Last Updated On 15.09.2026
The disclosure and barring service cost is changing on 5 October 2026. Until 4 October, a Basic or Standard DBS check costs £21.50 and an Enhanced check costs £49.50. From 5 October, Basic and Standard checks will fall to £20, while Enhanced checks will fall to £41. The DBS Update Service will also fall from £16 to £15 per year.
Eligible volunteer Standard and Enhanced checks remain free of the government DBS fee, although an umbrella body or processing provider can still charge an administration fee.
The official DBS fee is also not always the final price. Applicants and employers may need to budget for administration, identity verification and VAT on commercial processing services.
How Much Does A DBS Check Cost In 2026?
The biggest change to DBS pricing in 2026 takes effect on Monday 5 October.
| Check Or Service | Until 4 October 2026 | From 5 October 2026 | Saving |
| Basic DBS | £21.50 | £20.00 | £1.50 |
| Standard DBS | £21.50 | £20.00 | £1.50 |
| Enhanced DBS | £49.50 | £41.00 | £8.50 |
| Enhanced With Barred List(s) | £49.50 | £41.00 | £8.50 |
| Update Service | £16 a year | £15 a year | £1 |
| Eligible Volunteer Check | £0 | £0 | No change |
The £8.50 reduction on Enhanced checks is particularly significant for employers recruiting large numbers of people in education, healthcare, social care and other safeguarding-sensitive sectors.
DBS announced the reduction on 9 September 2026. The new fees were approved by the DBS board, Home Office, HM Treasury and the safeguarding minister, with legislation laid before Parliament to bring the change into force.
DBS is fee-funded and reviews its charges annually. It has confirmed that the lower fees will not reduce the standard, quality or rigour of DBS checks.
For a wider explanation of the organisation and the different levels of screening, see what the Disclosure and Barring Service does.
What Is The Real DBS Cost After Admin Fees And VAT?
The government fee is only one part of the possible final cost. Registered Bodies and umbrella organisations can charge their own processing fees, and DBS does not set or regulate these commercial charges.
The statutory DBS charge is normally separated from the provider’s commercial service charge. Providers commonly show the DBS element without VAT, while their administration and processing fee may attract 20% VAT.
For example, if an umbrella body charges £14 plus VAT:
| Check | DBS Fee From 5 October | £14 Admin + VAT | Example Total |
| Basic | £20.00 | £16.80 | £36.80 |
| Standard | £20.00 | £16.80 | £36.80 |
| Enhanced | £41.00 | £16.80 | £57.80 |
| Eligible Volunteer | £0.00 | £16.80 | £16.80 |
These are examples rather than fixed market prices. Providers set their own administration charges.
VAT-registered businesses may also be able to recover VAT charged on qualifying commercial processing services under the normal VAT rules.
Are Volunteer DBS Checks Completely Free?
Not always.
The DBS fee itself is free for eligible Standard and Enhanced volunteer applications. However, the organisation submitting the application may still charge an administration or identity-checking fee.
For DBS purposes, a qualifying volunteer generally spends time unpaid, apart from approved travel and out-of-pocket expenses, doing something intended to benefit a third party rather than themselves or a close relative.
A person may not qualify for the free DBS fee if they are:
- Receiving Payment beyond permitted expenses
- On A Work Placement
- Completing Required Work For A Course
- In Training Leading To A Full-Time Role Or Qualification
- Receiving A Direct Financial Benefit From The Position
A Basic DBS check is not included in the free volunteer arrangement.
Can Self-Employed People Get An Enhanced DBS Check?
Yes, in qualifying circumstances.
This changed on 21 January 2026. Eligible self-employed workers and personal employees can now apply for an Enhanced DBS check, including an Enhanced check with barred list information where their role qualifies.
Applications are made through a registered DBS umbrella body. This can affect people such as private tutors, carers and other self-employed professionals carrying out eligible regulated work.
The change does not mean every self-employed person can request an Enhanced check. The role must meet the legal eligibility requirements. Someone whose work only qualifies for a Basic check cannot simply choose Enhanced screening.
There was another important change on 1 September 2026, when the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children was removed. Some paid workers and volunteers who regularly teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children can therefore now fall within regulated activity even when supervised.
