Overseas Police Checks

If your course requires a DBS check and you have spent any time outside the UK as an adult (aged 18 or over), you may need to provide an Overseas Police Check from each country you have lived in. This is required in addition to your DBS check.

The document may be known by different names depending on the country issuing it.

Why This Matters

Overseas Police Checks can take time to obtain. Any outstanding admissions conditions will affect your registration status and prevent the release of your student loan.

Who Needs an Overseas Police Check

You will need an Overseas Police Check if:

You are over 18 and currently living overseas.
You are over 18 and have lived overseas in the last 10 years for:

More than 6 months in total, or
12 months or more cumulatively across the 10‑year period.

A separate check is required for each country this applies to. This requirement applies regardless of nationality or fee status.

If you are unsure, contact dbs@cumbria.ac.uk

Important Information

It is your responsibility to obtain the correct Overseas Police Check.

Date of issue:

Your document must be dated no more than three months before your course start date.

For example, September starters must provide a document dated no earlier than June.

If you have already entered the UK, the document should be dated as close as possible to the date you left the relevant country.

Translation:

If the document is not in English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German, you must arrange an official English translation at your own expense.

What You Need to Do

You must apply for the Overseas Police Check directly from the country or countries you have lived in.

How to Apply: Republic of Ireland

You must submit a Data Access Request Form (F20)to the Garda Data Protection Unit in Dublin.

Do not submit the form to your local Garda station.

Refer to the Garda's Data Protection webpage for full guidance.

To complete Part 2 – Details of Request, use the following wording:

Details of the data sought: “Any information held in the Garda Criminal Records Database. This is requested in relation to a course of study in the UK involving contact with children or adults in vulnerable groups.”
Location of data: “Garda Criminal Records Database.”
Date/time period: Enter your month and year of birth up to the current month and year.

Email the completed form to dataprotection@garda.ie

Do not send the form to the University.

How to Apply: All Other Countries

After You Receive Your Overseas Police Check

Please check that:

Your name is spelled correctly.
Your address is correct.
Your date of birth (if shown) is correct.
The issue date is clear and within the required timeframe.
An English translation is included if required.

Upload a clear scan or image of the document to your University of Cumbria applicant ICON portal.

We will contact you if there are any issues. Do not post original documents to us.

Need Help?

Our DBS Team are here for you.

Email: dbs@cumbria.ac.uk

Phone: 01228 888730