Non-original UK birth certificate (issued after 12 months of date of birth, full or short form acceptable)
• P45/P60 statement
• Utility bill (electricity, gas, water, telephone, including mobile phone contract/bill)
• Valid TV licence
• Credit card statement
• Store card statement
• Mortgage statement
• Valid insurance certificate
• Certificate of British nationality
• British work permit/visa**
• Asylum Registration Card
• Personal correspondence or a document from a Government Department*
• Bank or Building Society Document**
• Financial statement e.g. pension, endowment, ISA **
• Valid vehicle registration document
• Mail order catalogue statement*
• Court summons
• Valid NHS card
• Court Claim Form

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. Therefore it replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)

That is entirely up to your new employer, and what they require. They may accept your last certificate, or may request that you get a new one, so you should ask what their policy is

It takes anywhere between 3 and 14 days to get your certificate, with the average being 10 days. However, certificates are issued by Disclosure Scotland and The Disclosure & Barring Service England & Wales, and therefore the issue time is out of our hands. Also, please note that it could take longer if further information is requested by us and / or the Disclosure & Barring Service

Anyone can ask you to provide one, but usually it would be an employer or charity in relation to employment or charitable work, so please check which level you require before you apply

The certificate is the property of the person named on it

Sentence/disposal	Rehabilitation period if aged 18 or over when convicted / disposal administered	Rehabilitation period if aged under 18 when convicted / disposal administered
A custodial sentence of over 48 months	Never spent
A custodial sentence of over 30 months but not exceeding 48 months	7 years from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed	42 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed.
A custodial sentence of over 6 months but not exceeding 30 months	48 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed.	24 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed.
A custodial sentence of up to 6 months	24 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed.	18 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed.
Fine	12 months from the date of the conviction in respect of the fine was imposed.	18 months from the date on which the sentence (including any licence period) is completed
Community order	12 months from the last day on which the order has effect	6 months from the last day on which the order has effect
Simple, caution, youth caution	Spent Immediately
Compensation order	On discharge of the order (i.e when it is paid in full)

Your application will be thoroughly checked by our professional team of advisers. If there are any errors or omissions, we will email you and ask you to correct these. Then we will ask you to get your documents 'verified' by either a 'Repsonsible Person' or at a Post Office. We will email you the forms and guidance for the 'Responsible Person' route, and also a link to the Post Office form to print off and take to the Post Office (if this is your chosen route) to get your identification documents certified. Once we have received all of the information required, we will process your application, and email you your 18 digit unique reference number.

I am afraid you cannot apply through us.

This service is classed as a Distance Contract under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, and you are entitled to a 14 day cancellation period, which starts on the day after you agree to our services. As the service that we carry out for you starts immediately we receive your application, we need your consent to start working for you within this cancellation period, and the application form requires you to confirm that you understand this condition and wish for us to proceed. If you cancel after we commence the service for you, you will be liable to pay us for the work we have already carried out for you. If our service for you is completed in full within the 14 day period, these cancellation rights will not apply, and no refund can be given.

Please refer to our policy handling page here

All documents have to be received electronically by us, and therefore if you post mail to us, we're very sorry but it will be rejected and you will still need to upload it electronically.

Please only use the Dropbox link we have provided you to send us your documents. We cannot guarantee the privacy of your documents if you use email or any other method.

You can call our Customer Service line on 01792 229980 between 9am and 5:30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am and 5pm on Fridays. You can also write to us at Canolfan Centre, Millers Drive, Gorseinon, Swansea SA4 4QN. Please note that we WILL NOT accept identity documents posted to us. They will be immediately destroyed.