Employers should assess the duties of the role before deciding which level of check is permitted.
Do Barred List Checks Cost Extra?
No separate DBS surcharge is added simply because an eligible Enhanced application includes the Children’s Barred List, Adults’ Barred List or both.
An Enhanced check with eligible barred list information costs the same government fee as an Enhanced check:
£49.50 until 4 October 2026 and £41 from 5 October 2026.
The important issue is eligibility. An organisation cannot request barred list information simply because it wants additional screening.
How Much Does The DBS Update Service Cost?
The Update Service currently costs £16 per year and falls to £15 per year from 5 October 2026. It remains free for qualifying volunteers.
There are three important cost-saving rules.
1. Register Within The Deadline
If your Standard or Enhanced certificate has already been issued, you normally need to register within 30 days of its issue date. Missing the deadline can mean having to obtain another DBS check before joining.
2. Basic DBS Checks Cannot Join
The DBS Update Service is for Standard and Enhanced certificates, not Basic DBS checks.
3. Portability Is Not Guaranteed For Every New Role
An employer can use the service to see whether relevant information has changed, but a new check may still be required when:
- The New Role Requires A Different Level Of Check
- The Workforce Category Is Different
- The Employer Has A Policy Requiring A Fresh Certificate
More detail on certificate portability and renewal can be found in the explanation of how long a DBS lasts.
What Other DBS-Related Costs Can Arise?
Applicants using commercial screening services may encounter additional charges.
Published provider pricing shows how costs can arise for services such as:
| Additional Service | Example Total Including VAT |
| Digital Identity Verification | £4.80 |
| Document Checking | £20.40 |
| ID Check | £6.00 |
| Fingerprint Route | £12.00 |
| DBS Adult First Service | £10.80 |
These are examples of commercial provider prices, not nationally fixed DBS charges. DBS Adult First can be relevant in adult care recruitment because it may allow an eligible person to begin certain supervised work while the full Enhanced DBS process continues.
Fingerprint-related costs can also arise in unusual cases where identity needs further confirmation.
Direct Basic DBS applicants should not assume they need to pay for Post Office identity verification. The government service now uses GOV.UK One Login to prove identity.
What Do You Need To Apply For A Basic DBS Check?
A direct Basic DBS application is available to people aged 16 or over.
Applicants should normally have:
- Five Years Of Address History including dates
- Passport Details if available
- Driving Licence Details if available
- National Insurance Number if available
- GOV.UK One Login for identity verification
Government guidance says Basic applications are usually processed within up to three days, after which a paper certificate is posted. The service is available between 8am and 11:30pm and can be used in Welsh.
There is also a sensitive application route for transgender applicants who do not want a previous name or gender disclosed unnecessarily.
Actual processing times for other checks can vary, particularly where local police information is required. See the separate explanation of how long a DBS check takes rather than assuming every Enhanced application will take a fixed number of days.
Can A DBS Check Be Claimed As A Business Expense?
A self-employed person may be able to claim a DBS check as an allowable business expense where the cost is incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the trade.
Where that test is met, relevant costs could include the DBS fee, required processing charges and an Update Service subscription used for the business. Keep invoices, payment confirmations and other records supporting the expense.
Tax treatment can depend on individual circumstances, particularly for limited companies or costs incurred before a business begins trading, so professional advice may be appropriate. This is general information rather than tax advice.
How Do DBS-Style Check Costs Differ Across The UK?
DBS primarily covers jobs in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate different disclosure systems.
| Area | Check | Current Official Fee |
| England And Wales | Basic DBS from 5 October | £20 |
| England And Wales | Standard DBS from 5 October | £20 |
| England And Wales | Enhanced DBS from 5 October | £41 |
| Scotland | Level 1 Disclosure | £25 |
| Scotland | PVG Join | £59 |
| Scotland | Existing PVG Member | £18 |
| Northern Ireland | AccessNI Basic | £16 |
| Northern Ireland | AccessNI Standard | £16 |
| Northern Ireland | AccessNI Enhanced | £32 |
Scotland’s £18 existing-member PVG rate can be particularly important when budgeting for workers who are already members of the scheme.
