Criminal background check

Similar to the Dutch certificate of conduct, the application for a Criminal background check supports risk management. It is not only encouraged by certain legislation and regulations but also by the organisation’s motivation. In certain sectors such as the financial, health care, education, and childcare sector you are obliged by law to demonstrate that a (potential) employee does not have a (international) criminal record. However, it is in your best interest to make sure that the integrity of a (potential) employee is right.

At DISA, you have come to the right place to request a Criminal background check. As with a Dutch certificate of conduct, we similarly assist your organisation where necessary. For example, a (potential) employee will receive an email with specific instructions to request a criminal record. However, how this process proceeds differs per country.

For some countries, a criminal record can be requested online. In this case, DISA will send an email containing the link and instructions so the (potential) employee can complete the online application. A (potential) employee may also have to go to the relevant country’s embassy to arrange the application. In this case, DISA also provides appropriate assistance.

DISA has access to an extensive database of countries where we can request background and criminal record checks. We also have a dedicated team that focus on the application process for international certificates of conduct. They conduct research and ensure that DISA's database is continuously updated.

No country is the same, consequently the processing time for the application of an international criminal record differs per country. Keep in mind that this time may add up significantly. To avoid unnecessary delays in the screening process, DISA creates a preliminary version of the screening report that does not yet include the Criminal background check. This report can be provisionally assessed.

Once the (potential) employee has received the criminal record and uploaded a scan or photo of the original document, it will appear in the personal online account and will be added to the final screening report.

Similarly as with a Dutch certificate of conduct, the costs for an application for a Criminal background check are for the (potential) employee. These costs can vary greatly depending on the country where the document is requested.

When DISA has received a criminal record, its authenticity must be assessed. This may take longer than with a Dutch certificate of conduct because for example, there may be a language barrier for a specific country. In this case, DISA will assign an exclamation mark to this section of the screening report. The authenticity of the document cannot be guaranteed directly and the (potential) employee will be asked to provide a professional translation.

As mentioned above, DISA checks the authenticity of a criminal record. This, for example, is done by looking at the colour, font, and date of issue of the document. However, it remains difficult to make a conclusive judgment when digital documents are concerned.

DISA only ever objectively verifies the data regarding a Criminal background check. If it turns out that a (potential) employee has committed a crime in the past, an exclamation mark will be placed next to this section in the screening report. It remains the employer’s responsibility to determine the consequences of this result.