How to obtain an Overseas Police check / Certificate of Good Conduct if you have lived abroad in the last 5 years Follow
If you have lived outside of the UK in the last five years, you will need to include this in the address history part of your DBS application - advice on this can be found here.
Then, as part of the vetting process, you will be required to provide an overseas police certificate or certificate of good conduct covering the time you spent abroad. You will have 3 months to send the certificate to the ECB upon submission of your DBS application.
The following is a guide on the types of Overseas checks the ECB will accept as part of the DBS Application.
Australia -Federal Police Check
South Africa -South African Police Service Check (SAPS)
New Zealand -Ministry of Justice Check
West Indies -Police Headquarters Check
Sri Lanka -Police Headquarters in Colombo
Pakistan -Police Clearance Certificate
India -Police Clearance Certificate
Namibia & Tanzania - Government check of watermarked letterhead (original required)
USA - State Police Check (this will need to be stamped and notarised)
All checks must be:
- Clear and readable - original certificate must be posted to the ECB Safeguarding Team, photocopies and emailed certificates are not accepted.
- Digital issued certificates - must be forwarded with a copy of the email trail of issue from the Authorising organisation.
- For entire life, from birth to date or for the full period of residency.
- On official letterhead
- Signed by official
- Date stamped
- Issued within the 3 months prior to date of entry into the UK or any time after entry to the UK
Please note that no costs incurred as a result of obtaining an overseas police certificate can be charged to the ECB
For information on how to apply for an overseas criminal record check please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants
You should post the original hard copy of the certificate to the safeguarding team at the ECB once you have obtained it.
Address as follows: ECB Safeguarding Team, ECB Office, County Cricket Ground, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7QU
A copy of this certificate will be added to your record and posted back to you via Royal Mail 1st class post.
Without providing an overseas police certificate, the ECB will not approve your clearance to work with children.
If you are for any reason unable to obtain an overseas police certificate, please contact the ECB DBS team here to discuss this.