How long is a DBS check valid for?

Does a DBS check expire after three years?

DBS certificates do not automatically expire after three years. DBS says there is no official expiry date, while some sectors require periodic checks. An organisation may set a review cycle, but should identify it as its policy or a sector requirement. ^[1]

Use labels such as “next review due” rather than “certificate expires” when you are recording an internal policy date. This makes the reason for requesting a new check clearer to a returning volunteer.

Review the role before the certificate

At an annual event, first ask whether the duties are the same. Has the volunteer moved from reception to group leadership? Will they now assist with personal care, supervise an overnight activity or work with a different group?

Then assess the existing certificate against the current role. Its age is only one consideration. A recent certificate for different duties may not meet the new requirements, while an older one may still be acceptable under the appropriate process.

Review decisions about work with children that are affected by the September 2026 supervision change. ^[2] Even if the job title is the same, the rules may have changed.

Where the Update Service helps

With the holder’s permission, the Update Service lets an organisation check whether information on a subscribed standard or enhanced certificate has changed. You must first check that your organisation is allowed to see that information. The service cannot add a missing category of work or barred list. ^[3]

A status check is one step in assessing whether to accept an existing certificate. It does not decide whether the person should be appointed and does not replace responding to concerns that arise through other routes.

Write a review policy people can follow

Your policy should answer these questions:

• Who checks whether the role has changed?
• Which sector, contractual or safeguarding requirements apply?
• When can an existing certificate be considered?
• Who conducts a permitted status check and records consent?
• What triggers a new application or an earlier review?
• Who makes the final appointment decision?

Set a named owner and a review date. Use these questions to write your policy. They are suggestions, not a legal timetable for renewing checks.

Keep a decision record, not an assumption

Keep a limited record of the certificate details and your recruitment decision, following DBS rules. ^[4] Write down why you accepted the certificate and when to review it. Separate that limited record from copies of the certificate or detailed criminal-record information.

If a certificate cannot be accepted, tell the volunteer why: changed duties, a missing check, a sector requirement or the organisation’s policy. Explaining the reason is more useful than saying their DBS has “expired”.