DRO Register: What It Is and Who Can See It

What the Debt Relief Order Register Is

When a Debt Relief Order (DRO) is approved, the Insolvency Service adds the applicant's details to a publicly searchable database called the Individual Insolvency Register. This register covers DROs, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), and bankruptcies across England and Wales. Anyone with an internet connection can search it at no cost.

For someone considering a DRO, understanding the register is an important part of knowing what the process involves. The entry is not hidden or restricted — it appears alongside other types of formal insolvency proceedings and remains visible for a set period after the DRO ends.

What Information Appears on the Register

According to GOV.UK, a standard DRO entry on the Individual Insolvency Register includes the following details about the person subject to the order:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Last known address (or trading name if self-employed)
• The date the DRO was made
• The name of the official receiver handling the case
• The current status of the DRO (whether it is active, revoked, or completed)

The register does not publish the specific debts included in the DRO, the names of creditors, or the total amount owed. It records that an order exists and its current status — not the full financial picture behind it.

How Long a DRO Stays on the Register

A DRO typically lasts for a moratorium period of 12 months. During this period, qualifying creditors cannot chase the person for payment and no action can be taken against them for the listed debts. Once the 12 months end without the DRO being revoked, the debts are written off.

The entry on the Individual Insolvency Register remains visible for 15 months from the date the DRO was made — that is, 12 months of the moratorium plus a further 3 months after it ends. After 15 months, the Insolvency Service removes the entry from the public-facing register automatically.

If the DRO is revoked before the 12-month period is complete — for example, because the person's financial situation improved or information was found to be inaccurate — the register is updated to show the revocation date and reason. Revoked DRO entries are also removed from the public register in due course, though the timing differs from a completed order.

Who Can Search the Register

The Individual Insolvency Register is a public document. There is no restriction on who can search it — employers, landlords, credit reference agencies, lenders, and members of the public can all conduct a search. In practice, the people most likely to search the register include:

• Credit reference agencies — which use the register to update credit files. A DRO will appear on a person's credit report for 6 years from the date it was made, which is longer than the register entry itself.
• Lenders and banks — when assessing applications for credit, mortgages, or bank accounts during and after the DRO period.
• Landlords — some carry out insolvency checks as part of tenant referencing.
• Employers in certain regulated sectors — some professional roles (for example, in financial services or legal practice) have restrictions connected to formal insolvency proceedings.

It is worth noting that the register search only returns results if someone actively searches for a named individual. The Insolvency Service does not proactively notify employers, landlords, or neighbours. The entry is publicly available but not broadcast.

The DRO Register and Credit Files — The Distinction

There is an important difference between the Individual Insolvency Register and a person's credit report. The register entry lasts 15 months and is then removed. The credit file entry, however, lasts for 6 years from the date the DRO was approved — regardless of when the DRO ends or is discharged.

This means that even after the register entry disappears, credit reference agencies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion will continue to show the DRO on the person's credit history until the 6-year period is up. During those 6 years, access to mainstream credit — including most mortgages, personal loans, and standard credit cards — will typically be affected.

Some people find that a DRO is still the most practical route available to them given their financial circumstances, even with the credit file implications. The formal description of how a DRO affects credit is set out on GOV.UK alongside the eligibility criteria and application process.

Eligibility for a DRO: The Key Criteria

A DRO is a formal debt relief tool available in England and Wales, administered by the Insolvency Service through approved intermediaries. According to GOV.UK, to qualify for a DRO a person must currently meet all of the following conditions:

• Total qualifying debt of no more than £50,000 (this threshold was raised in June 2024)
• Surplus income of no more than £75 per month after reasonable household expenses
• Assets worth no more than £2,000 in total (excluding a motor vehicle worth up to £4,000 in certain circumstances, and some other exempt assets)
• Not have had a DRO in the last 6 years
• Not currently be involved in another formal insolvency procedure
• Have lived or worked in England or Wales within the last 3 years

The £90 application fee that previously applied to DROs was scrapped in June 2024 under changes introduced by the Insolvency Service. Applications are made through an approved intermediary — a regulated debt adviser — rather than directly to the Insolvency Service. The intermediary checks eligibility, completes the application, and submits it on the applicant's behalf.

The June 2024 changes to the debt limit (raised from £30,000 to £50,000) and the removal of the application fee were significant. According to the Insolvency Service, these changes were expected to make DROs accessible to a substantially larger number of people in financial difficulty.

What Happens After the Moratorium Ends

If a DRO runs for the full 12-month moratorium without being revoked, all qualifying debts listed in the order are legally written off. Creditors included in the DRO cannot pursue those debts after discharge, and the person is no longer liable for them.

The restrictions that apply during the moratorium — including being unable to obtain credit of more than £500 without disclosing the DRO, and being unable to act as a company director — also lift at the end of the 12 months. A small number of additional restrictions can be extended through a Debt Relief Restrictions Order (DRRO) if misconduct is found, but this applies to a minority of cases.

After discharge, the register entry remains visible for a further 3 months before being removed. The person can begin rebuilding their financial position, though the credit file impact continues for the remainder of the 6-year period. Some lenders do offer products specifically designed for people with a formal insolvency in their recent history, though terms will typically differ from standard products.

How to Search the Register

The Individual Insolvency Register can be searched at gov.uk/search-the-register. Searches can be made by name and optionally filtered by date of birth or postcode to narrow results. The register is updated by the Insolvency Service, typically within a short period of a new order being made or a status changing.

Someone who wants to check whether their own entry has been removed after the 15-month period can search for their own name on the register at any time. There is no cost to do so and no account is required.

Anyone who believes their entry contains an error — for example, an incorrect address or date — can contact the Insolvency Service directly. The process for querying or correcting register information is set out on GOV.UK.