The DBS Process for a Refugee or Asylum Seeker

The process for completing a DBS check as a refugee or asylum seeker can be complex but here at Zinc, we are going to break it down for you so you know what route to follow for your candidate. For a DBS to be processed via Zinc, there needs to be an address check and an identity check. Zinc follows the [digital guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/dbs-digital-identity-verification-guidance), so this varies from what would be accepted for a manual check. ## If the candidate can provide ID that can be processed by Zinc If the candidate **can** provide us with a form of ID that can be processed by Zinc, the process is the same as other DBS applications you process with Zinc for a non-UK citizen. - A [**Right to Work Check**](https://help.zincwork.com/hc/hm54ky7yrc/article/cdfc4bee-how-to-prove-your-right-to-work-in-the-uk-as-a-non-uk-citizen) (like a share code) - An [**Identity Check**](https://help.zincwork.com/hc/hm54ky7yrc/article/2c3242ed-accepted-id-documents-for-a-dbs-check) using a listed foreign passport and another form of photo identification such as a driving license, a foreign residence permit, or national identity card Please note that we can only accept valid, in-date passports from the following countries. If the candidate does not hold a passport from one of these countries, they will be unable to complete digital identity verification and will need to complete a manual identity verification with their employer instead. > **Please note:** Inclusion on this list does not guarantee a passport will be accepted for digital verification. The most common reason for rejection is the absence of a functioning NFC chip — older passports in particular may not have one. In some cases a passport may not meet the required document strength for other reasons. Where a passport is rejected, the candidate will need to proceed via manual identity verification. - Albania - Andorra - Anguilla - Antigua and Barbuda - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Bahamas - Bahrain - Bangladesh - Belarus - Belgium - Benin - Bermuda - Burkina Faso - Burundi - Cabo Verde - Cameroon - Canada - Cayman Islands - Chile - China - Colombia - Congo, Democratic Republic of the - Costa Rica - Czechia - Denmark - Djibouti - Dominica - Dominican Republic - Ecuador - Equatorial Guinea - Estonia - Ethiopia - Faroe Islands - Fiji - Finland - France - Germany - Ghana - Gibraltar - Greece - Grenada - Guatemala - Guernsey - Guinea-Bissau - Guyana - Honduras - Hungary - Iceland - Indonesia - Iraq - Ireland - Isle of Man - Japan - Jersey - Jordan - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Korea, Republic of - Kyrgyzstan - Latvia - Lebanon - Liberia - Lithuania - Maldives - Mali - Malta - Mauritania - Mexico - Moldova, Republic of - Montenegro - Montserrat - Mozambique - Netherlands, Kingdom of the - New Zealand - North Macedonia - Norway - Pakistan - Panama - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Russian Federation - Rwanda - Saint Kitts and Nevis - San Marino - Saudi Arabia - Serbia - Singapore - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sudan - Sweden - Switzerland - Syrian Arab Republic - Taiwan, Province of China - Thailand - Timor-Leste - Togo - Turkmenistan - Turks and Caicos Islands - Türkiye - Uganda - Ukraine - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - United States of America - Vanuatu - Virgin Islands (British) --- - An [**Address Check**](https://help.zincwork.com/hc/hm54ky7yrc/article/cec7b1d0-what-documents-are-accepted-as-proof-of-address-for-a-dbs-check) These checks allow a DBS to be processed using Zinc. If the candidate is using the Employer Checking Service for an ARC card, this needs to be conducted manually to be used for a DBS check but the results can be shared to Zinc for the check to proceed. ## Manual ID check rules and the eVisa The manual ID check rules have changed recently with the introduction of the eVisa. If a **non-UK national is doing voluntary work**, they have to go down [Route 1](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-22-april-2025#the-3-route-id-checking-process) for manual ID checking and if they **can't** do this then it is a paper application and fingerprint route. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-1.png) ## Paid work requirements for non-UK nationals However, **if the work is paid and the individual is a non-UK national,** they must show one **primary** document and two **supporting** documents. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-2.png) These are different to the ID document groups '1' and '2a' or '2b' under routes 1,2,3. The share code would count as a [primary document](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021#primary-documents). ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-3.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-3.png) If the candidate is using an ARC card, you would need to apply to the Home Office Checking Service and then it would count as a **primary** document when paired with a positive result from HOCS. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-4.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-4.png) The [supporting documents](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-1-july-2021#primary-documents) are then any documents from groups 1, 2a or 2b - this could be one of the standard forms of photo ID or the documents that are more like proof of address such as bank letters etc. This is the **only** method they can use and if they can't provide **this evidence** then they **can't** apply for a DBS through this route. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-5.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-5.png) If they **cannot** provide a **primary** document, like a share code, given that these are the documents that prove RTW, a DBS cannot be submitted at all. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-6.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-6.png) However, if they couldn't produce two **supporting** documents (eg bills, bank letters etc.) but could provide a primary **document**, then they could still go through the fingerprint route to submit a DBS check. ![zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-7.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/public-fini-assets/zincwork_hc_images/the-dbs-process-for-a-refugee-or-asylum-seeker-7.png) ## More guidance For any other guidance, please refer to the government guidelines provided [here](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines/id-checking-guidelines-for-standardenhanced-dbs-check-applications-from-22-april-2025#the-3-route-id-checking-process).