Can I use an Identity Check in place of a DBS ID Check?

You can request both an Identity Check and a DBS Check for your applicant using our online system, allowing you to manage multiple pre-employment screening steps in one place. However, it’s important to understand that Identity Checks and DBS ID Checks are separate processes, and one cannot be used as a substitute for the other.

For the DBS Check, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requires that you follow their official ID Checking Guidance, which outlines the acceptable documents and routes for confirming an applicant’s identity. This DBS ID Check must be completed in one of the following ways:

In person – where the applicant presents their original documents to a responsible person who verifies their identity face-to-face.

Via a live video call – where the employer checks the original documents through a real-time video call, verifying that the individual matches their identification.

Digital Identity Check – where a certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP) is used to verify the applicant’s identity online, in accordance with DBS Digital Identity Guidelines (typically using facial recognition and matching of ID documents).

The electronic Identity Check offered through our system is an additional tool that cross-references the applicant’s personal details against secure databases (like credit reference data, electoral roll, and utility records). While this adds an extra layer of assurance, especially for employment risk or fraud prevention purposes, it does not satisfy the DBS’s mandatory identity verification requirements for criminal record checks.

To remain compliant and ensure the DBS check is valid, employers must always complete the DBS ID Check using the correct method and the list of acceptable documents outlined in the DBS guidance.