Standard disclosure

Last updated: 15 October 2019

A standard disclosure is used to help employers make sure their employees are suitable for certain types of work.

It can apply to people who:

  • administer the law, such as solicitors or court workers
  • use firearms and explosives licences
  • work as accountants
  • work as actuaries
Standard disclosure is one type of higher level disclosure. Different jobs use other types of disclosure.

Information included in a standard disclosure

A standard disclosure shows criminal history information from UK records, including:

The certificate will show if there are no convictions to disclose.

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

Applying for standard disclosure

If you need a standard disclosure, you'll apply through your employer or another registered body on their behalf. They'll give you a paper form to complete which they then send back to Disclosure Scotland. If you need a paper form, you can ask for it to be posted to you.

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

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

Cost of standard disclosure

A standard disclosure costs £25. This is paid 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 does it take?

90% of disclosure applications are completed within 14 days (not including postage time). You should receive your certificate within this time if there are no mistakes or requests for further information.