DBS Check Fees (England & Wales)
Once registered with the ARC Disclosure Service (registration is free of charge), your only costs are for the checks you request. There are no minimum number of Disclosure applications required from you.
For each Disclosure check submitted the following charges will apply. This includes the fixed charge by the DBS plus our administration fee per check.
All DBS checks are invoiced to organisations at the end of each month for payment.
ARC administration costs are discounted for ARC England member organisations. To enquire about ARC England membership please contact [email protected]
| Type of DBS check | DBS fixed Fee | ARC Administration Fee (ARC England Members) from 12 March 2024 |
ARC Administration Fee (Non-ARC England Members) from 12 March 2024 |
| Standard DBS check | £18.00 | £10 | £13 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £38.00 | £10 | £13 |
| Enhanced DBS check with barring list | £38.00 | £10 | £13 |
| Volunteer DBS check | No DBS fee | £10 | £13 |
PLEASE NOTE: Any applications countersigned after 11 March 2024 on the DBS Assist system will incur the old administration cost of £11 (ARC Member) and £13.50 (Non-member) per application.
| Additional Services | Cost from 12 March 2024 |
| DBS Adult First check | £10 (ARC England Members) £13 (Non-ARC England Members) |
| External ID validation check | £10 (ARC England Members) £13 (Non-ARC England Members) |
| Digital ID check (via Yoti) | £4 per check |
We do not charge VAT.
Volunteer checks
The DBS definition of a volunteer is defined in the Police Act 1997 (criminal records) Regulations 2002 as:“Any person engaged in an activity which involves spending time, unpaid (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses), doing something which aims to benefit some third party and not a close relative.” To qualify for a free-of-charge criminal record check, the applicant must not benefit directly from the position the DBS application is being submitted for. The applicant must not:
- benefit directly from the position for which the DBS application is being submitted
- receive any payment (except for travel and other approved out-of-pocket expenses)
- be on a work placement
- be on a course that requires them to do this job role
- be in a trainee position that will lead to a full-time role/qualification
An example of an ineligible volunteer role is…Medical/teaching/social work student on work placement, as part of training – this activity is a mandatory course requirement, can be paid and is primarily undertaken to benefit the student.