Enhanced disclosure

Last updated: 15 October 2019

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 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 application for you.

Request a paper application form for an enhanced disclosure.

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.

You will not get a refund unless Disclosure Scotland has made an error.

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.