Many overseas employers ask for a UK criminal record check before confirming a job offer, issuing a contract or supporting a visa application. This is especially common in education, healthcare, childcare, finance, security, government work and regulated professions.
The certificate itself is only part of the process. For overseas use, the document may also need to be prepared in the correct format, legalised and sometimes translated or attested by an embassy.
Why employers ask for criminal record checks
Foreign employers and authorities use criminal record checks to confirm whether an applicant has a relevant criminal history in the UK.
Even if the certificate is valid in the UK, the overseas authority may still need proof that it is genuine. This is why legalisation is often requested before the document can be accepted abroad.
If the certificate is submitted in the wrong format, it may be rejected and delay your start date.
ACRO Police Certificate
An ACRO Police Certificate is commonly requested for overseas employment, visa applications and immigration processes.
For legalisation, the original ACRO certificate is usually required. A photocopy, scan or solicitor-certified copy may not be accepted.
If the original certificate has been lost, damaged or is no longer suitable, you may need to request a replacement directly from ACRO before starting the legalisation process.
DBS certificates
DBS certificates are commonly requested for roles involving children, vulnerable adults, education, healthcare or regulated work.
Unlike ACRO certificates, DBS certificates usually need solicitor or notary certification before they can be legalised. This is because they do not normally carry a signature or seal that can be verified directly for legalisation.
The original DBS certificate should be checked carefully before certification, as damaged or unclear documents may cause problems.
Disclosure Scotland certificates
Disclosure Scotland certificates may be used for employment, visa or professional registration abroad.
If the original certificate carries a wet-ink signature and date from the issuing authority, it may be suitable for direct legalisation.
If it was issued digitally or does not carry the required signature and date, it may need to be signed by Disclosure Scotland first or certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before legalisation.
AccessNI certificates
AccessNI certificates from Northern Ireland usually follow a different route.
They normally need solicitor or notary certification before they can be legalised, because they do not carry an official wet-ink signature that can be verified directly for the legalisation process.
Submitting an AccessNI certificate without the correct certification can lead to rejection.
Check which certificate the employer wants
Do not assume that any UK criminal record check will be accepted. Some employers or immigration authorities specifically ask for an ACRO Police Certificate, while others ask for DBS, Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI.
The correct certificate depends on the destination country, job role, visa category and receiving authority.
Always ask for the requirement in writing before applying or arranging legalisation.
Translation and embassy attestation
If the destination country does not use English for official employment or visa procedures, a certified or sworn translation may be required.
For countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, legalisation may not be the final step. Embassy or consular attestation may also be required before the certificate is accepted.
These additional stages can affect your start date, so they should be checked early.
Prepare before your start date
Criminal record checks can be time-sensitive. Some overseas authorities only accept certificates issued within a specific period, such as three or six months.
Before applying, confirm which certificate is needed, how recent it must be, whether legalisation is required and whether translation or embassy attestation applies.
If you need a UK criminal record check for overseas employment, 12 Apostille can review the requirement, confirm the correct route and manage certification, legalisation or attestation where required.