26 July 2024

Getting a DBS Certificate notarised and using it abroad

There are some situations where you may need to get a DBS Certificate notarised before you can use it abroad. Find out more in our informative blog.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

With it being such a common document in the UK that you must provide when applying for certain types of jobs, you likely already know what a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificate is.

However, what you might not know is that there are some situations where you might need to use it to get a visa for another country. Additionally, you might not know that it will need to be notarised and legalised before it is accepted in the country you want to go to.

Read on to find out in what situations you might need to use a DBS Certificate abroad, how to get it notarised, and how we can help you.

What is a DBS Certificate?

Essentially, a DBS Certificate is something that lists your previous convictions, as well as any unspent convictions. Employers will usually request one to ensure that you do not have any previous convictions that could make you unsuitable for the role. For example, if you want to work in a role with children, you will not be able to do so if your DBS Certificate shows you have previous convictions.

The certificate is issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Why you might need a DBS Certificate to go abroad

One of the most common reasons for needing a notarised DBS certificate is for employment purposes abroad. This is especially important for jobs in the education, healthcare, charity and security industries. This helps prospective employers perform a background check to ensure the suitability of the job candidate before offering them a contract of employment.

Although it is typically used to prove that you are suitable for a specific job role, such as in healthcare or education, you may also be required to provide a DBS check to the authorities of a country you want to go to as part of a visa application. They will request you to provide a DBS Certificate for the same reasons that a UK employer would: to ensure that you have no convictions. Many countries will refuse your visa application if you have past criminal convictions.

However, please note that some countries will instead ask that you provide them with an ACRO Police Certificate instead of a DBS Certificate.

Other reasons you might need a DBS Certificate

We have already mentioned a few common reasons for needing a DBS Certificate as part of a visa application or for employment purposes. However, there are other situations that you may also need a DBS Certificate for.

These reasons are:

Adoptions: prospective parents may need to provide a notarised DBS certificate as part of their adoption application if they are adopting from another country.
Charity or religious workers: Working with vulnerable groups like the children or the elderly abroad may require a notarised DBS certificate.
Professional registrations: Some professional bodies and regulatory authorities may require a notarised DBS check for membership or certification purposes to ensure that the applicant meets the ethical and legal standards of the profession.
Legal Proceedings abroad: Foreign court cases or arbitration may require a notarised DBS check to provide verified evidence of a person’s criminal record status.

How to get a DBS Certificate

It is not a complex process to get a DBS Certificate. You will need to apply through the UK Government’s website to request a copy of your criminal record. Please note that you have to be over 16 to apply.

As part of your application, you will need to first prove your identity by creating a GOV.UK One account. This account can be used to prove your identity in other types of applications as well.

The application will cost £18, and you will have to wait around 14 days for your certificate to arrive. The certificate will last for six months. You can always re-apply for a new DBS check if you need another one in the future.

Which countries ask for a DBS Certificate instead of an ACRO?

Some countries have concrete guidance on whether they need a DBS Certificate, or an ACRO Police Certificate.

For example, Portugal usually asks people to provide their authorities with a DBS Certificate as part of their visa application. Other countries that normally ask for a DBS Certificate are China and Qatar.

However, Portugal’s neighbour, Spain, requires that you provide an ACRO Police Certificate. Spain is one of the few countries that explicitly states what certificate you will need to provide in their visa application guidance.

Then, there are some countries that can potentially ask for either a DBS Certificate or an ACRO Police Certificate. One example of this is Morocco. Many countries will just want you to provide a legitimate criminal background check, regardless of which one you send.

Ultimately, the certificate you have to provide will vary based on the country, and you will usually find out which criminal background check you have to provide when you apply for your visa. It is also possible that if you plan on studying or working abroad, that your organisation will be able to tell you what you need to provide.

Why a DBS Certificate needs to be notarised

For your DBS Certificate to be recognised as a legitimate document, it will first need to be authenticated, signed and stamped by a Notary Public registered with The Faculty Office. This process proves that your document has been checked by a professional, and that it can be recognised as true. The notary will also check that the DBS belongs to the person who appears before them and verify their identity.

As we are a registered Notary Public, we can assist you with getting your DBS Certificate notarised.

However, this is not the only step in getting your certificate accepted abroad.

Legalising your DBS Certificate

Whilst we cannot help you with applying for a DBS Certificate, we can help you with getting it notarised and legalised.

Our founder and Notary Public of England and Wales, Nathan Woodcock, has assisted thousands of clients with their notarial needs, and he can do the same for you.

To meet Nathan, you can book an appointment to take place at one of our offices in London, Manchester, or Sheffield. Alternatively, if it is not convenient for you to travel to one of our offices, you can make use of our mobile notary service. This allows you to arrange your notary appointment to be at a suitable time and place of your own choosing.

For legalisation, we can manage the whole process of getting your documents legalised, regardless of whether you need to go through embassy legalisation, or get an apostille from the FCDO.

We offer two apostilles services, standard and fast-track. You can choose which one you want to use depending on the timescale you require. Visit our apostille packages page to learn more.

Get in touch with us today to get your DBS Certificate notarised and legalised, so that you can go abroad.

How we can help

Our Notary Public of England and Wales, Nathan Woodcock, can assist you with all of your notary and legalisation needs for your children’s school documents. Just get in touch with us today to discuss your issues with a member of our helpful team.

After you have contacted us, you can book an appointment with Nathan at one of our offices in London, Manchester, or Sheffield, or a suitable time and place of your own choosing by using our mobile notary service.

For our apostilles, you can use our standard or fast-track apostille services in which we manage the process of getting an apostille from the FCDO, for you.

Additionally, we can also manage the long-winded process of embassy legalisation for you, so you have more time to focus on other things.

Finally, we can even assist you with translating your documents if you plan on going to Spain.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you with your children’s school documents.