DBS checks confuse a lot of UK job seekers — three levels, three prices, three turnaround times, and a registration system most candidates have never heard of. This is the plain-English version, current to 2026.
The 30-second answer
- Basic DBS — anyone can apply. £21.50. Shows unspent convictions only. Used by retail, hospitality, some admin roles.
- Standard DBS — employer-requested only. £21.50. Shows spent & unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands. Used by accountancy, legal support, some financial services.
- Enhanced DBS — employer-requested only. £49.50. All of the above plus "relevant police information". Required for care work, healthcare, education, anything regulated.
If you sign up for the DBS Update Service (£16/year) within 30 days of receiving your certificate, future employers can check your status online in seconds instead of waiting weeks for a new check.
Which roles need which level?
| Role | Level usually required |
|---|---|
| Care assistant, support worker, healthcare assistant | Enhanced + barred list |
| Registered nurse, social worker | Enhanced + barred list |
| Teaching assistant, primary teacher, nursery practitioner | Enhanced + children's barred list |
| Security officer (SIA roles) | Basic minimum, often Standard |
| Solicitor, paralegal | Standard |
| Taxi driver, delivery driver | Enhanced (depending on council / contract) |
| Volunteer in a regulated setting | Enhanced — and free for volunteers |
How long does it take?
In 2026:
- Basic: usually 1–14 days
- Standard: usually 2–4 weeks
- Enhanced: usually 2–8 weeks; 1 in 10 take longer due to police force backlogs
The biggest delay is usually the candidate's ID-verification step. Have these ready: passport (or driving licence), proof of address dated within the last 3 months, and a second proof of identity.
The Update Service is the part most people miss
When your Enhanced DBS arrives, sign up for the Update Service within 30 days. £16 a year. From then on:
- Your DBS is portable. New employers can check it online in 1 minute instead of paying £49.50 and waiting weeks.
- You can start work sooner — most regulated employers will accept a checked-online status pending a fresh certificate.
- Agency workers find this near-essential — without it, every new agency is a new £49.50 + 4–8 weeks.
What if I have a conviction?
Many convictions are filtered after a set period. The DBS "filtering rules" mean most adult cautions older than 6 years, and most single, non-violent convictions older than 11 years that resulted in no custodial sentence, do not appear on Standard or Enhanced checks.
If you are unsure, the charity Unlock runs a free, confidential helpline that will walk you through what will and will not show. Apply in good faith — failing to disclose something that the certificate then reveals is worse than disclosing in advance.
Common mistakes
- Not signing up for the Update Service within the 30-day window — after that, you need a fresh DBS to enrol.
- Using an out-of-date address proof. The address on every document must match within the last 3 months.
- Letting your check go "cold" — without the Update Service, a DBS has no formal expiry but most regulated employers consider anything over 12 months as needing re-check.
- Paying for your own Enhanced DBS when the role is regulated — most regulated employers will pay. Ask before you apply.