Police Checks for International Teachers Coming to the UK

Created: Apr 24, 2024 | Updated: Apr 24, 2024

If you're an international teacher planning to work in the UK, you'll need to understand the importance of police checks from any country where you've previously lived for at least 12 months as an adult. These checks are needed to make sure classrooms remain safe for both students and staff. In this blog post, we'll explain why these police checks are necessary, what they involve, and how to get them done. Our goal is to give you a clear guide to help you prepare for your teaching role in the UK.

What is an Overseas Police Check?

An overseas police check also called an international criminal history check, helps verify a person's criminal record in countries where they have lived before. If you are going to the UK, you will need a police check if you have lived in a country as an adult (18 years and above) for up to 12 months in total in the last 10 years. This type of check is typically required for jobs, visa applications, and other official needs in a country where the person doesn't currently live.

The procedure usually involves you submitting a request with the necessary identification details to the relevant police or government authorities of the particular country. The authorities then search their criminal records database to find any records that match your identity. You will then get a document that states if you have a criminal history in that country or not.

Overseas police checks are important for employers, organisations, and government bodies to ensure the security and suitability of individuals who are being considered for positions that require trust and integrity, especially when these positions involve moving between countries.

Who Needs an Overseas Police Check in the UK?

These are the teaching sectors and their standard occupation codes where police checks will be needed:

The Education Sector

2312 Further Education Teaching Professionals
2313 Secondary Education Teaching Professionals
2314 Primary Education Teaching Professionals
2315 Nursery Education Teaching Professionals
2316 Special Needs Education Teaching Professionals
2317 Teachers Of English As A Foreign Language
2319 Teaching Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
2321 Headteachers And Principals
2322 Education Managers
2323 Education Advisers And School Inspectors
2324 Early Education And Childcare Services Managers
2329 Other Educational Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified
3231 Higher-Level Teaching Assistants
3232 Early Education And Childcare Practitioners
6111 Early Education And Childcare Assistants
6112 Teaching Assistants
6113 Educational Support Assistants
6114 Childminders
6117 Playworkers

Health and Social Care Sector

1171 Health services and public health managers and directors
1172 Social services managers and directors
1231 Healthcare practice managers
1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
2211 Generalist medical practitioners
2212 Specialist medical practitioners
2221 Physiotherapists
2222 Occupational therapists
2223 Speech and language therapists
2224 Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists
2225 Clinical psychologists
2226 Other psychologists
2229 Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
2231 Midwifery nurses
2232 Community nurses
2233 Specialist nurses
2234 Nurse practitioners
2235 Mental health nurses
2236 Children’s nurses
2237 Other nursing professionals
2251 Pharmacists
2252 Optometrists
2253 Dental practitioners
2254 Medical radiographers
2255 Paramedics
2256 Podiatrists
2259 Other health professionals not elsewhere classified
3211 Dispensing opticians
3212 Pharmaceutical technicians
3213 Medical and dental technicians
3214 Complementary health associate professionals
3219 Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
3224 Counsellors
6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
6133 Dental nurses

Immigration Requirements

Visa Applications

Documents Required for a Police Check in the UK

When applying for a criminal record check in the UK, you'll need to provide specific documents to prove your identity. The process has three routes, depending on the documents you have available.

Route 1

Requirements:

One document from Group 1
Two additional documents from either Group 1, Group 2a, or Group 2b
At least one document showing your current address.

Group 1 Documents:

A current and valid International Passport.
UK biometric residence permit.
A current driving licence photocard (full or provisional; UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and EEA).
Your birth certificate (issued within 12 months of birth; UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, including those issued by UK authorities overseas) or adoption certificate (UK and Channel Islands).

Route 2

If you cannot use Route 1, use this route.

One document from Group 2a
Two further documents from either Group 2a or Group 2b
At least one document must show your current address.
An appropriate external ID validation service must be used by the organisation conducting the ID check.

Route 3

Use this route if you can't use Routes 1 or 2.

