Passports and Driving Licences are two of the most commonly used forms of ID when doing a DBS check. In this article, answer the common question of “Can You Get a DBS Check Without a Passport or Driving Licence?”
Can You Get a DBS Check Without a Passport or Driving Licence?
If you don’t have a passport or driving licence, you can still get a DBS check. Instead of these two documents, you can provide a Birth certificate (issued within 12 months of birth), an Adoption Certificate, or a Biometric Residence Permit (from the UK).
All of the above documents are called “Group 1” documents.
You can read about Group 1, 2a, and 2b documents here.
Can I Apply For A DBS Check With No Group 1 Documents?
If you don’t have any Group 1 documents, you can still apply for a DBS check. If you have 1 document from Group 2a, and 2 from Group 2b, you apply for a DBS check, but will also have to have an external ID check. This external is used to prove your identity (which is typically what a Group 1 document does).
A full list of Group 2a and 2b documents can be seen below:
Group 2a: Trusted Government Documents
Document
Notes
Current photocard driving licence, full or provisional.
All countries outside the UK (excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands)
Current driving licence (full or provisional) – paper version (if issued before 1998)
UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands
Birth certificate, issued after time of birth
UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
UK and Channel Islands
Immigration document, visa or work permit
Issued by a country outside the UK. Valid only for roles whereby the applicant is living and working outside of the UK. Visa/permit must relate to the non-UK country in which the role is based
HM Forces ID card
UK
Firearms licence
UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
*All driving licences must be valid.
Group 2b: Financial and Social History Documents
Document
Notes
Issue date and validity
Mortgage statement
UK
Issued in last 12 months
Bank or building society statement
UK and Channel Islands
Issued in last 3 months
Bank or building society statement
Countries outside the UK
Issued in last 3 months – branch must be in the country where the applicant lives and works
Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter
UK
Issued in last 3 months
Credit card statement
UK
Issued in last 3 months
Financial statement, for example pension or endowment
UK
Issued in last 12 months
P45 or P60 statement
UK and Channel Islands
Issued in last 12 months
Council Tax statement
UK and Channel Islands
Issued in last 12 months
Letter of sponsorship from future employment provider
Non-UK only – valid only for applicants residing outside of the UK at time of application
Must still be valid
Utility bill
UK (not mobile telephone bill)
Issued in last 3 months
Benefit statement, for example Child Benefit, Pension
UK
Issued in last 3 months
Central or local government, government agency, or local council document giving entitlement, for example from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Employment Service, HMRC
UK and Channel Islands
Issued in last 3 months
EEA National ID card
–
Must still be valid
Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo
UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Must still be valid
Letter from head teacher or college principal
UK: for 16 to 19 year olds in full-time education, only used in exceptional circumstances if other documents cannot be provided
Must still be valid
Can I Apply For A DBS Check With No Group 2 Documents?
If you have no Group 2 documents, you can get a DBS check, but it will require you to go for fingerprinting at your local police station. On top of this, a paper DBS application will have to be done instead of an online one.
If you are an applicant looking to do a DBS check, but don’t have sufficient Group 1 and 2 documents, let your employer know, and they can get in touch with the Registered Body they do their DBS checks through.
Conclusion – Can You Get a DBS Check Without a Passport or Driving Licence?
If you do not have a passport or driving licence, you can still get a DBS check. There are plenty of other routes to take, which means, no matter what documents you have available, a DBS check can be done!
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Further Reading
If you found this article on “Can You Get a DBS Check Without a Passport or Driving Licence?” useful, you may also want to read about:
About The Author
John Schofield-Antoncich
John has processed more applications than days he has been alive, and has become the DBS expert. Got a question? He knows the answer!