Guide
Enhanced DBS check
An enhanced DBS check is the most detailed level. The DBS fee is £41, whether or not a barred list is included.
What it includes
It contains the same police-national-computer information as a standard check, plus a check of information held by police forces. With barred lists, it also shows whether the person is on the children’s barred list, the adults’ barred list, or both.
DBS limits it to specific duties in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act exceptions and the Police Act 1997 regulations. Examples DBS gives include regularly caring for, training, supervising or being solely in charge of children, specified work with adults receiving health or social care, and some gaming and taxi licences. Barred-list checks are for regulated activity and a short list of other positions.
Eligibility is not optional
Use the GOV.UK tool to see which check a role can have. First Advantage’s personal-check page states that it is a criminal offence to submit an enhanced or barred-list application for a role that is not eligible. This site will not tell you that a role qualifies.
Since 21 January 2026, DBS has allowed some self-employed people and personal employees to apply for their own enhanced check, for eligible roles such as private tutors and carers. The person applies. The hirer reads the certificate. A Group B Responsible Organisation is still, on the official list, limited to employers and third parties for basic checks.
Price and timing
The DBS fee is £41. Volunteer enhanced checks that meet the DBS volunteer definition are free of that fee. Admin can still be charged. Adult First, a barred-list check that can let someone start supervised work with adults, has a DBS fee of £6 and strict rules of its own.
Enhanced checks are the ones DBS says can take longer, because non-conviction information may be referred to the police. A provider’s promise of 24 hours or one day is a claim. Read it next to that caveat.