What ID Documents are Required When Checking a DBS Application?
Having knowledge about what ID Documents are required to check a DBS application, is important information for both the employer doing the checking of ID documents, and the employee filling out the application. Having these ID documents to hand, will mean that the DBS application process goes much more smoothly. Without these documents, time would be spent searching for them and this could slow the process down or mean the check couldn’t be completed.
The DBS site lists various documents into groups, that you require, and if the applicant doesn’t have the ID documents needed from Route 1, then they could look at Route 2 documents.
Route 1 documents include:
- A valid passport
- A UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or EEA current driving licence
- A birth certificate
- A certificate of adoption
- A Biometric residence permit
If the applicant is not an EEA nation, they would need to use Route 1a documents:
- A valid passport from their country of origin
- A valid biometric immigration document
- A visa permitting them to work
- Immigration status document that shows people can do the work
- A Home Office residence card
All documents must be current and valid. If any documents have expired, they cannot be used, the DBS application would be rejected.
If an applicant was not able to provide the document in Route 1, then they would need to use Route 2. They need one document from Group 2a, and two documents from groups 2a or 2b.
Group 2a documents include:
- A photocard driving licence for outside the EEA
- A UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or EEA driving licence
- A UK, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands birth certificate
- A marriage or civil partnership certificate from the UK or Channel Islands
- A relevant visa, immigration, or work permit document
- UK Firearms licence
- HM Forces ID card
Group 2b include financial and social history documents, these include:
- A UK or EEA mortgage statement
- A bank or building society statement from UK, Channel Islands, EEA or from a country outside the EEA where a person lives and works. The bank statement must be a hard copy, and not an Internet statement
- An account opening statement from a bank or building society
- A credit card statement from the UK or EEA
- A P45 or P60 document from the UK or EEA
- A council tax statement from the UK or Channel Islands
- A sponsorship letter from a future employer
- A UK utility bill from the past three months (a mobile phone bill is not suitable)
- Child or pension benefit statement
- An ID card from an EEA country
- An Irish passport card
- Cards that carry the PASS logo
- A letter from a headteacher or College Head
All ID documents need to be valid (not expired) and original. Photocopies cannot be accepted, and this would mean the application would be rejected.
What Checks Must an Employer Do Regarding the DBS Application?
An employer has a responsibility to ensure that:
- ID documents presented are original (and not copies, or scans)
- That all details such as name, DOB, address on ID, matches the DBS application
- That photos are a true likeness of the applicant
- That if there have been name changes, there are documents to support this
- That nothing appears fraudulent. If you suspect anything is, do not proceed with the application
- They request the right level of check for their employee, and the job role they will be doing
