Basic DBS Check: Cost, How to Apply & Turnaround (2026)

A Basic DBS check costs £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then) and is the only DBS level a person can apply for entirely on their own, using GOV.UK One Login, for any reason and without an employer's involvement. It shows unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions only, and it is not free for volunteers, unlike the Standard and Enhanced levels.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the Basic DBS check for roles based in England and Wales, run by the Disclosure and Barring Service. It does not cover Scotland's Level 1 disclosure or Northern Ireland's AccessNI Basic check, which are separate systems with their own fees and rules, linked below.

What a Basic DBS Check Shows

A Basic check is the lightest of the four DBS levels. Gov.uk states plainly that "the check will only show convictions that are not 'spent', for example some types of caution will disappear after 3 months." Nothing that has already become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 appears on the certificate, and the check does not include the filtering rules that apply to Standard and Enhanced checks, because there is no spent material on a Basic certificate to filter.

This makes a Basic check a narrower snapshot than Standard or Enhanced. It confirms whether someone currently has unspent convictions or cautions, nothing more. Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for one, whether or not it is for a job, which is why it is also the level most people request simply to see what a check would show about them. For the fuller picture of how a conviction becomes spent in the first place, see the spent convictions guide.

The Two Application Routes

A Basic check can be obtained two different ways, and gov.uk publishes a different processing time for each. They are not interchangeable descriptions of the same process; they are two distinct application paths.

Route 1: Self-Apply Online

An individual can apply for their own Basic check directly at gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record. This route requires:

• Age 16 or over
• Identity verification through GOV.UK One Login (a new account can be created during the application if the applicant does not already have one)
• Addresses covering the last 5 years, with dates at each
• A passport, driving licence, and National Insurance number, if held
• Service availability from 8am to 11:30pm

Gov.uk states this route "usually takes up to 3 days for your application to be processed," after which a paper certificate is posted to the applicant.

Route 2: Employer or Organisation Requested

An employer or voluntary organisation cannot apply for a Basic check directly. It must go through a responsible organisation registered with the DBS, which carries out the check and reports the outcome. An employer running more than 1,000 Basic checks a year can become a responsible organisation itself.

Gov.uk states this route takes "up to 14 days," a materially longer published figure than the self-apply route. The certificate is posted to the applicant, who can also view it online through a DBS online account.

Both routes cost £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then) for the check itself. On the employer-requested route, the responsible organisation may also charge its own administration fee on top of that DBS fee; gov.uk does not publish an amount for that fee, so it varies by organisation.

Cost

A Basic check costs £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then) on either route. This matches the fee for a Standard check and is lower than the £41 from 5 October 2026 (£49.50 until then) charged for Enhanced and Enhanced with barred list(s) checks.

Unlike Standard and Enhanced checks, a Basic check is not free for volunteers. Neither gov.uk page covering the Basic check states a volunteer exemption, in contrast to the Standard and Enhanced guidance, which explicitly says those checks are free for genuine volunteers. A volunteer applying for a Basic check should expect to pay the full fee: £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then).

Cross-Border Rule: Which Nation's System Applies

A Basic-level DBS check is an England and Wales product. Where the job itself is based determines which system applies, not where the applicant happens to live.

• A job based in England or Wales uses a Basic DBS check, even if the applicant lives in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• A job actually based in Scotland needs Scotland's own Level 1 disclosure instead of a DBS check. Level 1 disclosure costs £25, as of August 2026, per mygov.scot. See the Disclosure Scotland and PVG guide for that system's levels and fees.
• A job actually based in Northern Ireland needs AccessNI's Basic check instead. AccessNI Basic costs £16 direct, as of August 2026, per nidirect. See the AccessNI check guide for turnaround and the full fee table.

None of the three systems' certificates substitute for one another.

Basic Checks and the Update Service

A Basic check cannot join the DBS Update Service, which only works with Standard and Enhanced certificates. Basic certificate holders instead get access to a separate online services account, which lets them view their certificate online but does not offer the same ongoing reusability that the Update Service provides for Standard and Enhanced holders. Anyone who expects to need repeated checks at a higher level should look at whether the role actually qualifies for Standard or Enhanced rather than relying on a Basic check long term.

Is a Basic Check the Right Level?

A Basic check is the only DBS level available to a person applying purely on their own initiative. It suits general employment checks, some visa and licensing applications, and anyone who wants to see their own unspent record. It is not a substitute for Standard or Enhanced where a role legally requires more.

Whether a role is eligible for a Standard or Enhanced check instead is set by law, not by preference. An employer cannot request a higher level for a role that does not qualify for one, and an applicant cannot ask for a higher level than the role is entitled to simply for extra reassurance. See the which criminal record check do I need guide for how the eligibility gate works, and the DBS check overview for how Basic compares with the other three levels.

Disclaimer

This article provides general legal information about the Basic DBS check in England and Wales and is not legal advice. Fees and processing times are stated as of August 2026 and can change; always confirm current figures on the linked gov.uk, mygov.scot, or nidirect pages before applying. Anyone unsure which disclosure level or national system applies to their situation should check with the employer, responsible organisation, or the relevant disclosure body directly rather than relying on this page alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Basic DBS check cost?

A Basic DBS check costs £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then), on both the self-apply and employer-requested routes. On the employer-requested route, the responsible organisation processing the application may add its own admin fee on top of that fee.

Is a Basic DBS check free for volunteers?

No. Unlike Standard and Enhanced checks, which are free for genuine volunteers, a Basic check carries the full fee, £20 from 5 October 2026 (£21.50 until then), regardless of whether the applicant is volunteering.

How long does a Basic DBS check take?

It depends on the route. Self-applying online at gov.uk usually takes up to 3 days to process. Applying through an employer or voluntary organisation via a responsible organisation takes up to 14 days. These are two different published figures for two different application paths, not one single turnaround time.

Can I apply for my own Basic DBS check?

Yes. Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for their own Basic check at gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record, using GOV.UK One Login to verify identity, without needing an employer to request it.

What does a Basic DBS check show?

Only unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions. Gov.uk gives the example that some types of caution disappear after 3 months and no longer appear. Anything already spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 is not shown.

Can a Basic DBS certificate join the Update Service?

No. The DBS Update Service only works with Standard and Enhanced certificates. Basic certificate holders instead have access to a separate online services account.

Does a Basic DBS check work for a job in Scotland or Northern Ireland?

Only if the job itself is based in England or Wales; where the applicant lives does not matter. A job actually based in Scotland requires Scotland's Level 1 disclosure instead, and a job actually based in Northern Ireland requires an AccessNI Basic check instead. Neither of those substitutes for a DBS Basic check, and vice versa.

What documents do I need to apply for a Basic DBS check online?

GOV.UK One Login for identity verification, addresses covering the last 5 years with dates at each, and, if held, a passport, driving licence, and National Insurance number. The online service is available from 8am to 11:30pm.