Waiting for a DBS check to complete and waiting for the physical certificate to arrive are two different parts of the process.
Once a DBS application has completed, the Disclosure and Barring Service issues the certificate and sends it to the applicant. This means a check showing as complete does not necessarily mean the applicant already has their physical certificate.
For employers managing recruitment, particularly across high volumes of candidates, understanding DBS certificate delivery can help distinguish between an application that is still being processed and one where the certificate has already been issued.
In this guide, we explain how DBS certificate delivery works, when a certificate is dispatched, how employers can track the progress of a DBS check and what happens when a certificate does not arrive.
How long does a DBS certificate take to arrive?
The time taken to receive a DBS certificate should not be confused with the time taken to process the DBS check itself.
A Basic, Standard or Enhanced DBS application must first go through the relevant DBS checking process. Once the necessary checks have been completed, the certificate can be issued and dispatched.
DBS guidance states that applicants requesting a reprint because their certificate has not arrived must allow 14 days from the certificate issue date before requesting one.
Employers looking for information about how long the application itself takes should read our DBS turnaround times guide, which covers current processing times and delays.
The important distinction is:
DBS processing time
The time required for DBS and, where relevant, police forces to complete the necessary checks.
DBS certificate delivery time
The period after the certificate has been issued while it is being delivered to the applicant.
Understanding this distinction can prevent recruitment teams from treating a postal delay as though the DBS application itself is still being processed.
What does ‘DBS certificate dispatched’ mean?
If tracking shows that a DBS certificate has been issued or dispatched, the application has reached the end of the DBS checking process.
For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, this is commonly referred to as Stage 5.
At Stage 5, the relevant information has been consolidated and the DBS certificate is printed and sent to the applicant.
If you want to understand what happens before this point, read our guide to the five stages of a DBS check.
This is an important distinction for employers. A certificate awaiting DBS certificate delivery is no longer waiting for DBS or police searches to be completed.
Does the employer receive the DBS certificate?
For Standard and Enhanced DBS checks, the physical DBS certificate is normally sent to the applicant rather than the employer.
For electronically submitted applications, the Registered Body can receive an electronic result notification. Where the certificate contains no information, this can indicate that the certificate is clear.
EBC Global does not receive the detailed information shown on the applicant’s physical certificate through this notification.
Where information is disclosed, employers may need to see the applicant’s original certificate before making the appropriate recruitment decision.
Employers should therefore make sure their recruitment process accounts for the difference between an application completing and the physical DBS certificate delivery to the applicant.
Access an Electronic DBS Certificate While You Wait for the Posted Version
Waiting for a physical DBS certificate to arrive in the post can create an unnecessary gap between a check completing and an employer being able to move forward with their screening process.
With EBC Global, an electronic DBS certificate is available once the DBS check has been completed, giving employers faster visibility of the result while the applicant waits for their physical certificate to arrive.
The electronic report provides a clear digital record of the completed check within EBC Global Pro, helping recruitment and compliance teams keep the screening process moving without relying solely on postal delivery.
What does an EBC Global electronic DBS certificate look like?
The electronic certificate is designed to make the result easy to review and manage alongside the candidate’s wider screening record.
For organisations processing DBS checks at scale, having the result available electronically can also make it easier to maintain a centralised screening record, rather than relying on candidates and recruitment teams to manage the process through separate emails and physical documents.
The applicant will still receive their official DBS certificate through the post where applicable. The electronic version available through EBC Global helps bridge the period between the check completing and the physical certificate arriving.
How much does a DBS check cost?
The cost of a DBS check depends on the level of check required, with different fees for Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks.
For the latest fees and a full breakdown of what employers can expect to pay, see our DBS check costs and pricing guide.
Can you track a DBS certificate?
The progress of Standard and Enhanced DBS applications can be tracked using the DBS online tracking service.
Tracking can help establish whether an application is:
- still progressing through the checking process
- undergoing relevant police checks
- complete
- or at the certificate issue stage.
This distinction matters when investigating a delayed application.
If the application is still undergoing DBS or police checks, the issue relates to DBS processing time rather than certificate delivery.
If the certificate has already been issued but has not arrived, the issue relates to DBS certificate delivery.
For organisations managing multiple applications, having clear visibility of application status can make it easier for recruitment teams to identify which candidates genuinely require follow-up.
Why hasn’t a DBS certificate arrived?
There are several reasons why an applicant may still be waiting after their certificate has been issued.
The first is simply postal delivery time. Issuing the certificate and physically delivering it are separate stages.
