A DBS certificate may be needed when applying for work, volunteering, visas, residency, teaching roles, healthcare roles or professional registration overseas. It helps show whether a criminal record check has been carried out in England and Wales.
If the DBS certificate is being used abroad, the receiving authority may ask for it to be legalised with an apostille. However, DBS certificates are not always apostilled in the same way as official registry certificates, such as birth or marriage certificates.
In many cases, a DBS certificate needs to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary before it can be apostilled.
What is a DBS certificate?
A DBS certificate is issued following a Disclosure and Barring Service check. It may be requested by employers or organisations to help assess someone’s suitability for a role.
There are different types of DBS checks, including basic, standard and enhanced checks. The type required depends on the role and the organisation requesting it.
When a DBS certificate is needed outside the UK, an apostille may be required so that the document can be recognised by an overseas authority.
Can a DBS certificate be apostilled?
Yes, a DBS certificate can often be apostilled, but it may need solicitor or notary certification first.
The apostille confirms the authenticity of a recognised signature, stamp or seal. If the DBS certificate does not contain a directly verifiable signature for apostille purposes, certification may be needed.
In that case, a UK solicitor or notary can certify the DBS certificate or a copy of it. The apostille is then attached to the certification.
Why certification may be required
A DBS certificate is not always treated like a standard public certificate that can be apostilled directly.
If the document cannot be verified directly for apostille purposes, a solicitor or notary certification creates a recognised signature that can be checked and legalised.
The certification must be clear and suitable for apostille. It should normally include the certifier’s name, signature, professional details, date and stamp or seal.
If the certification is missing or incomplete, the apostille application may be delayed.
When might you need a DBS certificate apostille?
You may need an apostilled DBS certificate for:
- employment overseas
- teaching abroad
- healthcare roles abroad
- childcare or education roles
- visa or residency applications
- volunteer work abroad
- immigration procedures
- professional registration
- work permit applications
- employer background checks
The exact requirement depends on the country, employer, regulator or immigration authority requesting the document.
DBS certificate or ACRO Police Certificate?
Some overseas authorities ask for a DBS certificate, while others ask for an ACRO Police Certificate.
These are different documents and are not always interchangeable. A DBS certificate is commonly used for employment and safeguarding checks, while an ACRO Police Certificate is often requested for immigration or visa purposes.
Before arranging an apostille, check whether the receiving authority has asked specifically for a DBS certificate or an ACRO Police Certificate.
Submitting the wrong document can cause delays.
Original DBS certificate or certified copy?
The correct format depends on the receiving authority.
Some organisations may ask for the original DBS certificate. Others may accept a solicitor-certified or notarised copy.
If you do not want to send the original certificate abroad, a certified copy may be useful. However, not every authority accepts certified copies, so this should be checked first.
The document should be clear, complete and not altered.
Does the DBS certificate need to be recent?
Many overseas employers and authorities only accept criminal record checks issued within a recent period. This could be three months, six months or another time frame depending on the country and organisation.
If your DBS certificate is too old, it may be rejected even if it has an apostille.
Before arranging legalisation, check whether the receiving authority has set a validity period.
Do you need a translation?
If the DBS certificate is being used in a country where English is not accepted, a certified translation may be required.
The correct order can vary. Some authorities want the DBS certificate certified and apostilled first, then translated. Others may ask for the translation itself to be certified or legalised.
This is especially important for employment, visa, education and healthcare applications, where document requirements can be strict.
Will an apostille be enough?
In many countries, an apostille is enough for a certified DBS certificate to be accepted. However, some countries may require additional embassy or consular legalisation after the apostille.
This depends on the destination country and the organisation requesting the document.
Before submitting your DBS certificate abroad, check whether the authority needs only an apostille or further legalisation.
Common reasons for delays
A DBS apostille application may be delayed if the certificate has not been certified correctly, if the solicitor or notary details are unclear, or if the certification wording is incomplete.
There may also be delays if the certificate is too old, if the wrong type of criminal record check has been provided, or if the receiving authority asked for an ACRO Police Certificate instead.
Checking the exact requirement before legalisation can help avoid rejection.
How 12 Apostille can help
12 Apostille can help you prepare and legalise a DBS certificate for overseas use. We can advise whether solicitor certification or notarisation may be needed, whether the document appears suitable for apostille, and whether translation or further legalisation may be required.
This helps reduce the risk of delays and makes sure your DBS certificate is prepared correctly before it is submitted abroad.
Final checklist
Before arranging an apostille for a DBS certificate, check whether the receiving authority has asked for a DBS certificate or an ACRO Police Certificate, whether the document must be recent, and whether the original or a certified copy is required.
You should also check whether solicitor certification or notarisation is needed, whether a translation is required, and whether the destination country accepts an apostille only or asks for further legalisation.
Preparing the DBS certificate correctly can help avoid delays with overseas employment, visa, residency or professional registration applications.