Every DBS check needs the applicant's identity verified to a specific standard of confidence, set by the UK government. Digital identity verification usually meets this standard automatically, but not always.
For the full, authoritative detail on identity confidence levels and DBS requirements, always refer to the official UK government guidance:
Identity Confidence Levels
The UK government's Good Practice Guide 45 (GPG45) is the standard used to verify someone's identity remotely - the same standard the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework is built on.
A digital identity check gives an overall confidence level, based on the:
Strength of the evidence provided.
For example, a passport is stronger than a driving licence.Validity of that evidence.
For example, does it check out against issuing authority records?Activity history attached to the identity.
For example, does it look like a real, active person?Verification step confirming the person submitting the check is the person the documents belong to.
This is usually a selfie/liveness check.
Together, these produce one of four overall levels: Low, Medium, High, or Very High.
Confidence Level Requirements for DBS Checks
The requirements differ depending on the type of the DBS check:
Basic DBS requires Medium confidence.
Standard and Enhanced DBS require High confidence.
If the digital identity verification meets the required level, the DBS check proceeds automatically.
If it doesn't, manual identity verification is required - you (or someone acting for the employer) verifies the applicant's identity in person or over video, following the DBS's identity checking guidelines, and record the outcome in Pinpoint.
You can find the confidence level and results of the identity check in the Results tab of the order in Pinpoint, along with details of the ID documents collected from the candidate.
FAQs
Why might an applicant not reach the required level?
Common reasons a digital identity check comes back below the required standard:
Document quality - A blurry photo, glare on the document, or the image cut off at the edges are the most common triggers.
Document type - The applicant used a document that doesn't score high enough on its own for the required level.
Chip read failed - The passport's biometric chip couldn't be read successfully on the applicant's phone.
Selfie/liveness didn't match - The biometric check couldn't confirm the applicant's face matched their document photo.
Applicant didn't complete the flow - They abandoned the digital check partway through or declined consent for one of the steps.
Any of these lead to a confidence level below the DBS requirement, and manual identity verification is triggered as the fallback.
Can the applicant retry the digital check instead?
Not directly. Once the digital identity attempt has completed and the check has been routed to manual, that route can't be undone within the same order.
If you'd like the applicant to try digitally again (for example, they made an obvious document-quality mistake), you'll need to contact our Support team to cancel the order, then re-order the check so the applicant gets a fresh digital attempt.
You won't be billed for the cancelled check.
Is High confidence the same wherever it's assessed?
Yes. The confidence level is defined by GPG45, so it means the same thing regardless of which identity provider ran the check.
The underlying scoring can vary, but every provider has to meet the same threshold to certify a given level.
Why does DBS require High confidence rather than Medium?
Enhanced DBS checks are used for roles involving regulated activity - typically working with children or vulnerable adults.
A higher identity bar reduces the risk of someone assuming another person's identity to avoid a barring decision.
Does the applicant see their confidence score?
No. Confidence scoring is visible to you and to the DBS process only, not to the applicant.