Guidance

DBS Update Service: applicant guide

Updated 9 December 2025

About the DBS Update Service 

A subscription to the Update Service costs £16 per year, it’s free if you’re a volunteer. 

The Update Service allows you to: 

• keep your DBS certificate up to date 

• take your DBS certificate from role to role – the roles must be in the same workforce and the same level of DBS check 

• add multiple DBS certificates to your account 

• see which organisations use the service to check your DBS certificate status 

It allows your employer to: 

• quickly check your DBS certificate status online, with your consent 

The Update Service is for standard and enhanced DBS checks only. You cannot subscribe with a basic DBS check                  

To use the Update Service you need your DBS certificate.  

You should keep your DBS certificate to show future employers. They must see it before they can start checking your certificate status using the Update Service. They do not need to see your certificate every time they check your status. 

Learn more by watching our Update Service video on Youtube. 

Joining the Update Service 

You can join the Update Service during your application for a DBS check, or after your DBS check certificate is issued. 

Make sure the email address you use for your subscription is your personal email address. 

Joining after your certificate is issued 

You can join the Update Service after your DBS check is completed using your DBS certificate number.  

You must join within 30 days of the date of issue on your certificate. 

If you do not join within 30 days, you will need to get a new DBS check via the organisation you are working for to be able to join the Update Service. 

Joining during your application 

You will need your DBS application form reference number. You can get this from either: 

• the front page of the paper application form 

• asking the person who submitted your application for it 

• phoning us on 03000 200 190 - if we have received your application form 

If you applied for a DBS check through an e-bulk Registered Body, you can use your e-reference. The Registered Body will be able to give you this. 

We must receive your DBS check application within 28 days of you joining the Update Service. When your DBS certificate is issued, we will automatically add it to your Update Service account. 

If your DBS check application is withdrawn, we will cancel and refund your Update Service subscription within 31 days. 

Transgender applicants 

If you are transgender and used the sensitive applications route for your DBS check, your previous sex and identity will not be shown to others if you join the Update Service.   

You can contact the sensitive applications team if you need advice by phoning 0300 131 2784 or emailing sensitive@dbs.gov.uk. 

Paying for your subscription 

The subscription starts from the date your DBS certificate was issued. We only accept payment by debit or credit card.  

Paying with someone else’s card 

You can use someone else’s debit or credit card with their permission.  

If you select the ‘auto renew’ option, we will attempt to take future payments from the card details saved to your subscription.  

If you pay with someone else’s card and there are any issues, we may not be able to link the payment to your account. This could lead to your subscription being cancelled.

Volunteers 

Subscriptions to the Update service are free for people who meet the DBS definition of a volunteer. 

You cannot add a DBS certificate for a paid position to a free volunteer Update Service subscription. 

 If you move from a volunteer position to a paid position you need to: 

• apply for a new DBS check via the organisation you are working for 

• join the Update Service again 

• pay the annual fee of £16 by credit or debit card 

You can add a DBS certificate for a volunteer to a paid Update Service account. 

Your Update Service ID 

When you join the Update Service, we will give you a unique ID that begins with the letter C followed by 10 numbers.  

To keep your account secure, you must: 

• make a note of your ID and keep it safe – you will need it to access your account 

• not share it with anyone else 

If you forget your Update Service ID you can call us on 03000 200 190. 

Renewing your subscription 

You must renew your subscription to the Update Service each year to keep it active. Subscriptions for the following year will start the day after your current subscription expires. You set up automatic or manual renewals when you first join. 

If you do not renew before the deadline, we will cancel your subscription. To rejoin you will need to apply for a new DBS check, via the organisation you are working for, and register for the Update Service again. 

Emails about your subscription will come from ‘donotreply@dbs.gov.uk’. You can add this email address to your ‘safe senders’ list to make sure you receive the emails. 

Automatic renewals 

If you choose automatic renewal, we will email you each year when your subscription is due. 

We will attempt to take the yearly fee of £16 using your saved card details.  

You do not need to do anything unless you need to update your payment details. 