Your birth certificate, issued after the time of birth (UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands).
One document from Group 2a.
Three more documents from either Group 2a or Group 2b.
At least one document must show your current address.

Group 2a Documents:

Current driving licence photocard (all countries outside the EEA, excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands).
Current driving licence (paper version if issued before 1998; UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and EEA).
Birth certificate (issued after the time of birth; UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands).
Marriage or civil partnership certificate (UK and Channel Islands).
Immigration document, visa, or work permit (valid only if residing and working in the issuing country).
HM Forces ID card (UK).
Firearms licence (UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man).

Group 2b Documents:

Mortgage statement (issued in last 12 months; UK or EEA).
Bank or building society statements (issued in the last 3 months; must be from a branch in the country where you live and work if outside the EEA).
Bank or building society account opening confirmation letter (UK, issued in last 3 months).
Credit card statement (issued in last 3 months; UK or EEA).
Financial statement (e.g., pension, endowment, issued in last 12 months; UK).
P45 or P60 statement (issued in last 12 months; UK and Channel Islands).
Council Tax statement (issued in last 12 months; UK and the Channel Islands).
Utility bill (not mobile phone, issued in last 3 months; UK).
Benefit statement (e.g., Child Benefit, Pension, issued in last 3 months; UK).
Government document (e.g., from Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue & Customs, issued in last 3 months; UK and the Channel Islands).
EEA National ID card (must be valid).
Irish Passport Card (cannot be used with an Irish passport; must be valid).
Cards carrying the PASS accreditation logo (must be valid).
Letter from head teacher or college principal (UK, for 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education, used in exceptional circumstances).

If any of your documents are not in English, you will need to provide a translation done by a UK-certified translation service. Translayte’s team of certified translators are the best at translating your documents from over 130 languages to English and vice versa. Just visit our website and place an order and you can get your certified translations even within 24 hours.

How to Apply for an Overseas Police Check as a Teacher Going to the UK

Each country has its process of applying for a police check. If you're a teacher planning to move to the UK and need to apply for a criminal record check the government of the United Kingdom have put together a list that contains each country and their process for applying. You can also get information on where to apply and how much it costs in your country. Here's an overview of what the process is like in some major countries:

China

1. Request the Criminal Record Check: Go to the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of the Public Security Bureau (PSB), located at 1500 Minsheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. You will need to submit the following:

Original valid passport and any previous passports covering your period of residence in Shanghai.
Photocopies of the photo page, visas, and residence permit for the time you lived in Shanghai.
A copy of the Foreigner Temporary Accommodation Registration Form, available at your local police station.
The foreigner application form, downloadable from the MPS website or available at the Entry-Exit Bureau.
If someone else is submitting on your behalf, a power of attorney and the trustee’s valid identity document is required.

2. Process the Request: If possible, the PSB will handle your request on the spot. If immediate processing is not possible, they will issue an "Acceptance Receipt" and aim to complete the process within three working days. However, actual processing times can take up to two weeks, depending on the complexity and required verifications.

3. Collecting the Certificate: If no criminal record is found, you will receive a "Certificate of No Criminal Record." If a criminal record is found, a "Notice of Refusal to Issue a Certificate of No Criminal Record" will be issued instead. If a company requested on your behalf, the results would be communicated in the form of a "Notice of Inquiry."

4. Notarising the Certificate: After receiving the Certificate, you must have it notarised at a notary office such as the Shanghai Dongfang Notary Public Office. This process can take up to two weeks. You need to submit:

A valid passport and, if updated, the old passport covering the period of your stay.
Photocopies of the photo page, all visas, and residence permits from your time in Shanghai.
A copy of your Foreigner Temporary Accommodation Registration Form.
Proof of work or study in Shanghai (e.g., foreign employment certificate, labour contract, tax bill, or student ID card).
For family members, proof of kinship (e.g., marriage or birth certificate).
Original Certificate of No Criminal Record.
If applicable, a power of attorney and the trustee’s identity document.

