How long do pre-employment checks take?
There is no single answer, and only some official bodies publish a time. DBS says each application is different and completion times vary, with some checks taking longer, especially enhanced checks referred to the police. GOV.UK says a basic DBS check usually takes up to 3 days to process before the certificate is posted. Disclosure Scotland aims to process PVG applications within 14 days, and AccessNI publishes processing targets for each level of check every week. The Home Office Employer Checking Service aims to respond within five working days of a valid request.
We found no official processing time for references or overseas checks, because they depend on people outside your control.
Plan around the uncertainty rather than a promised date. Make the offer conditional, start the checks as soon as the candidate accepts, keep the forms accurate and complete the right to work check before employment begins, because the law requires it then.
What official bodies say about processing times
These are the official statements published on 28 October 2026. They cover processing by the official body only, not the time your candidate takes to complete a form or you take to review the result.
| Check | Where it applies | What the official source says |
|---|---|---|
| DBS basic check | England and Wales | Usually takes up to 3 days to be processed, then a paper certificate is posted |
| DBS standard and enhanced checks | England and Wales | Completion time can vary, with some checks taking longer, especially enhanced checks referred to the police |
| DBS Update Service status check | England and Wales | You can see the result straight away |
| Level 1 and Level 2 disclosures | Scotland | Usually processed within 14 days, unless Disclosure Scotland needs more information |
| PVG scheme application | Scotland | Disclosure Scotland aims to process within 14 days; it may take longer if it needs more information |
| AccessNI basic, direct application | Northern Ireland | Target: 95 per cent within 14 days |
| AccessNI basic through a responsible body, and standard | Northern Ireland | Target: 99 per cent within seven days |
| AccessNI enhanced | Northern Ireland | Target: 70 per cent within 10 days, 95 per cent within 21 days, 98 per cent within 28 days |
| Home Office online right to work check | UK | Real-time information directly from Home Office systems |
| Home Office Employer Checking Service | UK | Aims to respond within five working days of receiving a valid request |
Where to find current performance
AccessNI updates its delivery times every week. For the week beginning 26 October 2026 it reported an average of 3 days to issue basic and standard certificates and 5 days for enhanced certificates, while noting that some certificates take longer.
DBS publishes quarterly official statistics against its internal performance standards, covering checks, the Update Service and disputes. Treat any single figure you hear as a past average, not a promise.
How a DBS application moves through its stages
DBS describes five stages. For a basic check, stages 3 and 4 do not apply, and stage 4 applies only to enhanced checks.
- Stage 1: the form is checked for errors or omissions, and is either scanned onto the DBS system or returned to the countersignatory for correction within 24 hours.
- Stage 2: the Police National Computer is searched.
- Stage 3: the children's and adults' barred lists are searched, where the check includes them.
- Stage 4: for enhanced checks, police forces check their own records, because the applicant's details may match records held by any force in the country.
- Stage 5: the certificate is printed and posted to the applicant, who then shows it to the employer.
What slows checks down
Several causes of delay that official sources mention are in the employer's hands.
- Errors or gaps on the application form, which DBS returns for correction at stage 1.
- Identity that cannot be validated. Applicants without the necessary documents may be asked to give fingerprints at a local police station, which DBS says is likely to cause delay.
- Differences between the form and the identity documents. Ask the applicant to clarify, and do not change the form without their knowledge and agreement.
- Police enquiries on enhanced checks at stage 4.
- Unpaid basic checks. If the employer is paying, payment must be made within 10 days, and DBS will not process the application until it is paid.
- Referral to the police in Northern Ireland, for example where the person has convictions, police hold other information, or the person has lived in Ireland within the last five years. AccessNI asks applicants to respond quickly if police contact them.
- Missed deadlines in Scotland. A PVG applicant has 14 days to complete the application once the organisation starts it, and 14 days to share the disclosure once it is ready.
- Time spent abroad. DBS checks do not cover it, and DBS is not responsible for how long overseas authorities take.
Right to work comes before the first day
Unlike most checks, the right to work check has a fixed deadline. You must check that a job applicant is allowed to work for you in the UK before you employ them, and the Home Office guide says the steps must be completed before employment commences to establish a statutory excuse.
If the candidate cannot show their documents or online status, for example because they have an outstanding application with the Home Office, you ask the Employer Checking Service, which aims to reply within five working days. Build that into the start date. Our right to work checks page covers the method.
Conditional offers and start dates
Acas, which advises employers in England, Scotland and Wales, says a job offer letter should say whether the offer is conditional, for example on suitable references or a health check, and that you can withdraw an offer if the applicant did not meet its conditions, such as criminal record checks. Withdrawing an unconditional offer could be against the law.
The ICO's draft guidance says you can tell candidates at what stage you will assess vetting information, and its example is a check on the successful candidate only. In our view, running checks once the offer is accepted keeps them targeted, but it also means the clock starts later, so agree the start date with that in mind.
