Providing your ID documents

If you hold a biometric UK Passport or an Irish Passport and have a current UK address, you may be eligible to complete a Digital DBS and Right to Work ID Check.  Please be aware that if you have an old-style Passport (without a chip) you will not be able to complete the Digital ID check.

The order of actions for you is:

1. When you initiate your DBS application online, you will be asked the following questions:

• Do you have a current UK address?
• Do you have a UK or Irish Passport?

If you select ‘Yes’ to both these options, you will be given a QR Code to download the Atlantic Data Digital ID App. 

If you are not eligible for a Digital ID check, you can still complete your DBS application and will need to complete a manual ID check for your DBS application either via the Post Office or via an Overseas Professional Verifier.  Please contact the DBS Team to complete your Right to Work check.

2. If you are eligible for a Digital ID a QR code will be displayed. Scan this screen using the camera on your mobile phone. This will take you to your App Store/Google Play Store and you can download the Atlantic Data Digital ID App. If you are using the app for the first time you will need to complete the registration process to make an account.

3. Once you have completed the registration process, scan the QR Code using the camera on your phone, this will enable you to create your Digital ID. Here you will be asked to select your ID documents.   All applicants completing a Digital DBS and Right to Work ID check must provide a valid biometric UK Passport or Irish Passport.  You may also be required to provide further proof of address e.g., driving licence, council tax statement, utility bill, or bank statement.  All ID documents submitted must match and display your legal name.

4. Using your phone camera, you will take a picture of your Passport. You will need to confirm the details are correct.  You will then need to lay your phone on top of your Passport, this will allow the App to scan the chip in your Passport.  A liveness check is required to confirm your ID.  You will need to take a photograph of yourself which the App will use to confirm you match the photograph on your Passport.  You will then need to confirm your current UK address.  Type in your Post Code and then select your address from the drop-down list.

Once your ID and address have been checked, you must read and accept the declaration to submit your Digital ID.  Please Note: The Digital ID App will check your ID for both the DBS application and for your Right to Work in the UK.

5. If your Digital ID has been issued, a QR Code will be displayed on-screen in your online portal. Scan this screen using the camera on your mobile phone to share your Digital ID.  You will need to complete a second liveness check to verify that you match the Digital ID being shared.

6. Once your Digital ID has been shared, log into your portal and follow the next steps. You will be asked to confirm that the name from your Digital ID profile matches the name your DBS application was initiated under.  You should then read through the consent statements and will be asked to complete the remainder of your DBS application i.e., provide your full name history and 5-year address history.

Further information and support are available via the DBS application system when you log in. This will be displayed within your disclosure application website portal, to view the step-by-step guide click on ‘Your Account’ button which displays your name on the right-hand side and then select ‘Information’. The guide can be found under ‘Account Information’.

Please Note: If you have failed the Digital DBS & Right to Work ID check you will be made aware of this in the DBS application.  We will need to carry out a manual Right to Work check before we can submit your DBS application.  Please contact the DBS Team to complete your Right to Work check.

We are not able to submit your DBS application until both the DBS and Right to Work ID check have been completed.  Please be aware that your Right to Work Clearance Check will remain outstanding on your student record until you have completed your registration.

The Post Office offers more than one type of ID-checking service, so please be careful to check the Post Office link below for a branch that offers the service required and note that you should not be asked to pay anything at the Post Office.

The order of actions for you is:

1. Complete the online DBS application. You will need to select a minimum of 3 original ID documents which will be used to verify your identity.  Please ensure you check all of your information in the DBS application, as this cannot be edited once you have submitted the online application form.
2. At the end of this, print out your ‘Referral Letter’ before you log-out of your account. If you forget to do so and do log-out or close the browser, you can log back in later with the username in your DBS email and the password you created and click Print referral letter.
3. Within 28 days, take the same 3 original ID documents (that you selected in your application) plus your Post Office Referral Letter to your nearest participating Post Office to have them verified. If you take different documents to the ones selected, the Post Office will not be able to complete the ID check and you will have to go back a second time.
4. The Post Office will scan the Referral Letter into our DBS system and return it to you for your reference with your documents. You do not need to take any further action unless we or the DBS contacts you with a query.

PARTICIPATING POST OFFICES

Not all Post Offices offer the correct DBS ID-checking service for our system. If you go to a branch that does not, they may carry out the wrong type of check instead (not compatible with our DBS system) and will charge you for this. The correct type of check ‘CRB & ID Verification Service’ does not require you to pay anything at the Post Office. 

Please check the list here.

• enter your postcode or town;
• from the ‘Refine branch services’ drop-down box, select ‘CRB & ID Verification Service’;
• do not select 'CQC CRB ID Verification Service' or 'DBS ID Validation Service': neither of these is compatible with our DBS application and these would not allow your application to be progressed. A Post Office branch may offer one of these services but not CRB & ID Verification Service, which you need;
• do not leave the 'Refine branch services' box unselected - even though it says it is optional. You must select which specific service you require for the branch finder to look for one that offers this. If you don't select CRB & ID Verification Service, it will simply show you your nearest Post Office branches, regardless of what services they offer.

If you have any difficulties with your identity verification at a Post Office, please email the DBS Team

You can have your ID documents verified by an appropriate professional person local to you. This must not be a member of your family or other relative.

Examples of acceptable people are:-

• Republic of Ireland: your local Garda office will normally do this.
• Teacher or lecturer (e.g. a member of teaching or academic staff at your school, college or university)
• Medical professional
• Solicitor or accountant
• Police officer
• If in France, your local Town Hall may do this.

Other countries may offer other suitable alternatives.

The order of actions for you is:

1. Complete the online DBS application. You will need to select a minimum of 3 original ID documents which will be used to verify your identity.  Please ensure you check all of your information in the DBS application, as this cannot be edited once you have submitted the online application form.
2. At the end of this, print out your ‘Referral Letter’ before you log-out of your account. If you forget to do so and do log-out or close the browser, you can log back in later with the username in your DBS email and the password you created and click Print referral letter.
3. Take the same 3 original ID documents (that you selected in your application) plus your ‘Applicant Identity Verification Form’ to your chosen professional verifier to have your ID documents verified. If you take different documents to the ones selected, the person checking your ID will not be able to complete the ID check and you will have to go back a second time.
4. You must scan and email your ‘Applicant Identity Verification Form’ to dbsapply@cumbria.ac.ukfor us to update your application. If the ID check meets the DBS’s requirements, you do not need to take any further action unless we or the DBS contacts you with a query.

Please contact the DBS Team if you have any questions about this process.