Self-employed and personal employees
Apply for your own check through an umbrella body
If you're self-employed, or employed directly by a private individual to provide services to them or their family, you can apply for a standard or enhanced check through us.
Who can apply
You can apply if your role is a position of regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults. The Department of Health publishes the definitions:
- Regulated activity with children (opens in a new tab)
- Regulated activity with adults (opens in a new tab)
A private tutor working with children or a personal carer providing personal care would usually be eligible. A tradesperson who works in customers' homes usually would not, and can apply for a basic check instead.
We confirm eligibility before countersigning. If your role isn't eligible, we'll tell you and explain your options.
How it works
Tell us what you do
Answer a few short questions about your work and who you work with.Pay by bank
You pay one total covering our service fee and AccessNI's fee, approving it in your own banking app. We then email our PIN and the application link.Apply on nidirect
You apply through your own nidirect account, enter our PIN and upload two identity documents.We verify and countersign
A signatory confirms your role is eligible, checks your application against your identity documents and submits it to AccessNI.You receive your certificate
AccessNI emails you when your digital certificate is in your nidirect account.
Sharing your certificate
Log in to your nidirect account to view your certificate or share it with the people hiring you. They view it through AccessNI's sharing process, which is how they know it's genuine.
If you're hiring someone self-employed, read AccessNI's guide to viewing self-employed workers' and personal employees' certificates (opens in a new tab).
Cost
Tell us about your work
We'll confirm whether you're eligible and what happens next.