It all sounds really straightforward, doesn’t it? Apply for your disclosure checks online, then send in some identification to prove who you are. It’s not always easy though, especially for people who haven’t been in the UK long, or who are young adults. If you’re struggling to find identity documents for DBS checks, we’re here to help with a few suggestions which might help.
Primary Identity Documents for DBS Checks
The government groups all the various forms of identification into several groups. The first group is the most important and in known as Primary Identity Documents. It makes life a lot easier when applying for a DBS check if you can supply two documents from this primary identity group. Primary identity documents include passport, photocard driving licence and birth and adoption certificates. It’s a common misconception that when applying for DBS checks you need a UK passport or driving licence but that’s not true. Any valid passport will be accepted, as will any photocard style driving licence issued in the European Economic Area. Birth and adoption certificates have to be issued in the UK or Channel Islands.
Trusted Government Documents
If you don’t have a European driving licence or your passport has expired, then you will have to look further down the list of documents which are accepted. This is Group 2A, or other trusted government documents. From this group you can use your driving licence issued outside Europe, immigration permits to come and work in the UK or UK Armed Forces.
Financial and Social History
The last group of documents are designed to prove your address and background in the UK. This is a long group of documents and includes items like mortgage statements, bank statements, P45 and P60 forms from HMRC, benefit statements, credit card bills, utility bills or a council tax statement. In the case or bills or statements, they should be dated within the last three months. With other paperwork, within the last year.
Help – I don’t have the right documents!
If you don’t have a passport or a driving licence, then it’s not impossible to get a DBS check done. It’s often best to apply for a provisional driving licence. It comes in so useful for identification in many circumstances. Young people under the age of 19 who are unlikely to have mortgages or even utility bills in their own names, can get a sworn letter from their college principal which can be used to prove identity.
If you are struggling to get together the right documents for your DBS check, then give the helpline a call for advice. The DBS can accept a wide range of combinations of identification so it’s often easiest to give them a call, tell them what you have, and get their advice. If all else fails, the final option is going to the police station to give your fingerprints. The police compare fingerprints against police records to match you with any crimes on the database.