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

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 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 Disclosure Scotland

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

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

• 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 certificate is the property of the person who’s name appears on it

The Basic Disclosure will show ‘unspent’ criminal convictions. Therefore, spent convictions, cautions and warnings will not show on your Basic Disclosure

We will accept a document up to one year out of date

Your application will be thoroughly checked and processed, and as a result, we will email you your 18 digit unique reference number. This will be done within 4 working hours if you have paid for the Fast Track service, and you should then receive your certificate in 3 to 14 days

I’m afraid you cannot apply through us, so you will need to apply through Disclosure Scotland directly

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