Your Time Matters: Background Checks Completed Quickly and Easily
Time is valuable, especially when it comes to securing your next contract or role. And with safeguarding one of the highest priorities, you can’t afford to waste time waiting for necessary background checks to be completed.
Start today with personal DBS checks that are easy to request, quickly processed, with results delivered within minutes* – rather than weeks.
*DBS Basic Criminal Records Checks typically delivered within 60 minutes.
Why Get a Criminal Record Check?
Establish trust from day one
Increase employability
Align with safeguarding requirements
Support due diligence
Faster time to hire
Background Checks Available to You
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, reporting criminal history held by the police in the UK, is often a critical step in the hiring process. This is particularly important from a safeguarding perspective, when a role involves working with vulnerable populations or positions of trust, and may include roles within education, healthcare, as well as financial services, and government organisations where criminal checks are typically mandatory.
Different Types of UK Criminal Records Checks
Basic DBS Checks
Anyone can request a DBS basic check, for any reason. A Basic DBS check contains details of convictions (and conditional cautions in the UK that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA). You will receive a digital certificate via the DBS website or a printed version in the post, depending on your preferences selected during the application process.
Enhanced DBS Checks
As of January 21, 2026, the DBS have enabled the self-employed or personal employees to apply for their own DBS enhanced check. An Enhanced DBS Check is only suitable for specific eligible roles, such as private tutors, carers, and therapists. The Enhanced Disclosure certificate will contain details of relevant spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are held on the Police National Computer, which are not subject to filtering, and may also contain non-conviction information supplied by relevant police forces, if it is deemed relevant. If eligible, an Enhanced DBS Check can also include a search of the child and/or adult barred lists. You will receive a printed certificate in the post detailing the results of the check conducted.
Which DBS check is right for you?
The DBS check you are eligible to apply for depends on your role.
You can use the DBS eligibility tool to find out which roles, or activities, could be eligible for a basic or enhanced DBS check.
The eligibility tool is not intended to act as legal advice and doesn’t cover every role. Before you submit an application for a DBS check, you should also read the DBS eligibility guidance.
If you need more eligibility advice after using the tool and reading the guidance you can contact the DBS.
IMPORTANT: It is a criminal offence to submit an application for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List(s) DBS check if the role you have applied for is not eligible for that level of check.
Results You Can Count On
Why choose First Advantage for your background checks?
Fast, easy-to-use, 100% online check processes.
Industry experts processing over 1 million UK criminal record checks every year.
Results delivered within the hour.
First Advantage DBS Criminal Records Checks Include:
Digital identity verification aligned with the DBS guidelines to enable faster, more efficient identity confirmation, and more thorough and consistent criminal record checks based on correct identity details.
Secure online payment mechanism provides you with an easy payment option.
Easy access to the UK’s national network of Post Office branches, if you need to verify your ID in person.
Select The Background Check You Need
Instantly order online DBS Basic and DBS Enhanced criminal background checks with Identity Verification included!
DBS Basic + Digital Identity
£49.50 (£55.10 incl. VAT)
Available for any applicant, for any purpose with no eligibility criteria.
- DBS Basic Criminal Record Check
- Digital Identity Check
- UK Post Office access
DBS Enhanced + Digital Identity
£77.50 (£83.10 incl. VAT)
Specific eligibility criteria must be met to request an enhanced DBS check.
- DBS Enhanced Criminal Record Check
- Digital Identity Check
- UK Post Office access
Not sure which DBS check you need?
I need a DBS check for an employee
Why Verify Identity?
- Fast and secure
- Accurate
- UK Gov and DBS approved
Efficient
Quick and easy steps to complete within 5 minutes*
Easy-to-use
Clear and simple application process.
Fast
Basic certificates typically delivered in under 60 minutes on average*.
Compliant
Adhere to UK identity guidelines to enable DBS checks.
* First Advantage 2025 stats
Frequently Asked Questions About DBS Checks
DBS checks may be suitable for anyone who will be working in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.
Certain roles require a specific type of DBS check. To ensure you order the appropriate type of DBS check, you can visit the DBS website.
DBS Basic – A Basic DBS check is available to any individual applying for, or already employed in, a position. The Basic DBS contains details of convictions (and conditional cautions in England and Wales) that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA).
DBS Enhanced– An Enhanced DBS Check is only suitable for specific eligible roles, such as teachers, nurses, certain care workers, etc. The Enhanced Disclosure certificate will contain details of relevant spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings that are held on the Police National Computer, which are not subject to filtering, and may also contain non-conviction information supplied by relevant police forces, if it is deemed relevant. If eligible, an Enhanced DBS Check can also include a search of the child and/or adult barred lists.
Once your order is placed, we quickly verify your identity before submitting the request to the DBS for their team to process. As soon as the DBS have completed the check, we will update you with the outcome, and you will receive instructions on how to download a digital certificate, where applicable.
If you require a DBS check for an employee, please contact us.
There is no official expiry date for a DBS check. However, the information reported is accurate at the time the check was completed. If you are unsure, it may be wise to ask the person who is hiring whether they require an updated check.
First Advantage adheres to the DBS Code of Practice and is regularly audited by the DBS to ensure compliance
Contact Us
Tell us about your business to help us identify the best screening solutions to meet your needs.
