From Monday 5 October 2026, fees for DBS checks and subscribing to the Update Service are to reduce.

The new fees will be as follows:

• Basic DBS check: £20.00 (reduced from £21.50)
• Standard DBS check: £20.00 (reduced from £21.50)
• Enhanced DBS check: £41.00 (reduced from £49.50)
• Update Service subscription: £15.00 per year (reduced from £16.00)
• Volunteer checks remain free of charge.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is fully funded by the fees it charges for the above products and services. DBS reviews its fees on an annual basis, and the fee for each product or service is based on its cost to deliver as required by Managing Public Money (MPM).

On this occasion, DBS has been able to reduce fees across all its products and those applying for an Enhanced check will see the greatest reduction.

The new fees have been scrutinised and approved by the DBS board, Home Office, HM Treasury, and the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls. They will be given legal effect through a statutory instrument, laid before Parliament on 9th September 2026.

Quality remains at the core of what DBS does, in its products, in the services it provides, and in the decisions that it makes. This fee reduction does not affect the standard of service or the rigour of DBS checks.

Registered Bodies and Responsible Organisations should ensure their systems and any customer-facing information are updated to reflect the new fees before 5 October 2026.

Registered Bodies and Responsible Organisations may charge applicants an additional administration fee on top of the DBS fee; DBS is not involved in setting or regulating these charges.