Overseas employers in teaching, healthcare, childcare, finance, security and other regulated sectors regularly request a legalised criminal record certificate from Scottish applicants. If you were registered in Scotland, the relevant document is a Disclosure Scotland certificate - not a DBS certificate, which covers England and Wales, and not an ACRO Police Certificate, which covers the full UK. If the receiving authority has asked for a Scottish criminal record check, Disclosure Scotland is the correct document.
When a legalised Disclosure Scotland certificate is required
An apostilled Disclosure Scotland certificate is most commonly required for overseas employment in teaching, nursing, childcare, care work, or security roles; work visa and long-term residency applications; immigration background checks; volunteering placements overseas; registration with foreign professional bodies; adoption processes outside the UK; university placements or internships abroad; and security vetting in certain foreign jurisdictions.
Accepted formats - simpler than most people expect
Disclosure Scotland has a clear format rule depending on which version of the certificate you have. If the original certificate carries a wet-ink signature from an official of the issuing authority and a date of issuing, it can be submitted directly to the FCDO for apostille without any further preparation. If the original certificate does not carry a wet-ink signature - even if it is the original document - it must first be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before it can be submitted to the FCDO. In both cases, only the original certificate is accepted. Photocopies, printouts and digital copies are not accepted under any circumstances regardless of format.
If your original certificate is unavailable
If the original has been lost or is no longer in a condition suitable for submission, a replacement must be obtained directly from Disclosure Scotland before legalisation can proceed. Do not attempt to submit a photocopy - it will be rejected at the FCDO without exception.
Hague and non-Hague destinations
For Hague Apostille Convention member countries, the apostille is the final step. For countries outside the Convention embassy attestation is required after the apostille. Confirm the requirements of your destination before submitting your certificate. Call our team on +44 (0) 204 646 9500 to manage the process.