Updating your payment details for automatic renewal 

If your payment details have changed, you can update them by signing in to your account and selecting ‘Renew subscription’.  

You can only update your payment details if your renewal is due in the next 30 days. 

Failed payments for an automatic renewal 

If your automatic renewal fails, we will email you and try to take the payment again. 

If your renewal fails because your card details have changed, you must sign in to your account  and update your card details. 

If your payment fails again, we will cancel your subscription. You will need to apply for a new DBS check, via the organisation you are working for, and register for the Update Service again. 

Changing from automatic to manual renewals 

You can turn off automatic renewals by signing in to your account  and updating your card details. You can then select the option to not save your card details for future payments. 

Manual renewals 

If you choose to manually renew your subscription, we will send you an email reminder 30 calendar days before your subscription is due.  

If you do not renew your subscription 14 days before the expiry date, we will also send you a reminder letter. You must keep your address up to date in your account to ensure you receive your reminder letter. 

You will need to sign in to your account and make payment within the 30 days before your subscription ends. 

If you do not make payment before the expiry date, we will cancel your subscription. You will need to apply for a new DBS check, via the organisation you are working for, and register for the Update Service again. 

Changing from manual to automatic renewals 

When you renew manually you can choose to change to automatic renewals. To do this, select the option to save your card details for future payments. 

Volunteer renewals 

Subscriptions to the Update Service for volunteers are free. You still need to renew each year. 

We will send you an email reminder 30 days before your subscription is due to expire, you must confirm if you want to renew or we will cancel your subscription.  

Make sure the email address for your subscription is your personal email address. You can update your email address by signing in to your account.  

Changing your personal information or contact details 

You can sign in to your account to update your: 

• email  

• phone number 

• address  

If your current address changes your DBS certificate is still valid and you can continue to use the Update Service. 

If the names on a certificate in your account are incorrect, the certificate is not valid and we will cancel it. 

If you change your name you must apply for a new DBS check via the organisation you are working for. You can then link your new certificate to your Update Service account and remove your old one.  

Cancelling your Update Service account 

You can cancel your Update Service account at any time. Any certificates attached to the account will no longer be checked for status changes. 

To cancel you must sign in to your account, select ‘cancel subscription’ and follow the instructions. 

We will not refund the annual subscription fee unless you have paid for a renewal and then cancelled before your renewal date.  

Removing your DBS certificates from your Update Service account will not cancel your subscription 

Adding and removing certificates in your account  

To add a certificate to your account, it must be in your name. You can add multiple certificates to your account. 

If you remove a certificate from your Update Service account, you can’t add it  again or use it to create a new account. 

Monitoring your DBS certificate status 

When you add your DBS certificate to the Update Service, we regularly search to see if there is any new information.  

We check: 

• criminal record conviction and barring information weekly  

• police information for enhanced checks every nine months - it isn’t released on many DBS certificates and doesn’t change very often 

You can log in to your account and check the status of your certificate at any time. 

If there is new information, we will send you a letter telling you what has changed and what to do next. We will send the letter to the address on your DBS certificate. 

Your DBS certificate status will change if any of the following are identified: 

For Standard certificates: 

• new convictions, adult cautions and unspent conditional cautions 

• any change to a conviction, adult caution or unspent conditional caution 

For Enhanced certificates: 

• new convictions, adult cautions and unspent conditional cautions 

• any change to a conviction, adult caution or unspent conditional caution 

• any new, relevant police information 

For Enhanced with Barred List(s) certificates: 

• new convictions, adult cautions and unspent conditional cautions 

• any change to a conviction, adult caution or unspent conditional caution 

• any new, relevant police information 

• you are added to the relevant barred list(s) 

If your certificate status changes and you don’t think it should have, phone us on 03000 200 190 and we’ll investigate.  

Certificate status changes 

If something on your certificate changes you should consider if you need to discuss this with your employer or volunteer organisation. 

