How long does a DBS Check take?
How long does a DBS Check take? There’s no set answer. How long a DBS Check takes can depend on several factors, including:
The level of DBS Check
Whether a search of any Barred Lists is needed
DBS and police workload
How many different areas an applicant has lived in
How the DBS application was submitted
To help you get a clearer idea, we’ll look at the different types of DBS Check in more detail.
How long does a Basic DBS Check take?
Basic DBS Checks are usually the quickest level of DBS Check to be completed. The Disclosure and Barring Service state that “Most basic checks will be processed within 14 days”.
In reality, most Basic DBS Checks are completed much quicker than this.
The Basic DBS Check is the lowest level of UK criminal record check and simply involves a search against the Police National Computer. As there is only one step involved, results tend to be returned within a few days.
The average processing time for Basic DBS Checks carried out by Personnel Checks is between 24-48 hours.
How long does a Standard DBS Check take?
Standard DBS Checks can take a bit longer than the Basic DBS Check, as there are more steps involved. But the DBS still advise that in most cases they will be completed within 14 days.
Based on the Standard DBS Checks submitted by Personnel Checks, we would usually expect to see a result within 48-72 hours. Over 90% of our submissions are completed in less than 7 days.
How long does an Enhanced DBS Check take?
Enhanced DBS Checks are the most comprehensive criminal record check available in the UK. This also means they have the longest processing time of any DBS Check. But the DBS still advise that they should be completed within 14 days.
As there are more steps involved in the Enhanced DBS Check, there are more chances for it to be delayed. This can be because:
Enhanced DBS Checks often include a search of the Barred Lists which requires additional searches.
if an applicant has lived in several different parts of the country, the DBS application will need to be sent to multiple different police forces.
Specific police forces may have a higher than usual workload. For example, many DBS Checks were delayed during and after the 2010 student protests.
On average, around 40% of Enhanced DBS Check submitted by Personnel Checks were completed in 48 hours or less.
What are the steps a DBS Check goes through?
There are 5 stages that a DBS Check goes through. 4 of these involve searches of an individual's criminal record. Stage 5 is the final stage when a DBS Certificate is produced and posted.
Below you can see what happens at each stage of a DBS Check:
Stage 1: The DBS Application form is received and validated
Stage 2: The Police National Computer (PNC) is searched
Stage 3: The application is checked against the Child and/or Adult Barred Lists (if required).
Stage 4: The application is sent for a 'records held by the police search'. The police will add on any information they deem relevant to the position given on the DBS application.
Stage 5: The DBS Check process is complete, and the certificate is being printed and posted.
Only Enhanced DBS Checks can go through Stage 3 and 4. Stage 3 is also optional, as only certain roles need to be checked against the Barred Lists. Stage 4 is generally the longest part of any DBS Check; you can find out why here.
What other factors affect DBS Check speed?
One of the biggest factors that affect the processing time of a DBS Check is how it is submitted. There are two methods for submitting a DBS application; electronically or by post.
Postal submissions are the traditional way of submitting a DBS Check. Applicants complete a paper application form and post it to the DBS, where their details are scanned into their system.
There are a few reasons why submitting this way can be slow. First, the UK post can be temperamental so there can be delays in the DBS actually receiving the application form. Second, you won’t necessarily know if you’ve made any errors on your application form until the DBS have checked it. If they find errors on your application form, they will post this back to you and you will need to amend and resend it back.
There are other bits of manual work involved in paper submissions. The extra time involved means that we always recommend using an electronic system where possible.
Applications processed electronically are automatically checked as the applicant completes the form. This helps reduce the chance of delays due to errors on the form. Electronic submissions are also processed straight onto the DBS’ system, minimising any administrative delays. This is why we always advise using e-submissions over paper applications.