Living in Scotland or Northern Ireland does not automatically prevent someone getting a Basic DBS check. A person living there can use the DBS route when the job itself is in England or Wales.
Commercial processing charges may apply on top of official fees in all three systems.
How Can Employers Reduce DBS Recruitment Costs?
Businesses processing significant numbers of checks should look beyond the headline DBS fee. Providers may offer volume pricing, free account set-up or integrations for organisations processing large numbers of applications.
The October reduction also changes workforce budgeting.
For example, 50 Enhanced DBS checks cost £2,475 in government fees at £49.50 each. From 5 October, the same 50 checks cost £2,050 at £41 each.
That is a £425 saving before considering provider charges.
Employers should not delay a safeguarding check when doing so would create compliance, recruitment or safety problems simply to obtain the lower price. However, organisations with legitimately flexible submission dates should make sure their budgeting systems reflect the new fees from 5 October.
Who pays also varies between sectors.
| Sector Or Applicant | Common Approach |
| Schools And Education | Employer or organisation often arranges eligible checks |
| Healthcare And Care | Employer, agency or applicant depending on policy |
| Recruitment Agencies | Cost allocation varies by contract |
| Taxi And Private Hire | Applicant frequently pays licensing-related costs |
| Self-Employed Workers | Individual commonly pays their own eligible check |
| Volunteers | DBS fee may be waived but processing charges can remain |
Always check the employer, licensing authority or organisation’s policy before paying.
How Have DBS Fees Changed Over Time?
DBS prices have moved both up and down.
| Date | Basic | Standard | Enhanced |
| Before October 2019 | £25 | £26 | £44 |
| October 2019 | £23 | £23 | £40 |
| April 2022 | £18 | £18 | £38 |
| December 2024 | £21.50 | £21.50 | £49.50 |
| 5 October 2026 | £20 | £20 | £41 |
This means the Standard DBS fee of £20 from October 2026 will actually be £6 cheaper in cash terms than the £26 fee charged before October 2019, despite the intervening years of inflation.
DBS says fees are reviewed annually because each product is intended to recover the cost of delivering the service.
Are DBS Fees Refundable?
Applicants should check details carefully before submission.
A DBS application can be withdrawn before it reaches the certificate-printing stage, but the application fee is non-refundable. If another check is needed later, a fresh application and fee will normally be required.
A different process applies where information on a certificate is incorrect. Applicants can raise a formal dispute about errors in personal information, criminal record information or other disclosed material.
Provider administration fees may also have separate cancellation and refund terms.
Final Thoughts
The disclosure and barring service cost is becoming cheaper from 5 October 2026, with the largest saving applying to Enhanced checks.
For applicants, however, the headline fee is only part of the calculation. Administration charges, VAT on commercial services, identity checks and provider fees can increase the final amount.
For businesses, the most effective approach is to identify the correct check first, understand which fees are statutory and which are commercial, consider the Update Service where appropriate and budget using the new October 2026 rates.
FAQs About Disclosure And Barring Service Costs
How much will a DBS check cost from 5 October 2026?
A Basic or Standard DBS check will cost £20. An Enhanced DBS check will cost £41.
Are volunteer DBS checks free?
Eligible Standard and Enhanced volunteer checks have no government DBS fee, but an organisation or umbrella body can still charge an administration fee.
Does an Enhanced DBS check with a barred list cost more?
No. Where the applicant is eligible, adding the appropriate barred list information does not create a separate DBS fee.
Can a self-employed person get an Enhanced DBS check?
Since 21 January 2026, eligible self-employed people and personal employees can apply through a registered umbrella body.
How much is the DBS Update Service in 2026?
It costs £16 per year until 4 October 2026 and £15 per year from 5 October. It is free for eligible volunteers.
Is VAT charged on a DBS check?
The statutory DBS fee is normally separated from VAT-bearing commercial services. Administration, processing or identity services supplied by a provider may be subject to VAT.
Can I claim a DBS check as a business expense?
A self-employed person may be able to claim qualifying DBS-related costs where they are incurred wholly and exclusively for the business. Individual tax circumstances should be considered.
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