Your employer or volunteer organisation may: 

• ask you to get a new DBS check 

• withdraw their offer of employment 

• terminate your employment 

• move you to another role that does not need a DBS check 

If you are placed on a barred list or convicted of an offence and this is removed after appealing, the status change will remain on your Update Service account. You will need to apply for a new DBS check, via the organisation you are working for, because your certificate is no longer valid. 

Employers and organisations checking the status of your certificate(s) 

Employers and organisations can only check the status of your DBS certificate using the Update Service if all the following apply: 

• they could legally request a DBS check for the role you’ll be working in 

• they have your permission 

• they have seen your original DBS certificate in person – they do not need to see it every time they check your status 

• they have checked your ID to confirm your identity 

If you don’t want an employer or organisation to continue checking the status of your certificate(s), contact them and tell them you withdraw your consent. If they fail to stop, they are breaking the law by accessing data that they are not entitled to see. 

To check the status of your certificate using the Update Service, the employer or organisation will need your: 

• DBS certificate 12-digit reference number 

• last name 

• date of birth in the format DD/MM/YYYY - if the day or month is a single digit do not use a zero, for example 1/7/1980 

When an employer or organisation checks the status of your DBS certificate using the Update Service, they will see one of the following results: 

This DBS certificate did not reveal any information and remains current as no further information has been identified since its issue.

This means: 

• the DBS certificate when issued was blank and there is no new information - it can be accepted as current and valid 

This DBS certificate remains current as no further information has been identified since its issue.

This means: 

• the DBS certificate revealed information, but there is no new information - it can be accepted as current and valid 

This DBS certificate is no longer current. Please apply for a new DBS check to get the most up-to-date information.

This means: 

• there is new information - you will need to apply for a new DBS check to see this new information 

The details entered do not match those held on our system. Please check and try again.

This means either: 

• the person is not subscribed to the Update Service 

• the DBS certificate has been removed from the Update Service 

• you haven’t entered the correct information 

Update Service statuses 

Subscription status 

New	When you apply with an application form reference number
Subscribed	When your DBS certificate is attached to your subscription
Cancelled	If you cancel your subscription
Expired	If you fail to renew your subscription

Application status (if you subscribe with a DBS check application form) 

Received	We have received your DBS check application form
Not received	We are waiting to receive you DBS check application form
Printed	We have printed your DBS certificate

Update status (this shows the status of your DBS certificate) 

Non-blank/No New Info	Still current
Blank/No New Info	Still current
New Info	No longer current – there is new information

Early confirmation checks 

If the status of your certificate changes, your employer can submit an early confirmation check. This check tells them if you have been barred from working with children or adults. 

Your employer can only submit an early confirmation check if all the following apply: 

• you are subscribed to the Update Service 

• a status check shows there is new information on your certificate 

• your certificate included a check of at least one barred list 

• they have your permission to do the check 

If you have been barred and need advice, you can call our barring helpline on 03000 200 190. 

Why you might need multiple DBS checks 

If you are asked to get more than one than one DBS check, it could be because: 

• your employer has decided not to use the Update Service  

• information on your DBS certificate has changed - your old certificate will then be removed from the Update Service 

• your role may need a different type of DBS check than the one you have 

• you work in a home-based position 

Home-based positions 

When you apply for a DBS check for a home-based position, we carry out checks on the address as part of the application. The Update Service will not continue to carry out checks on the address as part of your subscription. 

You should discuss this with your employer or the person requesting the certificate. 

Manual certificates 

Sometimes it is not possible for us to produce a system generated DBS certificate. When this happens, we issue a manual DBS certificate. Manual DBS certificates cannot be used to join the Update Service. 

Contact DBS 

DBS helpline 03000 200 190 

Email customerservices@dbs.gov.uk 

If emailing us, please provide 5 pieces of information, this must include: 

• full name  

• address declared on the application form (including house number and postcode) 

• date of birth 

 And two of the below:  

• DBS application reference number 
• National Insurance Number 
• position applied for  -employer Name  -place of Birth (town or city and country) 
• DBS certificate reference number 
• Passport Number 

• Driving Licence number 

• previous address