Problems can also occur if the applicant has moved since submitting their DBS application.
DBS states that a certificate reprint can only be sent to the address provided on the original application. The address cannot simply be changed during the reprint process.
Applicants who have moved may therefore need to arrange appropriate mail redirection.
It is also worth checking the certificate issue date before assuming the certificate has been lost. DBS requires applicants to allow 14 days from the issue date before requesting a reprint because their certificate has not arrived.
What should you do if a DBS certificate hasn’t arrived?
The first step is to establish whether the certificate has actually been issued.
Check the application’s status and confirm the certificate issue date.
If the application is still progressing through DBS or police checks, it is not a DBS certificate delivery problem. Our guide to current DBS waiting times and delays explains why some applications, particularly Enhanced DBS checks involving local police forces, can take longer.
If the certificate has been issued but has not arrived after 14 days, the applicant may be able to request a reprint.
According to DBS guidance, Standard and Enhanced certificate reprints can be requested where:
- the certificate was issued more than 14 days ago but has not been received
- the request is made within three months (93 days) of the certificate issue date
- the address for the reprint matches the address on the original DBS application.
Different procedures apply to Basic DBS certificates.
You can read the official DBS certificate reprint guidance on GOV.UK for the current requirements.
Can an employer speed up DBS certificate delivery?
Once a certificate has been issued and entered the postal system, a screening provider cannot control how quickly it is physically delivered.
Likewise, screening providers cannot shorten DBS or police assessment stages that have to be completed.
Where employers can make a difference is in the administration surrounding the DBS process.
Accurate candidate information, appropriate identity verification, efficient application submission and clear tracking can reduce avoidable administrative delays before and during the application process.
For organisations processing DBS checks regularly, reducing unnecessary manual steps becomes increasingly important.
Managing DBS checks at scale
A single delayed certificate may mean one recruitment team following up with one candidate.
Across hundreds or thousands of applications, however, identifying which checks are in progress, which have reached police review and which certificates have already been issued can become a significant administrative task.
This is why visibility across the whole DBS workflow matters.
EBC Global Pro brings DBS applications together with wider employment screening background checks in one platform, helping employers manage candidate screening and track progress without relying on disconnected systems.
For high-volume employers, workflows can be configured around different roles and screening requirements, helping recruitment teams manage checks consistently while retaining visibility of outstanding candidate actions and application progress.
Process DBS checks directly with EBC Global
EBC Global is both a DBS Registered Body and Responsible Organisation (RB/RO).
This means we can process eligible Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS applications through the appropriate DBS routes rather than relying on additional processing intermediaries.
For employers managing regular or high-volume screening, fewer unnecessary hand-offs can simplify administration and keep more of the screening journey within one platform.
EBC Global Pro combines DBS applications with wider pre-employment screening, candidate information and automated workflows, giving recruitment and compliance teams greater visibility across their screening programme.
Manage DBS checks through EBC Global Pro
Whether you process occasional DBS applications or manage screening across hundreds or thousands of employees, EBC Global can help you create a more structured screening process.
Or speak with our team about your current screening process.
DBS certificate delivery FAQs
EBC Global can receive the relevant electronic result notification for eligible electronically submitted applications, but does not receive the detailed information contained on the applicant’s physical DBS certificate through that notification.
Applicants may be eligible for a reprint if the certificate was issued more than 14 days ago and has not arrived. Reprint requests must normally be made within three months (93 days) of issue and must meet the DBS address requirements.
First establish whether the application itself is delayed or whether the certificate has already been issued. Applications can take longer because of the checks required, particularly where an Enhanced DBS application requires local police review. Once the certificate has been issued, any subsequent wait relates to DBS certificate delivery rather than DBS processing.
Standard and Enhanced DBS certificates are normally issued to the applicant. Employers may receive an electronic result notification for applications submitted electronically, but this does not provide the full contents of the physical certificate.
Employers or Registered Bodies can monitor the progress of applications submitted through their screening process. However, the physical Standard or Enhanced DBS certificate is issued to the applicant.
First confirm the certificate issue date. If it was issued more than 14 days ago and has not arrived, check the DBS certificate reprint criteria. Requests must normally be made within three months (93 days) of the certificate issue date.
Applicants can use DBS tracking to check the progress of an application. If the certificate has been issued, the DBS checking process itself has completed and the applicant is waiting for certificate delivery.
DBS advises applicants to allow 14 days from the certificate issue date before requesting a reprint because a certificate has not arrived. The time taken for certificate delivery is separate from the time required to process the DBS application.