Starting before a DBS certificate arrives in CQC-regulated care
In England, CQC says the Schedule 3 information about a candidate must be confirmed before they are employed. Its guidance for providers says they must be able to show sound reasons for not obtaining a full DBS check before a person takes up post, and that they have assessed any potential risk.
A DBS Adult First check costs £6 and is requested alongside an enhanced check with the adults' barred list, for roles eligible for that list. It gives an early result from the adults' barred list only. Depending on the result, a person can start work with vulnerable adults under supervision before the certificate arrives. CQC says Adult First checks should not be relied on routinely and are not appropriate for anyone intending to work with children. Our health and social care page sets out the sector rules.
If the candidate already subscribes to the DBS Update Service and their certificate is the right level and type, a status check gives you an answer straight away.
An illustrative planning timeline
This example is illustrative. It shows the order of steps, not how long each will take.
| Step | What happens | What official sources say about timing (not a promise) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Conditional offer | Offer letter lists the checks and the conditions | None |
| 2. Offer accepted | Candidate completes the DBS application and gives share code or documents; referees contacted | None for references |
| 3. Checks running | Track the DBS application online; answer queries quickly | Basic: usually up to 3 days to process. Standard and enhanced: varies |
| 4. Right to work done | Check completed and recorded | Must be finished before employment starts |
| 5. Results reviewed | Certificate seen, references assessed, any concerns discussed with the candidate | None |
| 6. Start date confirmed | Conditions met, or in CQC-regulated care in England, documented sound reasons and a risk assessment if the DBS certificate is still outstanding | None |
Sources
- DBS checks guidance for employers, voluntary organisations and third parties · GOV.UK (Disclosure and Barring Service)
- Request a basic DBS check · GOV.UK
- DBS Update Service · GOV.UK
- DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, the DBS Update Service, and disputes · GOV.UK (Disclosure and Barring Service)
- Check someone's criminal record · GOV.UK
- Apply for a Level 1 disclosure · mygov.scot
- Start a PVG application for a worker or volunteer · mygov.scot
- Complete a PVG application you have been sent · mygov.scot
- Costs and turnaround times · nidirect (AccessNI)
- Checking a job applicant's right to work · GOV.UK
- Right to work checks: an employer's guide · Home Office
- Use the Employer Checking Service · GOV.UK
- Offering someone a job · Acas
- Pre-employment vetting of candidates · ICO
- Regulation 19: Fit and proper persons employed · Care Quality Commission
- Provider and CQC Inspector FAQs for meeting CQCs requirements of employment for Regulation 19 · CQC
General information for employers in the UK, not legal advice. HRjoy advises on screening policy and fair process. We do not run checks ourselves; where you need checks run, we can introduce you to our screening partners. Check the official sources for your situation.
Questions
Something else? Ask us.
How can I find out where a DBS application has got to?
DBS runs a free online tracking service for standard and enhanced applications. It shows what stage the application has reached, whether it was returned because of errors and whether the certificate has been sent. For a basic check, you need the application reference number, the applicant's surname and date of birth.
Why is an enhanced DBS check taking longer than a basic one?
An enhanced check goes through extra stages. The barred lists are searched where they apply, and police forces check their own records at stage 4. A basic check skips both stages. DBS says checks referred to the police for non-conviction information can take longer.
Can someone start work before their right to work check is done?
No. GOV.UK says you must check that a job applicant is allowed to work for you in the UK before you employ them. If the candidate cannot show documents or online status, use the Employer Checking Service, which aims to reply within five working days of a valid request.
Can a new starter begin before their DBS certificate arrives?
It depends on the role and sector. In CQC-regulated care in England, providers must be able to show sound reasons for not obtaining a full DBS check first and that they have assessed the risk. A DBS Adult First check can allow supervised work with adults, but not with children.
Related checks
- Right to work checks: who to check and how from October 2026 Who needs a right to work check from 1 October 2026, including workers and sub-contractors, how each of the three methods works and follow-ups.
- Criminal record checks for employers Which criminal record check a role can lawfully have in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and how to run it fairly.
- Employment references: what employers can ask and when When to ask for references, what to ask, the sector rules for care, schools, early years and FCA firms, and how to treat candidates fairly.
Sector guides
Guides
- How much do employment background checks cost in the UK? The official fees for DBS, Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI checks, which checks are free, and the other costs employers meet when screening candidates.
- The UK background screening checklist for employers A stage-by-stage background screening checklist for UK employers: who owns each step, what to record, and when to delete it.
- Do employers need candidate consent for background checks? Why consent is rarely the right lawful basis for UK background checks, what candidates must be told, and where their permission is still needed.
Related answers
- How do employers carry out right to work checks? Before someone starts work, employers should carry out one of three prescribed checks: a manual check of original documents, a Home Office online check using a share code, or a check through a registered right to work digital verification service provider. Done correctly, it gives a statutory excuse against a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
- How should probation periods work? There is no legal requirement to have a probation period, and it can be any length. Acas recommends clear written expectations, regular reviews, support to improve, extension where appropriate, and a fair procedure before any dismissal. Day-one rights such as protection from discrimination apply throughout, and the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls to 6 months from 1 January 2027.