When you apply for your TfL DBS check as part of a private hire licence application, you have to prove your identity with original documents. The DBS accepts documents in three groups, and which combination you need depends on what you can provide. Most applicants simply show one document from Group 1 (a current passport or UK photocard driving licence covers most people). This guide lists every accepted document and what to do if you fall outside that. For the application steps around it, see our TfL DBS check guide.
The one rule that causes the most delays
Before we get to the lists: TfL requires all given names on your licence to match your official identity documents, and its expectation is that your documents show consistent spelling in the correct order. If your passport says one thing and your driving licence another, sort that out before you start, because mismatches slow the application down.
What you'll need
- You must provide at least one document from Group 1.
If you cannot provide a Group 1 document, you will need to:
- Submit one Group 2a document,
- Provide two additional supporting documents (from the groups below), and
- Consent to an external ID validation check.
Group 1 documents
- Current valid passport
- Current UK driving licence (photocard)
- Birth certificate
- Biometric Residence Permit (UK)
Group 2a documents
- UK birth certificate
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate (UK)
- HM Forces ID Card (UK)
- Valid firearms licence (UK)
Group 2b documents
Group 2b documents must be recent. These ones need to be dated within the last 3 months:
- Bank or building society statement (UK)
- Bank or building society opening confirmation letter (UK)
- Credit card statement (UK)
- Utility bill, electric, gas or water (UK)
These are accepted if dated within the last 12 months:
- Mortgage statement (UK)
- P45 or P60 statement (UK)
- Council tax statement (UK)
DBS document FAQs
What if I don't have a passport or UK driving licence?
You can still complete the check without a Group 1 document, but the route is stricter: one Group 2a document, two further supporting documents, and you must consent to an external ID validation check. If you have any way to get a Group 1 document (a current passport, for example), that is the simpler path.
How recent do my documents need to be?
Group 2b documents (bank statements, utility bills and similar) must be dated within the last 3 months, though mortgage statements, P45/P60 and council tax statements are accepted up to 12 months old. Group 1 and Group 2a documents need to be current or valid.
Do I need to show original documents?
Yes. The ID verification happens at a Post Office, where you present the barcoded sheet from your online application together with your original documents. Copies are not accepted.
Where do the documents fit into the DBS application?
You choose your verification documents during the online application, then have them checked in person at the Post Office within 30 days. The full sequence, fees and what happens afterwards are covered in our TfL DBS check guide, and our PCO licence guide shows where the DBS stage sits in the wider application.