United Kingdom: Which identification documents are accepted for United Kingdom background checks?

This article contains:

• Document combinations
• Identity documents
• Candidates who have been adopted

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The most common ID documents provided: 

• Driver's license
• Passport
• Residency card

Proof of current home address is also required. One of the following documents must be provided to verify a candidate's current address: 

• Driver's license with current address
• Utility bill
• Bank statement

Candidates living and/or working in England or Wales will need to meet the identity verification requirement, which is achieved through the digital verification process. Candidates will complete this process during the apply flow and will need to provide documents consistent with the documentation combinations listed below.

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Document Combinations

Route 1 (for UK national candidates needing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

The applicant must be able to show the following:

• 1 document from Group 1a, below; and
• 1 further document from either Group 1, Group 2a, or Group 2b, below

The combination of documents presented must confirm the applicant’s name, address, and date of birth (DOB). If this can’t be achieved within 2 documents a third can be selected.

If an applicant is unable to provide this documentation they can’t submit an application for DBS basic check. This is because the right to work in the UK can’t be established.

Route 2 (for UK national candidates needing a DBS check for paid work in the UK)

If the applicant doesn’t have any of the documents in Group 1, they must be able to show:

• 1 document from Group 2a
• 2 further documents from either Group 2a or 2b

The combination of documents presented must confirm the applicant’s name, address, and date of birth.

If an applicant is unable to provide this documentation they can’t submit an application for a DBS basic check.

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Identity Documents

Group 1: Primary identity documents

Group 1a: Primary identity documents for non-UK nationals needing a DBS check for paid work in the UK

• A current passport or passport card showing that the holder is a national of Ireland.
• A current document issued by the Home Office to a family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen, and which indicates that the holder is permitted to stay in the United Kingdom indefinitely.
• A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder indicating that the person named is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
• Online evidence of immigration status. Either via the View and Prove service or using the BRP or BRC online service. Issued by the Home Office to the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the named person may stay in the UK and is permitted to do the work in question. Must be valid. Note: this includes the EUSS digital status confirmation
• A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK, has the right of abode in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay in the UK.
• A current Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the named person is allowed to stay indefinitely in the UK or has no time limit on their stay in the UK, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer
• A current passport endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the UK and is currently allowed to do the type of work in question.
• A current Biometric Immigration Document (Biometric Residence Permit) issued by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the named person can currently stay in the UK and is allowed to do the work in question.
• A current document issued by the Home Office to a family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen, and which indicates that the holder is permitted to stay in the United Kingdom for a time-limited period and to do the type of work in question.
• A frontier worker permit issued under regulation 8 of the Citizens’ Rights (Frontier Workers) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
• A current Immigration Status Document containing a photograph issued by the Home Office to the holder with a valid endorsement indicating that the named person may stay in the UK, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, together with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.
• A document issued by the Home Office showing that the holder has made an application for leave to enter or remain under Appendix EU to the immigration rules on or before 30 June 2021 together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service.
• An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office stating that the holder is permitted to take the employment in question, together with a Positive Verification Notice from the Home Office Employer Checking Service.
• A Positive Verification Notice issued by the Home Office Employer Checking Service to the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the named person may stay in the UK and is permitted to do the work in question.

Group 2a: Trusted government documents

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

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Candidates who have been adopted

If a candidate was adopted before the age of 10, they do not need to provide their surname at birth. This is because the age of criminal responsibility is deemed to be 10 years under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, Chapter 12, Section 50. This means that there is no possibility that an individual could have a criminal record in a name that was used until the age of 10.