Are you starting a new role soon that requires a criminal records check?
You may have to initiate an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check, which is the UK’s highest level of criminal record screening. Your employer or an umbrella body will normally submit the application on your behalf.
To help you manage expectations, this post explains how long an enhanced DBS check takes in the UK, along with the factors that may affect enhanced DBS processing times.
Quick answer – How long does an enhanced DBS check take?
While a standard DBS check normally takes up to 14 days, an enhanced DBS check can take up to 8 weeks.
The length of time will depend on:
That said, some people report getting it in just a few days. Therefore, you can treat the 8-week guideline as a planning safety buffer.
What is an enhanced DBS check?
An enhanced DBS check is the highest level of criminal record screening in the UK.
You’ll typically require it if your role involves regulated activity with children or adults in specific vulnerable circumstances. Common examples include teaching, supervising children, and providing healthcare to adults.
The screening exercise will seek to uncover the following details on your record:
Stages of an enhanced DBS check
Your Enhanced DBS application will move through 4 stages before a certificate is printed and issued.
Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- 1
Application: Your employer or an umbrella body makes the application on your behalf. This stage includes validation of the application form to check for errors or omissions. Ensure you don’t make errors in the ‘Personal Information’ section, as it may cause your application to be withdrawn.
- 2
PNC search: A search will be undertaken of the Police National Computer (PNC) to find a match of your data. You may be asked to submit fingerprints if the officials are unsure of a match.
- 3
Barred list search: Your data will be checked against children’s and adults’ barred lists for any matches.
- 4
Police records search: Your data will be sent securely to the relevant police forces across the country for additional checks to reveal any material information held by those forces.
- 5
Printing of DBS certificate: The DBS certificate is then printed and posted to you. You can then show it to the employer who requested it, or legalise it first if the employer is a foreign entity.
Document legalisation is the process of verifying the authenticity of a document so foreign authorities can legally recognise it. The process often involves getting an apostille certificate issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
We are an FCDO-registered apostille facilitator. Our experienced team at London Apostille Services Ltd. can manage the apostille process on your behalf, eliminating the pain of having to navigate complex government bureaucracy on your own.
Request a custom quote today for a breakdown of the required legalisation route and all associated fees.
Basic vs. enhanced DBS processing times
While a Basic DBS check is normally processed within 14 days, the enhanced version can take up to 8 weeks.
Faster turnarounds are possible. However, for planning purposes, we recommend you work with our 14-day and 8-week guidelines to avoid any surprises.
The longer 8-week timeline is because, while a Basic DBS only includes PNC and barred list searches, an Enhanced DBS also includes a police records search. Your application may end up with multiple police forces if you have a long address history.
Why enhanced DBS checks sometimes take longer
As noted above, an Enhanced DBS includes a police records search. This additional requirement may cause a delay because of the following procedural issues:
Additionally, an Enhanced DBS check may take longer if there are errors in your application. For instance, slight discrepancies in how you spell/order your name or format your date of birth may cause DBS to return your application for clarification.
Factors that affect your DBS processing time
While police checks are a major source of delays, additional factors can influence the turnaround time.
They include:
How to speed up enhanced DBS check
You cannot skip the queue when applying for an Enhanced DBS check. Therefore, the way to speed up the process is to do everything correctly the first time.
You can do this by:
Also, consider using the DBS online tracking service. It might prove useful when your application gets “stuck” at a particular police force.
DBS works with local police forces to ensure police records searches are completed quickly. If your application stays with a particular police force or law enforcement agency for longer than 60 days, you can submit an online request or call 03000 200 190 to see if they can speed it up.
Need your DBS apostilled for use abroad?
Once your DBS certificate is printed and posted to you, the process isn’t over if you plan to use it abroad. To ensure foreign authorities can legally recognise your certificate, you must get it legalised by way of an FCDO-issued apostille.
While you can manage the FCDO process independently, the DIY route is often counterproductive for the following reasons:
Therefore, the better approach is to use an apostille agent or facilitator. Our firm, London Apostille Services Ltd., is an FCDO-registered apostille agent and can process your apostilles much faster using our 24-hour Express Apostille Service or 3- to 4-day Standard Service.
Request a custom quote, and we’ll detail the legalisation and turnaround options for your specific document and destination.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some of the commonly asked questions about Enhanced DBS checks.
