DBS certificate vs ACRO police certificate: what's the difference and how are they apostilled?

DBS certificates and ACRO Police Certificates are often confused, but they serve different purposes. Discover which document you need and how to obtain an apostille for overseas employment, visa and immigration applications.

March 30, 2026 3 min read

Many people are unsure whether they need a DBS certificate or an ACRO Police Certificate when applying for work, visas, residency permits or immigration programmes abroad.

Although both documents relate to criminal record information, they serve different purposes and are issued by different authorities.

Understanding the difference can help ensure you obtain the correct document and avoid delays with overseas applications.

What is a DBS certificate?

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate is primarily used within the UK for employment and safeguarding purposes.

Employers often request a DBS check when a role involves:

Working with children
Working with vulnerable adults
Healthcare positions
Teaching roles
Social care roles
Volunteer positions

There are three main levels of DBS checks:

Basic DBS Check
Standard DBS Check
Enhanced DBS Check

The information disclosed depends on the level of check requested.

What is an ACRO Police Certificate?

An ACRO Police Certificate is issued by the ACRO Criminal Records Office and is commonly used for immigration and overseas visa applications.

It provides details of an individual's criminal record history in the UK and is recognised by immigration authorities worldwide.

ACRO Police Certificates are frequently required for:

Immigration applications
Permanent residency applications
Citizenship applications
Long-term visas
Overseas employment
Family sponsorship applications

Countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many EU countries commonly request an ACRO Police Certificate.

DBS certificate vs ACRO Police Certificate

Feature	DBS Certificate	ACRO Police Certificate
Main purpose	Employment and safeguarding	Immigration and visas
Issued by	Disclosure and Barring Service	ACRO Criminal Records Office
Used in UK employment checks	Yes	No
Used for overseas immigration	Rarely	Frequently
Accepted by foreign embassies	Sometimes	Commonly
Shows criminal record information	Yes	Yes

As a general rule:

For UK employment, a DBS certificate is usually required.
For immigration and visa applications abroad, an ACRO Police Certificate is usually required.

Can DBS certificates be apostilled?

Yes.

A DBS certificate can be legalised with an apostille issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Before legalisation, the DBS certificate is normally certified by a UK solicitor or notary public. The certified copy is then submitted for apostille processing.

The apostille confirms that the certification is genuine and allows the document to be recognised internationally.

Can ACRO Police Certificates be apostilled?

Yes.

ACRO Police Certificates can also be apostilled by the FCDO.

Unlike a DBS certificate, an original ACRO Police Certificate can often be apostilled directly because it contains the required official signature.

This generally makes the process simpler and faster.

Which document is easier to apostille?

In most cases, an ACRO Police Certificate is easier to legalise because:

It is specifically designed for international use.
It is commonly recognised by foreign authorities.
It can often be apostilled directly.
Many embassies specifically request ACRO certificates.

DBS certificates often require an additional certification step before apostille processing.

Do some countries require embassy legalisation?

Yes.

If the destination country is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, additional embassy attestation may be required after the apostille has been issued.

This is common for certain countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.