How to get a DBS check when you are self-employed (2026)
If you want work involving children, vulnerable adults, or simply want the reassurance badge on your profile, this is the process.
What you can apply for yourself
A Basic DBS check. Anyone can apply for their own, directly through the Disclosure and Barring Service. It shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
- Cost: £21.50
- Turnaround: usually a few days, sometimes within 24 hours
- Apply at gov.uk, or through Disclosure Scotland if you live in Scotland
This is the level most task platforms accept for a verification badge.
What you cannot apply for yourself
Standard and Enhanced DBS checks cannot be applied for by an individual. They must be requested by an employer or a registered "umbrella body" for a role that is eligible under the legislation. Self-employed people cannot self-request an Enhanced check for general work.
If a client needs an Enhanced check, regular unsupervised work with children, for example, they or their organisation must request it through a registered body.
The Update Service
For £16 a year you can subscribe to the DBS Update Service, which lets employers check your existing certificate online rather than making you apply again. You must subscribe within 30 days of the certificate being issued, so do it as soon as it arrives.
What you need to apply
- Proof of identity (passport or driving licence, plus supporting documents)
- Five years of address history
- National Insurance number
How long it lasts
A DBS certificate has no expiry date; it is a snapshot of the day it was issued. Most platforms and clients treat anything over 12 months old as stale. Keep it current with the Update Service or renew annually.
Adding it to your profile
Upload the certificate and its number in your verification settings. We check the number, record that the check exists and its date, and then show only a badge. We do not store the certificate itself, and the criminal-record information on it is never displayed to anyone.
Primary sources
Everything above is drawn from these. They are the versions to trust if we have fallen out of date.
Next steps
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