Country-specific frequently asked questions

What is Canada Identity Verification?

Canada Identity Verification is a digital online candidate verification service that works to verify a candidate’s identification documents and likeness during the background check process. Identity verification is required for all Canadian basic criminal checks. 

At the end of each background check application, candidates working in Canada will be guided through this verification process via our third-party provider, Yoti. Yoti is a trusted vendor approved by Canada that securely verifies identification documents and likenesses of individuals. This Yoti process is also available in the French language.

Acceptable pieces of identification for Canada Identity Verification

Digital identity verification

For candidates following the digital online verification process, the following documentation is accepted by Yoti: 

• Driver’s license (issued by Canadian province or territory)
• Provincial or Territorial Health Cards (1)
• NEXUS card
• Canadian Passport
• Permanent Resident (PR) Card
• Indian Status Card (SCIS)

Manual identity verification

For manual identity verification, a candidate must provide two (2) valid pieces of identification: A primary card and a secondary card.

PRIMARY pieces of ID

Any government-issued card that includes the Candidate's name, date of birth, signature, and photo.

Examples:

• Driver’s License (issued by Canadian province or territory)
• Foreign Driver’s License
• Canadian Passport
• Foreign Passport
• BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card
• Photo BC Services Card
• Permanent Resident (PR) Card
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card
• Canadian National Institute of The Blind (CNIB) Identification Card
• Federal, Provincial or Municipal Identification Card
• Military Family Card
• Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or Possession/Acquisition License (PAL)
• Provincial or Territorial Health Cards (1)

SECONDARY pieces of ID

A second “PRIMARY” piece of ID OR a piece of identification from the list below. (Candidate’s name on the secondary piece of ID must match that on the primary ID.)

Examples:

• Government Employment Card
• International Student Card
• Age of Majority Card
• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• Non-Photo BC Services Card
• Hunting License
• Fishing License
• Boating License
• LCBO/Age of Majority Card
• Outdoors Card
• Hospital Card
• Canadian Blood Donor Card
• Immigration Papers
• Student ID
• City/Municipal Library Card
• Utility bill (water, electricity, taxes, or Lease agreement showing both name and address will be accepted. To be used only in cases where the Candidate does not have a Secondary piece of ID).

Will NOT be accepted: 

Examples include:

• Non-Government Employment Card
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card
• Credit/Debit Card
• Gym member Card
• Costco Card
• Air Miles Card

(1) Provincial or Territorial Health Card as Primary ID or Secondary ID: as permitted to be used for identification purposes under provincial law. Government-issued Health card that includes the Candidate's name, date of birth, signature and photo will be accepted if the Candidate volunteers to submit his/her Health Card as a piece of identity and the photocopy of the Health Card number is blacked out before submitting for a criminal background check.

 

To complete a German Criminal background check, the candidate must fill out the application form and follow the instructions below to obtain a German criminal record certificate (polizeliches Führungszeugnis).

• Complete, sign, and have the attached form notarized.
  • • The information the candidate must fill in (e.g., your personal details) can be typed or handwritten, but the candidate’s signature MUST BE HAND-SIGNED.
    • The candidate must fill in their current home address in the box on the top right-hand corner of the form.
    • The candidate must fill in their personal details.
    • Have the form notarized in the box toward the bottom of the form.

Once the above steps have been completed, the next steps are:

1. 1. 1. Upload a photo or scan of the form to Checkr, and
      2. Mail the HAND-SIGNED original form to the following address: 

Attn to: International Team, SJV & Associates, Inc. 

1701 Barrett Lakes Boulevard, Suite 380

Kennesaw, GA 30144

 

The candidate must complete the three forms that are provided to them during the background check invitation:

1. Netherland’s Subject Letter of Authority
2. Netherlands Special Authorization Form
   • • Notice that some sections have been pre-filled to facilitate the process. Do not modify.
3. Netherlands Special Application Form
   • • This form contains two main sections:
       • • Applicant Information, and
         • Organization/Body requesting certificate
     • Notice that some sections have been pre-filled to facilitate the process.
     • Please ensure the following sections are completed on this form; sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.4 a or 2.4 b.

