Enhanced disclosure

Last updated: 6 November 2020

An enhanced disclosure is a type of disclosure used to help employers make sure their employees or volunteers, are suitable for certain types of work.

You may need an enhanced disclosure if you apply:

  • to adopt a child
  • for a gaming or lottery licence for your business

Information included in an enhanced disclosure

Disclosure Scotland gathers criminal history and other relevant information from the police and some government departments.

An enhanced disclosure includes:

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, some criminal convictions can be treated as 'spent' – meaning they're not relevant to certain types of disclosure – after a certain length of time.

Disclosure Scotland checks your criminal history information held in the UK, as well as from your country of nationality, if your nationality is one of the following:

  • Germany
  • Lithuania
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Hungary
  • Greece
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Poland

Applying for an enhanced disclosure

Most people who need an enhanced disclosure apply through their employer. They'll give you a paper or digital form to complete which they'll then send back to Disclosure Scotland.

You have to be a registered body to apply for an enhanced disclosure. Alternatively, you can use an umbrella body to make your disclosure applications for you.

Organisations can download forms to return by email for:

Organisations can ask for paper forms to return by post.

Once the required checks have been made, both you and the registered body who applied for you will be sent a copy of the enhanced disclosure certificate.

Cost of an enhanced disclosure

An enhanced disclosure costs £25. This is payable as part of the application process using one of the payment methods listed in the application form.

Disclosures for coronavirus response workers are free until midnight on Friday 25 December 2020. The Scottish Parliament is considering a proposal to extend this exemption until 25 March 2021. We'll update this page once a decision has been made.

You will not get a refund unless Disclosure Scotland has made an error or you have paid for a disclosure for a coronavirus response worker.

How long it takes

90% of disclosure applications are completed within 14 days (not including postage time). You're likely to receive your enhanced disclosure certificate within this time, as long as there are no mistakes or requests for more information.

If you submitted your disclosure application more than 14 days ago, you can contact Disclosure Scotland to check the progress of your application.

Email: response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

Phone: 0300 020 0040
Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm
Find out about call charges

How often you can use an enhanced disclosure certificate

Most employers will ask you to get a new enhanced disclosure certificate, even if you already have one when you are offered the job. This is to ensure the information on your enhanced disclosure certificate is up to date.

Enhanced disclosure certificate number

If you already have an enhanced disclosure but cannot find your certificate and need to know your number you can contact us to ask for this. Your certificate needs to be current.

Email: response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot

Phone: 0300 020 0040
Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm
Find out about call charges