UK Criminal Record Disclosure Checks

The type of Criminal Record Disclosure Check will be dependent on the role you are looking to be placed into, and the government body that completes this will depend on where you are living and working in the UK – further information on this is detailed below.

If you are requested by an employer/agency to do so, please ensure this is a reputable organisation.  Do not part with any money via a link you have been advised to use if it appears to be suspicious (i.e. the cost is either a lot lower or higher than outlined below or is not payable to one of the Responsible Organisations, Umbrella Body’s or Registered Organisations listed below).

​If you are still unsure of the authenticity of the request and/or the link you are advised to use, do not proceed as this may not be a legitimate request and you can report it to JobsAware by clicking here.

​The levels of checks are outlined below:

Type of check	Purpose	Information disclosed
Basic	For general employment purposes, all posts in airports after the security search, civil service, and other public bodies, bus, and taxi operator licences etc	Unspent convictions
Standard	or Security Industry Authority licences or professional occupations e.g. lawyers, Accountants	Spent and unspent convictions, cautions and informed warnings
Enhanced with/without a barred list check	Working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults, taxi licences or working with controlled drugs	As Standard, plus relevant police information and where appropriate a “barred list” check

Dependent on where you are living and working will determine which government body your check will be completed by.

England and Wales

For individuals living and working in England and Wales, a check will be completed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

​This check can be completed directly with the DBS  or you can also choose to apply through other companies approved by the DBS, known as Responsible Organisations – you can access the list of companies here.

​The cost of a Criminal Record Disclosure Check via the DBS is outlined below. These will all be subject to VAT and if you are completing a check through a Responsible Organisation whether that be directly or via an employer/agency an administration fee may also apply. 

Type of DBS check	Cost of DBS check
Basic	£18.00
Standard	£18.00
Enhanced	£40.00

Scotland

For individuals living and working in Scotland, Criminal Record Disclosure Checks will be completed by Disclosure Scotland (DS).

​This check can be completed directly with Disclosure Scotland or you can also choose to apply through other companies approved by Disclosure Scotland, known as Umbrella Bodies – you can access the list of Umbrella Bodies here.

The cost of a Criminal Record Disclosure Check via Disclosure Scotland is outlined below. These will all be subject to VAT and if you are completing a check through an Umbrella Body whether that be directly or via an employer/agency an administration fee may also apply.

Type of DBS check	Cost of DBS check
Basic	£25.00
Standard	£25.00
Enhanced	£25.00
Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme	£18.00 or £59.00 (see PVG fees)

Northern Ireland

For individuals living and working in Northern Ireland, Criminal Record Disclosure Checks will be completed by Access Northern Ireland (Access NI).

​This Basic Criminal Record Disclosure Check can be completed directly with Access NI or you can also choose to apply through other companies approved by Access NI, known as Registered Bodies – you can access the details of these below:

Basic check
Standard check
Enhanced check

The cost of a Criminal Record Disclosure Check via Access NI is outlined below. These will all be subject to VAT and if you are completing a check through a Registered Body whether that be directly or via an employer/agency an administration fee may also apply.

Type of DBS check	Cost of DBS check
Basic	£18.00
Standard	£18.00
Enhanced	£33.00