The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) cannot access criminal records held overseas, and therefore it is not possible to access a complete picture of an individual’s criminal record simply by completing a DBS Check alone.

Whilst overseas applicants are expected to complete a DBS Check they also need to provide us with an original police check from any country or countries where they have resided for any period of time exceeding 4 months.

Occasionally overseas police checks are not available in English so therefore an official translation must also accompany the police check provided.

The same also applies to any individual who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom but has resided in any country for any period of time exceeding 4 months.

Please contact the Embassy or High Commission for the relevant country or countries in order to ascertain the process for obtaining an overseas police check.

Overseas Police Checks must be provided to the Student Disclosure Service by no later than the commencement of the course unless any other prior arrangement has been agreed.

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