When you’ve found someone promising, the last thing you want is to lose them to a faster offer. Background checks are essential for smart hiring, but they can feel like a bottleneck when you’re working against the clock.
The good news? With Dots360, you’ll always know what’s happening, how long it’ll take, and what to expect next. Here’s a breakdown of each type of background check, plus realistic timelines to help plan your next hire like a pro.
Speed vs accuracy: What impacts turnaround times
Every day counts in a competitive hiring market, but speed shouldn’t come at the cost of accuracy. A background check is only useful if it’s thorough, compliant, and up-to-date. A few key factors can affect how quickly results come through:
- Data source: Some verifications rely on third parties (like universities or employers) who may take time to respond
- Candidate input: Some checks need consent or supporting documents before they can begin
Process type: Instant checks are automated; others rely on human follow-up.
How long does each background check take?
Criminal background checks help you flag serious risks before they become workplace problems. Dots360 uses AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) to match digital fingerprints against verified national databases.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Standard Criminal Record Check: 1 working day
Fast, secure check to confirm whether an individual has a criminal record on file.
- SAPS69 Report: 2–6 weeks
A more detailed criminal history report, often required for immigration or legal purposes.
- Fraud Check (SAFPS): Real-time
Flags whether the individual is listed for fraud with the South African Fraud Prevention Service.
Not everyone is who they claim to be. Identity verification confirms that a candidate’s personal details are legitimate, helping you prevent fraud, protect your reputation, and stay POPIA-compliant.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Identity Check & Verification: Real-time
- Identity Check & Verification Plus: Real-time
- Citizenship Verification: Real-time
- HA Verification (Deceased/Alive Status): Real-time
- Permanent Residency Verification: Real-time
- SA Visa Verification: 5–10 business days
- Asylum Permit Verification: Real-time
- Passport Validation: Real-time
From local matric certificates to international degrees, Dots360 verifies the credibility of academic claims and candidate qualifications directly with the issuing institutions, so you can hire with confidence.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Matric Post ’92 (Umalusi): 1 business day
- Matric Pre ’92 (DBE): 7–21 business days
- TVET and SA Teachers College Qualifications: 7–21 business days
- RSA Qualification (Universities): 5 business days
- Africa Qualification (Universities, excl. RSA): 7–21 business days
- Global Qualifications: 7–21 business days
Resumes can be polished, but work history and references tell the real story. Employment checks help validate a candidate’s past roles, assess character, and confirm professional memberships.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Employment History & Character Reference Check: 2–3 business days
- Personal Character Reference Check: 2–3 business days
- Professional Association Membership Check: 2–3 business days
Need to run reference checks, too? RefEasy, Dots360’s built-in reference checking tool, automates the process with fraud detection and convenient feedback options
Especially important for roles that involve money, assets, or sensitive decision-making, credit checks give you a clearer view of a candidate’s financial responsibility. Dots360 pulls verified reports from top credit bureaus (always with candidate consent).
Checks available through Dots360:
- TransUnion Credit Check: Real-time
- Experian Credit Check: Real-time
- XDS Credit Check: Real-time
- Combined Consumer Credit Check: Real-time
Pulls data from 3 credit bureaus for a more complete financial picture.
Hiring someone to get behind the wheel? Licence and vehicle checks confirm that candidates are licensed and that the vehicles they use are legal, roadworthy, and properly registered.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Driving Licence Check: Real-time
- Professional Driving Licence Check: Real-time
- Vehicle Information Check: Real-time
- Vehicle Title Holder Information Check: Real-time
Before you pay a salary or process sensitive financial data, make sure the account details match the person or business you’re hiring. These checks help prevent fraud, reduce admin errors, and keep your transactions secure.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Individual Account Verification: Real-time
- Business Account Verification: Real-time
Online behaviour can reveal more than an interview ever will. Social media checks offer a well-rounded view of how candidates present themselves publicly, helping you assess culture fit and flagging potential reputational or behavioural risks before they impact your brand.
Checks available through Dots360:
- Basic Social Media Background Check (Basic): 3 business days
Candidate summary, risk score, and detailed summary - Standard Social Media Background Check: 3 business days
Includes platform scores and behavioural insights - Full Social Media Background Check: 3 business days
Includes screenshots and deeper behavioural analysis
Corporate High Profile Check: 3 business days
Includes deep web search, extended associations, and article links
What Dots360 does differently
Accurate background checks shouldn’t slow down smart hiring; that’s why we’ve designed our platform to cut down on admin, eliminate guesswork, and help your hiring process stay on track. Here’s what makes the process even smoother with Dots360:
- Live status updates: Know exactly where each check stands without following up or digging for details.
- Professional, downloadable reports: Get audit-ready, compliant PDFs you can download, store, or share with your team or clients.
- Built-in consent management: Capture and store candidate consent securely to keep your process POPIA-aligned.
Pay-per-check pricing: Only pay for what you need, when you need it. No subscriptions or hidden costs.
Knowing what each background check involves and how long they take means fewer delays, fewer surprises, and more confident hiring decisions. Whether you’re filling a single role or scaling a team, Dots360 gives you the speed, clarity, and control to keep things moving smoothly.Ready to make background checks the easiest part of your hiring process? Get started with Dots360 today, and explore more tips and tools by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X.