The forms can be completed electronically or in legible handwriting using block capital letters. The signature must be a handwritten/wet signature. The signature must be identical to the signature on the ID provided.

Once the forms have been uploaded to your application, the certificate will be mailed to the candidate. There is a 42-day ETA for out-of-country certificates and a 12- to 16-day ETA for in-country certificates.

UK authorities will not allow your driver’s license to be used as both your form of ID and proof of residence. If you use your driver’s license as a form of ID, please provide one of the following documents as your proof of residence:

• National ID (valid)
• A current immigration status document
• Mortgage Statement
• Banking Statement
• Credit Card Statement
• Financial Statement
• Utility Statement (UK Only - not mobile telephone)
• Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider

United Kingdom Identity Verification is a digital online candidate verification service that works to verify a candidate’s identification documents and likeness during the background check process. United Kingdom Identity Verification is designed to meet the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements for UK criminal screenings in England and Wales. 

At the end of each background check application, candidates working in England or Wales will be guided through this verification process via our third-party provider, Yoti. Yoti is a trusted vendor approved by the United Kingdom that securely verifies identification documents and likenesses of individuals. 

For UK basic criminal checks, candidates must meet a medium level of identity confidence as defined by the UK DBS. 

Opting out of online digital verification

Candidates may opt out of the online verification process. In these cases, candidates will be required to verify their identity with the hiring company and may receive a request to provide additional information via email. Please note that choosing to opt out of the online verification process may increase the turnaround time of the background check process.

For more information, please refer to DBS digital identity verification guidance.

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

Document	Notes
Passport	Any current and valid passport
Current biometric residence permit	UK
Current driving license photocard – (full or provisional)	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
Birth certificate – issued within 12 months of birth	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands – including those issued by UK authorities overseas, e.g. embassies, High Commissions, and HM Forces
Adoption certificate	UK and Channel Islands

 

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

Document	Notes
Current driving license photocard – (full or provisional)	All countries outside the UK (excluding Isle of Man, and Channel Islands)
Current driving license photocard – (full or provisional) – paper version (if issued before 1998)	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
Birth certificate – issued within 12 months of birth	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
Marriage/civil partnership certificate	UK and Channel Islands
Immigration document, visa or work permit	Issued by a country outside the UK. Valid only for roles whereby the applicant is living and working outside of the UK. Visa/permit must relate to the non-UK country in which the role is based
HM Forces ID card	UK
Firearms licence	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands

 

Group 2b: Financial and social history documents

Document	Notes	Issue date and validity
Mortgage statement	UK	Issued in the last 12 months
Bank or building society statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in the last 3 months
Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter	UK	Issued in the last 3 months
Credit card statement	UK	Issued in the last 3 months
Financial statement, for example, a pension or endowment	UK	Issued in the last 12 months
P45 or P60 statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in the last 12 months
Council Tax statement	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in the last 12 months
Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider	Non-UK only – valid only for candidates residing outside of the UK at time of application	Must still be valid
Utility bill	UK – not mobile telephone bill	Issued in the last 3 months
Benefits statement, for example, Child Benefit or pension	UK	Issued in the last 3 months
Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, for example, from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC	UK and Channel Islands	Issued in the last 3 months
EEA National ID card		Must still be valid
Irish Passport Card	Cannot be used with an Irish passport	Must still be valid
Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo	UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands	Must still be valid
Letter from head teacher or college principal	UK – for 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education – only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided	Must still be valid
Non-UK Bank or building society statement	The branch must be located in the country in which the applicant lives and works	Issued in the last 3 months

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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.

Related article:

• United Kingdom: What is United Kingdom Identity Verification?