If you want to operate a care service in Scotland you must, by law, register with the Care Inspectorate. 

Before applying to register a service

Before you apply to register a care service you must make sure you have read and understood the associated guidance and legislation.  

Every registered care service must continuously meet the requirements of: 

• the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 
• the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Registration) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/28)
• the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Applications) Order 2011 (SSI 2011/29)
• the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/210)
• the Health and Social Care Standards
• any other legislation relevant to your service.

Fees 

Care services must pay fees to be registered with us. The maximum limit is set by Scottish Ministers. The fees we collect contribute to our operating costs.

We charge a fee for registering a new service and an annual continuation fee. The annual continuation fee licenses a care service to operate.

All application fees are non-returnable.

To find out more about our fees click here.

What to expect from the registration process

You can now apply to register a care service online, using our new, secure system. The online application is simple to complete and only asks you questions that are relevant to your service type.

You can manage your application easily. You can save it as you go and return to it later so you can complete and submit at your own pace. You can go back to previous stages to check, change and add to your application. The new application allows you to upload supporting documents and pay your application fee.

Read our guidance online registraiton application form - your guide. 

We aim to assess applications for a childminding service within three months and all other services within six months. However, this presumes that you supply us with a competent and fully detailed application, as well as any additional information we request. It is in your interest to give us all the information we ask for in the application form to prevent any delays or the risk of us closing or refusing your application.

Once you have submitted your application, our national registration team will check:

• the information you have given us
• whether the provider is fit to provide the service
• whether the manager is fit to manage the service
• that the proposed premises are fit to be used for that purpose
• that the service will make all the proper provisions for the health, welfare, independence, choice, privacy and dignity of everyone using the service.

We may also check the financial viability of the service. Any information we ask for during the registration process is in accordance with the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Read our applying to register a care service - guidance for applicants. 

For more information about registering a service (other than childminding) click here. [LINK TO REGISTER A CARE SERVICE (OTHER THAN CM) PAGE].

For more information about registering a childminding service click here. [LINK TO REGISTER A CM SERVICE PAGE].

If you are unclear about the kind of service you want to apply for, click here to see the definitions of care services which must be registered with us.

For general advice about registering a care service you can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Create an account to begin your application. 

Sign in to see an existing application [LINK].

If you require the application form in an alternative format, please call our contact centre on 0345 600 9527.

Related documents

Online registraiton application form - your guide

Applying to register a care service - guidance for applicants

Inspection quality frameworks

Self-evaluation for improvement – your guide

What is the widget?

The widget is a logo with some coding behind it that can be displayed on any website. Each registered care service has its own widget to connect directly to its own information pages on the Care Inspectorate website.

So, if you are a care service and you want to show your website visitors that you are registered with us, you can download the widget and display it on your website. When your website visitors click on the widget, a new window will open that displays the Care Inspectorate information page for your service. Your own webpage will still be open.

Who can use the widget?

Anyone can use the widget, but they must abide by our terms and conditions, which are at the bottom of this page.

How do I download the widget?

Go to the information page for your service, on this website.

Click on the ‘Care Inspectorate Registered Widget’ tab in the menu bar on the left.

Follow the instructions. You may need to ask your website administrator, hosting provider or website developer to help you.

Add the embed code to your website where you want it to appear. For example, in a footer, a sidebar and so on.

The widget code will work on your website straight away.

Troubleshooting

This is a simple and straightforward piece of coding and should not cause issues. If you do have difficulty, first contact your web administrator. If your web administrator is unable to resolve the issue, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Terms and conditions

You can use the widget:

• In relation to any care service registered by the Care Inspectorate

You cannot:

• use it in any way that would deliberately mislead people
• modify it in any way
• use it any way that would bring the Care Inspectorate into disrepute
• sell it or sublicence it
• use it in any way that could intentionally damage or overburden the Care Inspectorate website
• put anything around the widget that implies that the Care Inspectorate endorses you or your service.

Other conditions of use

The widget is designed to be used in conjunction with the Care Inspectorate website. Accordingly, use of the widget is also governed by our website's core privacy notice.

Disclaimer of warranties

We make our best efforts to make sure the widget is always available and provides accurate information, but it is provided 'as is', with no warranties.

Limitation of liability

The Care Inspectorate disclaims any responsibility for any harm resulting from your use of the widget.

You understand and agree that you access and/or use the widget at your own discretion and risk, and that you will be solely responsible for any damages to your computer system or loss of data that results from accessing or using the widget.