Basic DBS Check: What It Shows and How to Apply for Your Own

A basic DBS check is the lowest level of criminal record check in England and Wales. It shows only unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions, and anyone over 16 can apply for their own through GOV.UK. Any employer can ask for one, for any job, because it reveals nothing the law says you can keep private.

That makes the basic check the one most people meet: in retail, hospitality, warehousing, office work, security, taxi and delivery work, and for some landlords and contracts. This guide covers what it shows, what it doesn’t, how to apply, and how to handle a result that isn’t clear. It’s general information, not legal advice.

What a basic DBS check shows

A basic certificate shows two things:

• Unspent convictions. Convictions that haven’t yet reached the end of their rehabilitation period under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
• Unspent conditional cautions. A conditional caution comes with conditions attached, such as paying compensation, and stays unspent for a limited time.

If you have neither, the certificate says so. That’s the most common result.

What a basic check doesn’t show

This is where people worry unnecessarily. A basic check does not show:

• Spent convictions. Once a conviction is spent, it doesn’t appear on a basic check. Our guide to spent convictions explains how rehabilitation periods work.
• Simple cautions. A simple caution, the kind without conditions, is spent straight away for these purposes.
• Arrests or charges that didn’t lead to a conviction.
• Police intelligence. Only enhanced checks can include information from local police.
• Barred list status. That needs an enhanced check with barred lists.

If an employer needs to know more, the role has to be eligible for a standard or enhanced check. Our main guide to the DBS check compares all four levels.

Who can ask for a basic DBS check

Any employer can ask for a basic check, for any role, paid or unpaid. It doesn’t need special eligibility. Some landlords, clients and contract agencies ask for one too.

Because a basic check only reveals unspent records, it’s consistent with the protection the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act gives spent convictions. An employer who asks you on a form about “any criminal convictions” for an ordinary job is generally only entitled to hear about unspent ones.

How to apply for your own basic DBS check

You can apply directly through the official GOV.UK service. You can also go through an employer or through a “responsible organization”, a company registered to submit basic checks on others’ behalf. Some of these charge an admin fee on top of the DBS fee.

1. Use the official GOV.UK page. Search for “request a basic DBS check” and make sure you’re on a gov.uk address. Many lookalike sites charge more for the same certificate.
2. Create an account and complete the application form.
3. Give your address history for the period the form asks for, and your personal details, including any previous names.
4. Prove your identity. The online process lets you verify your identity using documents such as a passport or driving license.
5. Pay the fee shown on GOV.UK. Fees change, so check the current amount there.
6. Wait for the certificate. It’s posted to the address you give. Processing times vary, and DBS publishes its current service levels online.

If you live in Scotland, apply to Disclosure Scotland. In Northern Ireland, apply to AccessNI. Each runs its own basic check.

Getting a basic check on yourself before you apply for jobs

A basic check on yourself is a cheap way to see exactly what an employer would see. It’s worth doing if:

• You had a conviction a few years ago and aren’t sure whether it’s spent yet.
• You have a common name and want to confirm you aren’t being confused with someone else.
• You’re applying for self-employed work, contracts or platforms that ask for a recent certificate.

A clear certificate can also be a quiet reassurance to a client or landlord. Keep the original safe. There’s no official expiry date, but many organizations only accept a certificate issued within a recent period they set.

If your basic check shows a conviction

An unspent conviction on a basic certificate isn’t the end of the application. Many employers hire people with records, particularly when the offense isn’t relevant to the job and the person is open about it.

1. Tell the employer before they see the certificate. A short, calm explanation usually lands better than a surprise.
2. Keep it factual. Offense, date, sentence, what’s changed.
3. Show relevance, or the lack of it. A driving conviction matters to a delivery firm but much less to an office.
4. Know when it becomes spent. If it’s only months away, that’s worth knowing for future applications.

Example wording you could adapt:

Before you receive my DBS certificate, I want to let you know it will show a conviction for possession of cannabis from earlier this year. I paid the fine in full, and I’ve made changes since, including a course I completed through my GP. It isn’t connected to this role, and I’m happy to discuss it.

If the result is wrong

If your certificate shows a conviction that isn’t yours, an outcome that’s wrong, or a conviction that should already be spent, raise it quickly.

1. Check the dates. Work out whether the conviction should have been spent at the date the certificate was issued, not the date you received it.
2. Raise a dispute with DBS through the official process on GOV.UK. There is a time limit, so don’t wait.
3. Send evidence, such as court documents showing the outcome. If the record belongs to someone else, you may be asked for fingerprints.
4. Tell the employer you’re disputing an error, so they can pause their decision.

Free advice services such as Nacro can help you work out whether a conviction should be spent and whether a dispute is worth raising.

A worked example

This scenario is illustrative, not a real client. Tom was convicted of criminal damage and given a community order. He’s applying for warehouse jobs two years after the order ended and doesn’t know whether he has to mention it.

1. He uses a free online tool from an advice charity to estimate the rehabilitation period, and it suggests the conviction is already spent.
2. To be sure, he applies for a basic check on himself through GOV.UK.
3. The certificate comes back with no unspent convictions. He answers “no” to the unspent convictions question on applications, which is what the law allows.
4. He also searches his own name and finds a local news story about the case. That’s a separate problem from the DBS certificate, and he looks into delisting options.

Common mistakes

• Disclosing spent convictions for ordinary jobs. If a role only needs a basic check, you usually don’t need to mention a spent conviction.
• Lying about unspent ones. A false “no” on a form, followed by a certificate showing the conviction, does more damage than the conviction itself.
• Using a lookalike site. You’ll often pay more and wait just as long.
• Forgetting the internet. A clear certificate won’t stop an employer finding an old article. See our guide on the social media background check for what recruiters look at informally.

When to get more help

If a conviction is unspent and you’re struggling to get work, talk to Nacro or a local advice service. They give free, confidential advice on disclosure and employer policies. For questions about unlawful treatment by an employer, talk to a solicitor.

If the certificate is clear but search results about an old case keep costing you, our personal reputation management service can review what shows up for your name and what can realistically be done. You may also find our guide on how to run a background check on yourself useful if you’ve lived or worked in the US.

Frequently asked questions

What does a basic DBS check show?

It shows unspent convictions and unspent conditional cautions only. Spent convictions, simple cautions, arrests without conviction and police intelligence do not appear.

Can I get a basic DBS check on myself?

Yes. Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for their own basic check through the official GOV.UK service. You’ll verify your identity online, pay the fee and receive the certificate by post.

Do employers need a reason to ask for a basic DBS check?

No. Any employer can ask for a basic check for any role, because it only reveals unspent records that you would usually have to disclose anyway if asked.

How long does a basic DBS check last?

It has no official expiry date. It reflects your record on the day it was issued, and each employer or organization decides how recent a certificate they will accept.