The United States of America

1. National Criminal Background Checks (FBI Check): For a nationwide background check, the FBI provides Criminal History Summary Checks for individuals. This check includes information held in the FBI's national database and is often referred to as a "rap sheet." You can apply online through the eDO (Electronic Departmental Order) system or you can submit a request by mailing an application form along with your fingerprints and payment to the FBI. You’ll need to provide your fingerprints, which can be taken at local police stations, some post offices, or private companies that offer fingerprinting services. You’ll also need to submit a form of government-issued photo ID.

2. State-Level Criminal Background Check (State Police or Department of Public Safety): You can request a criminal background check from the state police or similar agency in the state where you live or have lived. You will fill out a form, pay a fee, and provide your fingerprints, depending on the state’s requirements.

3. Local Police Checks (Local Police Departments): For more localised information, you can request a background check directly from the police department in the city or town where you reside or have resided. You will need to visit the police station in person, though some jurisdictions might offer online or mail options. You will need to show a valid ID and pay a fee.

United Kingdom

1. Determine the Type of Check You Need: Most teachers will require an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Check, which includes details of any spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. It also includes any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

2. Put in an Application: There are two ways to apply for your criminal record check if you are going to work in the UK. This process is for you if you are in the UK and wish to work as a teacher:

Through your Employer: The application for an Enhanced DBS Check is usually initiated by your employer in the UK (i.e., the school or educational institution where you will be working). They will provide you with the forms to fill out and submit them on your behalf.
By Yourself: If you are self-employed or need to initiate the check yourself, you cannot directly apply for an Enhanced DBS Check. Instead, you can apply for a Basic Disclosure via the Disclosure Scotland service, regardless of where in the UK you will work.

3. Complete the Application Form: Complete the application form provided by your employer or online through Disclosure Scotland for a basic check. You have to provide full details of your identity, address history, and other personal information. At this point, you will need to provide the documents we discussed earlier to prove your identity and address, as per the DBS’s ID-checking guidelines.

4. ID Verification: For an Enhanced DBS Check, your employer will help you verify your identity using the original documents you provide. In some cases, you might need to have your identity verified through certain Post Office branches that offer this service.

5. Submit and Wait for Results: Once your form is completed and your ID has been verified, your employer or you (if you are applying for a Basic Disclosure) will submit the application. Processing times can vary; an Enhanced DBS Check usually takes around 3-4 weeks, but it can be longer.

6. Receive Your Certificate: Once processed, the DBS will send a certificate to your home address detailing the outcome of your check.

7. Register with the Update Service: Registering with the DBS Update Service is highly recommended. For a small annual fee of £13, this service keeps your DBS certificate up to date and allows you to reuse it for similar roles in the UK.

Why Can’t my DBS Show my Criminal Record Abroad?

The Disclosure and Barring Service checks in the UK do not show criminal records held abroad because the DBS only has access to criminal record information held within the UK. This includes information from various UK police forces and other government databases.

The DBS operates under UK law which means it can only access databases within its legal jurisdiction. Criminal records held by foreign governments are outside the scope of the UK’s domestic police and judicial systems. Also, international data sharing is governed by strict privacy laws and agreements that vary by country. Not all countries have agreements in place that allow for the sharing of criminal data for employment screening, which restricts the DBS's ability to access such records.

Countries also have their own data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, which controls how personal data can be transferred and accessed across borders. These laws protect the privacy of individuals and can restrict the sharing of information without consent. Even if data-sharing agreements are in place, logistical challenges such as differing technologies, languages, and administrative systems can make it difficult to reliably and efficiently access criminal records from other countries.

If you are an international teacher who wants to push your career in the UK, complying with the police check requirements is not just about fulfilling legal obligations but ensuring a safe and secure environment for you and your students. The process might be a little to deal with but it serves an important purpose in maintaining the high standards of safety and professionalism expected in UK schools. You can step confidently into your role by preparing adequately, seeking the necessary documents, and understanding the importance of these checks knowing they meet all the requirements to provide a positive and impactful educational experience.

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