How To Apply For A DBS Check When You’re Self-Employed
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A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is an important background check that is essential for certain roles. Typically when a person requires a DBS check this is done on their behalf by their current or prospective employer. However, for self-employed individuals the path to getting a DBS check has a few extra steps. Moreover, updated regulations have changed how a self-employed individual can apply for a DBS check. In this article we will outline everything you need to know about applying for a DBS check if you’re self-employed.
Which DBS Checks Can a Self-Employed Individual Get?
There are four different types of DBS check; Basic, Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred Lists. Each type of check reveals different information that the police may hold about an individual and the type of check needed will depend on the industry. In most instances a self-employed person only requires a Basic check, however this may change depending on the role. You can learn more about the different types of checks in our dedicated DBS article.
From January 2026 self-employed individuals and personal employees can now apply for an Enhanced or an Enhanced with Barred Lists check by themselves.
The government defines a self-employed person as an individual who works for themselves rather than being employed by an organisation. An example of a self-employed person would be a private tutor who teaches students directly from their home. A personal employee is someone who has been employed directly by a private individual to deliver services to them or to a member of their family. For example, someone with a Personal Health Budget may employ an individual as a carer making that person a personal employee.
Self-employed individuals and personal employees can apply for their own checks via a DBS Umbrella Body. However, if an organisation is contracting a self-employed person to carry out work which would be eligible for a higher level DBS check, said organisation can still apply for this check on the individual’s behalf. How to apply for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check will be explored later in the article.
How to Apply for a Basic DBS Check
Any individual can apply for a Basic DBS check as there are no legislative or eligibility requirements in order to have one. Though Basic checks are the lowest level of check, they still provide important information into someone’s criminal history as they show any conditional cautions and unspent convictions that an individual may have. For self-employed individuals and personal employees this can offer peace of mind for anyone thinking of recruiting them.
Applicants for a Basic check must be over the age of 16 and live and work, or intend to, in England or Wales. You can request a Basic check via the government website. At the time of writing a Basic check costs £21.50. To complete the check you will need to provide addresses for the last 5 years, a passport, driving licence and National Insurance number. Applications typically take up to 3 days to process.
How to Apply for a Standard DBS Check
A Standard DBS check shows any spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that an individual may have. If a Standard check is required this would typically need to be done on a self-employed or personal employee’s behalf by an eligible organisation. However, if the intended role involves direct contact with vulnerable groups, such as children or the elderly, an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists check is usually required. If this is the case then this can be applied for directly by the self-employed individual or personal employee.
If a Standard check is sufficient, you can obtain one via the steps listed below or through a recruitment consultancy firm.
How to Get an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS Check When Self-Employed
To apply for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check, self-employed individuals and personal employees should follow the steps below.
Step 1 
Establish whether your role is eligible for an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check. As mentioned, getting a DBS check can offer prospective employers peace of mind however in most cases a Basic check will suffice. The government’s eligibility guidance will help you identify whether you require a higher level DBS check.
Step 2
If an Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check is required you will need to use a DBS Umbrella Body to process the check on your behalf. You can find a list of Umbrella Bodies on the government’s Umbrella Body page. It’s important to note that an Umbrella Body may change additional fees on top of the cost of a DBS check.
Step 3
Your chosen Umbrella Body will guide you through the application process inline with DBS requirements. It can be advisable at this time to consider joining the DBS Update Service which enables applicants to keep their DBS certificate up-to-date. Once your application has been submitted and processed by the DBS a certificate will be sent in the post.
Step 4
Once you have received your certificate you can show this to individuals employing your services.
Examples of roles that may require an Enhanced or Enhanced with Lists DBS check include:
- A private Spanish tutor who works with children in their local area and does not work for an agency or an employer. As this individual would be deemed as self-employed and they work with children, they could apply for an Enhanced with Barred List DBS check in the child workforce via an Umbrella Body.
- A personal carer who provides support to vulnerable adult clients and is recruited under the direct payments scheme. This individual would be deemed as a personal employee and as such they could apply for an Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS check in the adult workforce via an Umbrella Body.
How Often Do I Need to Renew my DBS Check?
DBS checks do not have an official expiry date. This is because they check the information on file at that specific time. It can be common to hear that DBS checks expire after three years however there is no fixed renewal period.
As such, the government advises that individuals sign up to their DBS Update Service. This service enables self-employed individuals and personal employees to keep their checks up-to-date. At the time of writing, the update service costs £16 per year and lasts for one year. The update service also enables prospective employers to view this information when requested so that individuals who may occasionally work for organisations can easily share it when needed.
DBS checks offer peace of mind to prospective clients and highlight an individual’s dedication to safeguarding. The new regulations have made it easier for self-employed individuals and personal employees to access higher level checks, thereby helping organisations and individuals feel more confident with their recruiting choices and enabling self-employed individuals to work in positions of trust.
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