Access NI checks will start issuing only Digital Disclosure Certificates from 1st September 2025; paper-based Disclosure Certificates will no longer be issued from that date.
Up to now, applicants could opt to have their disclosure certificates issued to them either in paper or in digital formats and around 60% have been choosing digital. If information was to be disclosed on a certificate, Access NI processes defaulted to issuing a paper version to the applicant. With this move away from paper-based certificates, criminal history information will
appear on digital certificates for the first time.

There are several good reasons why Access NI are making this change:

• Certificates will be available in the applicant’s account as soon as it has been processed
  to allow them to pass on to, for example, an employer or voluntary organisation to
  consider for a speedier recruitment decision.
• The applicant retains control over the certificate by sending a ‘token’ that allows the
  recipient to view the certificate as part of their decision-making process.
• The ‘token’ can be issued as many times and to as many others as the applicant wishes.
• The certificate is retained securely by the applicant in their account.
• Certificates cannot be forged as they are viewed only online via the ‘token,’ increasing
  their trustworthiness.
• Certificates will not be lost, misplaced or mis-delivered by the postal service thus adding
  to the security of the applicant’s information.
• Significant savings will be made through the cutting of the associated costs of issuing
  paper certificates (bespoke paper, envelopes, printing, and postage).

The process and everything you currently need to do remains unchanged