Captured source text (L5)
1. Introduction
1.a. This guidance sets out how RBs and ROs can meet their obligations under the DBS Code of Practice (for RBs), and under the Basic check processing standards (for ROs), when an RB or RO uses a digital verification service (DVS) to meet DBS identity verification requirements.
1.b. A digital identity provided by a digital verification service certified against the trust framework and the DBS supplementary code is equivalent to an identity verified using:
- [ID checking guidelines for Standard/Enhanced DBS check applications from 22 April 2025 - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-22-april-2025)
- [Basic check ID checking guidelines from 22 April 2025 - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-check-guidance-and-policies/basic-check-id-checking-guidelines-from-22-april-2025)
1.c. This guidance sets out how to obtain a digital identity verification to prove and verify a person’s identity for processing Basic DBS checks and Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS checks. These are the DBS’ identity verification criteria.
1.d. The 2015 update to the [DBS code of practice (PDF, 55KB)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474742/Code_of_Practice_for_Disclosure_and_Barring_Service_Nov_15.pdf) recognises the role of RBs in identity verification and the associated guidance published on GOV.UK. The code of practice states:
“Identity verification - Registered Bodies must:
- verify the identity of the applicant prior to the submission of an application for a DBS product by following the current guidelines issued by DBS
- ensure that any person undertaking identity verification checks on their behalf follows the current guidelines issued by DBS
- make sure Lead or Countersignatories do not validate their own applications for any DBS products”
1.e. The [Basic check processing standards](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-check-guidance-and-policies/basic-check-processing-standards) recognises the role of ROs in identity verification and the associated guidance published on GOV.UK. The processing standards state:
“Identity verification - Responsible Organisations must:
- verify the identity of the applicant prior to the submission of an application for a basic check by following the current guidelines issued by DBS.
- ensure that any person undertaking identity verification checks on their behalf follows the current guidelines issued by DBS.”
1.f. This guidance makes extensive reference to the [UK digital verification services trust framework](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-digital-identity-and-attributes-trust-framework) (the ‘trust framework’) published by the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (‘OfDIA’), part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (‘DCMS’). The trust framework is a set of rules and standards that show what good digital verification services look like.
1.g. A DVS can be certified against an additional set of rules published by OfDIA known as the supplementary code for Disclosure and Barring Service digital identity checks (‘the supplementary code’) to help demonstrate they meet the DBS identity verification criteria.
1.h. RBs and ROs must use a DVS certified against a current publication of both the trust framework and the supplementary code, and follow all other rules in this guidance, to be considered compliant with the DBS identity verification criteria. A list of digital verification services certified against the trust framework and the supplementary code is [available on GOV.UK.](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-registered-digital-identity-and-attribute-services)
Full captured verbatim text
1.a. This guidance sets out how RBs and ROs can meet their obligations under the DBS Code of Practice (for RBs), and under the Basic check processing standards (for ROs), when an RB or RO uses a digital verification service (DVS) to meet DBS identity verification requirements. 1.b. A digital identity provided by a digital verification service certified against the trust framework and the DBS supplementary code is equivalent to an identity verified using: - [ID checking guidelines for Standard/Enhanced DBS check applications from 22 April 2025 - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-22-april-2025) - [Basic check ID checking guidelines from 22 April 2025 - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-check-guidance-and-policies/basic-check-id-checking-guidelines-from-22-april-2025) 1.c. This guidance sets out how to obtain a digital identity verification to prove and verify a person’s identity for processing Basic DBS checks and Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS checks. These are the DBS’ identity verification criteria. 1.d. The 2015 update to the [DBS code of practice (PDF, 55KB)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474742/Code_of_Practice_for_Disclosure_and_Barring_Service_Nov_15.pdf) recognises the role of RBs in identity verification and the associated guidance published on GOV.UK. The code of practice states: “Identity verification - Registered Bodies must: - verify the identity of the applicant prior to the submission of an application for a DBS product by following the current guidelines issued by DBS - ensure that any person undertaking identity verification checks on their behalf follows the current guidelines issued by DBS - make sure Lead or Countersignatories do not validate their own applications for any DBS products” 1.e. The [Basic check processing standards](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-check-guidance-and-policies/basic-check-processing-standards) recognises the role of ROs in identity verification and the associated guidance published on GOV.UK. The processing standards state: “Identity verification - Responsible Organisations must: - verify the identity of the applicant prior to the submission of an application for a basic check by following the current guidelines issued by DBS. - ensure that any person undertaking identity verification checks on their behalf follows the current guidelines issued by DBS.” 1.f. This guidance makes extensive reference to the [UK digital verification services trust framework](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-digital-identity-and-attributes-trust-framework) (the ‘trust framework’) published by the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes (‘OfDIA’), part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (‘DCMS’). The trust framework is a set of rules and standards that show what good digital verification services look like. 1.g. A DVS can be certified against an additional set of rules published by OfDIA known as the supplementary code for Disclosure and Barring Service digital identity checks (‘the supplementary code’) to help demonstrate they meet the DBS identity verification criteria. 1.h. RBs and ROs must use a DVS certified against a current publication of both the trust framework and the supplementary code, and follow all other rules in this guidance, to be considered compliant with the DBS identity verification criteria. A list of digital verification services certified against the trust framework and the supplementary code is [available on GOV.UK.](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-registered-digital-identity-and-attribute-services)