Requirements for Garda vetting in Ireland in 2026

Garda Vetting is a criminal background check carried out by the National Vetting Bureau (NVB), which operates under An Garda Síochána. It is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 for anyone who works or volunteers with children or vulnerable adults in Ireland.

Unlike many official procedures, you cannot initiate the vetting process yourself. Your employer or volunteer organisation must be registered with the NVB and must invite you to apply through the official eVetting system. Knowing exactly what to prepare in advance can prevent delays and keep your start date on track.

What this procedure is and what it’s for

Garda Vetting is a statutory check of An Garda Síochána’s records to determine whether a person has any criminal convictions, pending prosecutions or other relevant information that would make them unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.

The procedure applies to:

• Paid employees in roles involving direct, unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults (e.g. teachers, healthcare workers, childcare staff, social workers)
• Volunteers in any organisation that works with children or vulnerable adults
• Individuals seeking certain licences or registrations in regulated sectors

The official body responsible is the National Vetting Bureau (NVB), a division of An Garda Síochána. Applications are always coordinated through registered organisations — individuals cannot apply directly to the NVB. The bureau manages the process at garda.ie/en/vetting/.

Documents required

You will need to provide the following when completing your eVetting application and during the mandatory in-person identity verification with your organisation.

Proof of identity — original required, one of:

• Valid Irish or foreign passport
• Irish driving licence (photo card version)
• National identity card (EU/EEA citizens)
• Irish Residence Permit (non-EEA nationals with permission to remain)

Proof of current address — original or certified copy, one of:

• Utility bill (gas, electricity, broadband) dated within the last three months
• Bank or credit union statement dated within the last three months
• Official correspondence from a government body dated within the last three months

Information required in the online application form:

• Personal Public Service (PPS) number
• Complete address history for the past five years — including addresses outside Ireland
• All previous names (maiden name, legally changed name or any other name you have been known by)
• Date of birth and place of birth

No apostille is required for Irish or English-language documents. If any supporting document is in another language, a certified English translation must be provided alongside the original.

Steps to complete the procedure

The entire process is managed through the eVetting system at vetting.garda.ie. No appointment with An Garda Síochána or the NVB is required; the NVB operates in the background while your organisation coordinates with you directly.

1. Confirm with your employer or volunteer organisation that they are registered with the NVB as a vetting liaison organisation. If they are not yet registered, they must apply at garda.ie/en/vetting/ before they can invite you.
2. The organisation’s vetting liaison officer sends you an invitation by email through the eVetting system.
3. You receive the email, click the invitation link and access your online application form at vetting.garda.ie.
4. You complete the form online, entering your personal details, PPS number, complete five-year address history, all previous names and any other information requested.
5. You present your original identity document in person to an authorised representative of the organisation for verification. This step is mandatory and cannot be completed remotely or by post.
6. The organisation’s vetting liaison officer verifies your identity documents, reviews your completed application and submits it to the NVB.
7. The NVB processes the application and sends a vetting disclosure directly to the organisation.
8. The organisation is legally required to share the content of the disclosure with you before making any employment or volunteering decision based on it.

Estimated processing time: typically 5 to 10 working days from the date the organisation submits the application. During peak periods (such as the start of the academic year), processing may take longer.

Fees and timelines

• Fee: Free of charge. There is no cost to the applicant or the organisation for standard Garda vetting.
• Processing time: Typically 5 to 10 working days from the date the organisation submits the completed application to the NVB. Peak periods can extend this.
• Validity: There is no fixed expiry date on a Garda vetting disclosure. However, organisations are entitled — and often required by their sector regulator — to request updated vetting periodically. Re-vetting every 3 years is common practice in many sectors, though this varies.
• Transferability: A vetting disclosure issued to one organisation cannot be transferred to or used by another. Each new organisation must initiate its own fresh application on your behalf.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Incomplete address history. You must list every address you lived at during the past five years, including addresses outside Ireland. Gaps in your address history cause delays and may require you to resubmit the form.
• Incorrect PPS number. Entering the wrong PPS number stalls processing immediately. Cross-check it against an official document — such as a Revenue notice, social welfare letter or your public services card — before submitting.
• Skipping the in-person identity check. Some applicants complete the online form and assume the process is finished. The mandatory in-person identity verification with the organisation’s liaison officer is a separate, required step that cannot be done remotely.
• Failing to declare previous names. Not listing a maiden name, a legally changed name or any other name you have been known by can cause a records mismatch. Declare every name you have ever used, even if the change was informal.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for Garda vetting without going through an organisation? No. Private individuals cannot apply directly to the NVB. Only registered vetting liaison organisations can initiate the process. If your employer or organisation says they cannot process vetting, they must first register at garda.ie/en/vetting/.

What does the vetting disclosure actually say? The disclosure states whether An Garda Síochána holds any record of convictions, pending prosecutions or specified information relevant to working with children or vulnerable adults. If no record exists, the disclosure states this clearly.

Can I use a vetting disclosure from a previous job at a new organisation? No. Each organisation must initiate its own fresh vetting application for you. A disclosure issued to one organisation is confidential to that organisation and cannot be shared with or transferred to another.

What happens if I have a criminal record? Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. The organisation reviews the disclosure and considers the nature of the offence, its relevance to the role and the time elapsed since the offence. The decision rests with the organisation, not the NVB.

Does Garda vetting cover offences committed outside Ireland? The NVB checks Irish records. However, the application form asks you to declare your full address history, including time spent abroad. For roles involving children or vulnerable adults, some employers additionally require a police clearance certificate from any country where you lived for a significant period. Check with your organisation whether this applies to your role.

What to do right now

The two most important documents to have ready are a valid photo ID (passport, driving licence or national identity card) and proof of address dated within the last three months. You will also need your PPS number and your complete address history for the past five years before you start the online form.

Your first concrete step is to contact your employer or volunteer organisation, confirm they are registered with the NVB and ask them to send you an eVetting invitation via vetting.garda.ie.

Important: Requirements, accepted documents and processing times can change. Always verify the current requirements directly with the National Vetting Bureau at garda.ie/en/vetting/ before submitting your application.