The rule
BS7858:2019 asks for a continuous history over the screening period — at least five years, or back to age 16 if more recent. Any gap of more than 31 days has to be verified with documentary evidence. An explanation on its own is not enough, and the same standard of evidence applies to a five-week gap as to a nine-month one.
The threshold was raised from 28 days in the 2012 edition to 31 days in 2019.
What evidence proves a gap?
Evidence should match the reason for the gap:
| Reason | Typical evidence |
|---|---|
| Unemployed, claiming benefits | DWP or Jobcentre letters; bank statements showing benefit payments |
| Unemployed, not claiming | Job applications, interview invitations, dated offer letters |
| Travel | Travel tickets, visas, passport stamps, overseas bank transactions |
| Education or training | Enrolment letters, certificates, transcripts |
| Parental leave or caring | Child Benefit or Carer’s Allowance letters, birth certificates |
| Volunteering | A letter on the organisation’s letterhead confirming role and dates |
A good rule of thumb is documents dated near the start and the end of the gap, and something from the middle of a longer one.
Why gaps stall cases — and how to avoid it
Most BS7858 delays come from gaps found late: the history is entered, a reviewer spots a missing six weeks, and the candidate is asked for evidence days later. The fix is to detect gaps while the candidate is still entering their history.
Yezda reconciles address and employment history automatically as the candidate fills it in on the app, flags every gap over 31 days straight away, and asks for the right evidence there and then. Your reviewer sees the gap, the explanation and the documents together. See how it works.