Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines

Change description : 2025-04-22 14:00:00: Refreshed ID guidance to be used from April 22st 2025 uploaded [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-12-19 10:26:31.315447305 +00:00..2025-04-22 13:00:44.098245918 +00:00

Guidance

DBS ID checking guidelines

Guidance to help you validate the identity of a DBS check applicant and a new lead/countersignatory.

Documents

ID checking guidelines for countersignatory applications (Welsh) (Word)

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Details

Organisations registered with us need to check the identity of a DBS check applicant as part of the application process. A slightly different process is also part of a countersignatory or lead countersignatory application.

We have 2 guidance documents to help with each identity check:

  1. ID checking guidelines for DBS check applicants
  2. ID checking guidelines for countersignatory and lead countersignatory applicants

From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. Paper driving licences issued before 31st March 2000 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.

For the DBS ID checking process this means that just the driving licence photocard needs to be checked, unless an old style paper driving licence is produced (pre-2000).

Updates to this page

Published 19 November 2012
Last updated 1922 DecemberApril 2024 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

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Update history

2025-04-24 12:41
Welsh translation of ID checking guidelines for Standard/Enhanced DBS check applications from 22 April 2025 has been uploaded.

2025-04-22 14:00
Refreshed ID guidance to be used from April 22st 2025 uploaded

2024-12-19 10:25
Information about paper driving licences has been updated to reflect that these were valid until 2000, not 1998.

2022-12-09 11:42
Updates to DBS digital identity verification guidance

2022-10-21 14:26
Changes made to the DBS digital identity verification guidance.

2022-05-05 13:10
DBS digital identity factsheet added.