The table lists the checks we have documented, who can use each, and the guide that explains it. Where no public check exists we say so. Details were checked on 5 October 2026.
- A driving licence check code is valid for 21 days and works once.
- An immigration status share code lasts 90 days and can be reused within that time.
- The NMC register is public and free to search, and shows nurses removed or suspended since January 2008.
- HEDD checks degrees for employers, not for graduates, and tracks 471 recognised UK institutions and 243 bogus ones.
The checks, one by one
| Document | Official check | Who uses it | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving licence | GOV.UK check code (valid 21 days) and the last 8 characters of the licence number | The holder creates the code; an employer or hire firm checks | Check a licence |
| Penalty points | GOV.UK driving record service | The holder | Check your points |
| Driver CPC hours | Online hours check on GOV.UK | The driver and employer | Driver CPC check |
| CSCS card | CSCS Smart Check: website, app or API | Anyone, including site managers | Smart Check |
| ECS electrician card | ECS website checker, ECS Check app or Smart Check | Employers and clients | ECS cards |
| SIA licence | The SIA public register of licence holders | Employers and clients | Employer duty |
| DBS certificate | See the original; Update Service status check with permission | Employers | DBS certificate |
| UK degree | HEDD, with the candidate’s consent | Employers | HEDD |
| Nurse or midwife | NMC register, by PIN or name | Anyone | NMC register |
| IELTS result | IELTS Results Verification Service | Recognising organisations, not individuals | IELTS results |
| Immigration status | Share code from the GOV.UK status service (valid 90 days) | Holder creates it; employer or landlord uses it | Share codes |
| Birth, marriage or death certificate | No public online check found; ask the issuing register office | Authorities | Fake certificates |
| Passport | No public check; a lost or stolen passport is reported on GOV.UK | The holder | Lost passport |
We have not yet documented the steps for checking a doctor on the GMC register, because the GMC’s site was not accessible to our researchers when we first wrote this page. Search it directly on gmc-uk.org.
What each check tells you, and what it does not
| Check | What you need | What it shows | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving licence check | The last 8 characters of the licence number and a check code from the driver | Vehicles the driver may drive, plus penalty points or disqualifications | You must have the driver’s permission. GOV.UK says obtaining someone’s personal information without permission is a criminal offence, and a code can be used only once. A postal request costs £5. |
| NMC register | A PIN, or a first and last name; first name alone does not work | Active registration, active with restrictions or cautions, or suspended or removed since January 2008 | Covers nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Raising a concern goes through a separate route. |
| HEDD | A free account approved within 1 working day, the candidate’s consent and a fee from £14 | Institution, qualification, grades and attendance dates | Not for graduates verifying their own award. The university must be covered by HEDD. |
| Share code | The code and the holder’s date of birth | Some personal details and the right to work, rent or claim benefits | Lasts 90 days, so a code from months ago is not proof of today’s status. |
| DBS certificate | The original paper certificate, or Update Service status with permission | The check type the certificate was issued for | DBS says copies and digital photographs are not acceptable. A check has no official expiry date. |
Which check applies to you?
- You are an employer taking on someone: a driving licence check code, a share code, the NMC register or HEDD, depending on the role, and the original DBS certificate. Get the candidate’s permission each time.
- You are a landlord or letting agent: a share code for right to rent. See right to rent checks.
- You are a member of the public hiring a nurse, or checking a card: the NMC register is open to anyone, as is CSCS Smart Check.
- You are the holder: create your own check codes and share codes on GOV.UK. Nobody else needs to create them for you.
Two-minute check habit
- Start from the official service, never from a link in a message.
- Ask for the identifier the check uses: a licence number, PIN or share code.
- Run the check yourself rather than accepting a screenshot of a result.
- If the record and the document disagree, ask the issuer, not the person who gave you the document.
A rule that holds across all of them
If a seller offers to “register” a document for you, no official check will ever confirm it. A genuine record is created by the issuing body, after the process the guides describe, not by a seller. CSCS says visual inspection will not detect cards that are fake, revoked or fraudulently obtained, and the same principle applies to every document here.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check any UK document online?
Many, but not all. Driving licences, CSCS cards, nurses and UK degrees have official checks. Birth certificates and passports have no public online check that we found.
Is looking at the card enough to check it?
No. CSCS says visual inspection will not detect cards that are fake, revoked or fraudulently obtained, and the same principle applies to other documents.
How long is a driving licence check code valid?
21 days, and it can be used once, according to GOV.UK. You also need the last 8 characters of the licence number, and the driver's permission.
Can a graduate use HEDD to prove their own degree?
No. HEDD says it is not for graduates to verify their own awards. Employers, agencies, universities, embassies and councils use it, with the candidate's consent.
How do I check a nurse is registered?
Search the NMC register by PIN, or by first and last name together. It shows whether registration is active, active with restrictions, or suspended or removed since January 2008.
What do I do if a check does not match the document?
Ask the issuing body, not the person who showed you the document. Do not accept a screenshot in place of running the check, and report suspected fraud using the contacts on the report a scam page.