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Garda Vetting

Please be advised that Irish Amateur Wrestling Association has received updated guidance from the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) regarding the validation of identity and consent documents for vetting applications. These updates are compulsory for all relevant organisations, including the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association and our affiliate clubs.

  • Changes apply to all vetting forms from 1 August 2025.

These changes from the GNVB can be viewed here.

Below is a summary of key updates and what this means for your club.

Summary of GNVB Vetting Guidance (Version 2 – 2025)

1. New Requirements for the NVB1 Form

  • Handwritten (wet) signature required only (digital signatures are not accepted).
  • Role on form must clearly match IAWA definitions of relevant work.
  • All sections of the form must be completed in full.
  • Forms older than 6 months will not be accepted.
  • For under-18s, a parent/guardian email and contact number must be provided in the email and contact field.
  • All applicants will be required to provide documents to validate their identity.
  • If the applicant is under 18 years of age, a completed NVB3 Parent/Guardian Consent Form must be provided. Please note that where the applicant is under 18 years of age the electronic correspondence will issue to the parent/guardian. This being the case, the applicant must provide their parent/guardian's email address on the NVB1 form.

2. ID Validation Must Be Done In-Person

  • Copies of ID/address documents must be validated by your Club Child Protection Officer (CPO) who physically viewed the original.
  • Validator must include their name, position, club, and validation date.
  • The club CPO can appoint extra validators in the club to assist in this role.
  • These can be members from club exec. or coach/team manager but must be notified to the IAWA.

3. Accepted Proof of ID & Address

  • Strict document rules apply (see updated Identity Document Schedule).
  • Bank statements must come from recognised institutions (not Revolut, etc.).
  • Only utility bills from approved services are accepted (e.g. electricity, broadband).
  • Under-18s must provide a birth cert and school/college letter for ID/address.

4. Retention Rules

  • NVB1 forms (hard copy) must be retained for at least 6 months by the club (soft copy after this point). IAWA may request these hard copies for auditing purposes.
  • Copies of ID/address documents must be retained while the individual is active (soft copies only).
  • All records for inactive members must be securely destroyed within 12 months of departure.

Required Club Actions

  1. Cease Use of Old Forms & Checklists
    • Effective immediately, do not use any older IAWA vetting forms or the former 100-point checklist.
    • These will be removed from the IAWA website shortly to prevent confusion.
  2. Implement In-Person Verification for Vetting
    • All vetting applications must now comply with the new document validation standards.
  3. Ensure Compliance for Future Audits
    • GNVB has advised that all affiliate bodies, including the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association, will be audited in the near future.
    • Clubs must maintain a consistent and auditable process for vetting validation and record retention.

Legal Requirement & Further Information

It is very important that all persons wishing to be Garda vetted read the information outlined below before continuing with the Garda e-vetting process (outlined below).

Further information can be found on the National Vetting Bureau website – vetting.garda.ie.

It is a legal requirement that all staff, paid and voluntary, who work regularly with children and/or vulnerable adults must undergo the Garda Vetting process (National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Adults) Act 2012 to 2016).

An individual may not commence working/volunteering with children or vulnerable adults as a member of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association until their Garda Vetting has been completed and the results conveyed to the Liaison person. It is an offence to start a person in such activities before their Garda Vetting has been satisfactorily completed. A full list of who should be vetted can be found in our e‑vetting FAQ section.

All those who are seeking Garda e‑Vetting under the organisation of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association must be registered members of the Irish Amateur Wrestling Association for the years that they are being vetted.

Key Resources

eVetting – Step by Step Guide

Step 1

  • The applicant (vetting subject) completes the IAWA eVetting Invitation & ID Validation Form.
  • The applicant presents this form, along with their original identification documents, to their Club Children's Officer (CCO) or another IAWA appointed validator.
  • The CCO/validator checks the original documents, takes photocopies, signs them, and completes the ID Validation section of the form.
  • The signed form and photocopied ID are posted to:
    IAWA Garda Vetting Unit
    15 The Haven, Tower Cross
    Mornington, Co. Meath, A92 H9Y2

Step 2

  • Once received, the IAWA processes the form and submits it to the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB).
  • The GNVB emails the applicant a link to the online eVetting Application Form.
  • This email is valid for 30 days. If you do not respond within this period, it will expire, and you will need to restart the process from the start.

Step 3

  • The applicant completes and submits the online eVetting Application Form.

Step 4

  • The IAWA Liaison Person reviews the completed application and forwards it to the GNVB for processing.

Step 5

  • The GNVB processes the application and issues a vetting disclosure to the IAWA Liaison Person.

Step 6

  • The IAWA reviews the disclosure and responds to the applicant as soon as possible.