Guidance

Vetting explained

Updated 14 November 2024

What is national security vetting?

National security vetting helps employers and employees to identify, manage and mitigate risks for roles where national security concerns are a consideration. These include jobs with access to high risk sites, highly classified information or systems. Vetting establishes trust between employers and employees, sometimes through confidential conversations. It is the start of an ongoing dialogue about managing risks, which lasts for as long as a person holds a security clearance.

Who delivers national security vetting?

National security vetting is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), which is part of the Cabinet Office Government Security Group and the Government Security Function. Our staff are culturally sensitive and professional. You can find out more about UKSV here.

What information will I be asked for?

We want to ensure that anyone, irrespective of their background or circumstances, feels able to apply for a security related role and national security clearance. Be assured that information will be gathered in a proportionate, respectful and sensitive way. If you are required to complete a Security Questionnaire, you will need to provide information about your background, family, employment history and where you’ve lived. We need to ask about any criminal convictions, and, for higher levels of clearance, your financial situation and life experiences, to help us understand you as an individual. 

You can find out more on our Demystifying Vetting pages.

Further information on the different levels of national security clearance.

Why will I be asked for this information?

We only ask for information that helps us to identify areas of risk in relation to the level of clearance you are applying for - the process will not make any judgements about you as an individual or your life. Depending on the level of clearance your role requires, in no particular order, we may need to understand:

• Your nationality and any periods of residence or connections overseas, especially in countries that the UK has more challenging relationships with, but mindful that relatively few posts are reserved to UK nationals these days.
• Whether your spending is sustainable, mindful that most of us have debts and credit agreements to manage.
• Your mental and physical wellness, but only so far as it is strictly relevant to risk management. Throughout the process, you will only be asked about any health issues that could impact the security of sensitive assets. By telling us about your health and wellbeing, we can better understand and mitigate any risk if required.
• In the strictest confidence, any aspects of your life or identity that you keep private, but only to understand if there is a risk of somebody using this against you maliciously.
• How you manage family connections, associations and friendships, including who might have a significant influence on you, but only to understand if there is a risk of this influence being inappropriate.
• For civil and crown servants, whether any information you post online publicly is consistent with the civil service code or similar guidance, mindful that most people have a significant social media footprint.

We will only ask and explore what is reasonable and relevant from a security perspective. We will frame and explain our questions to demonstrate that.

A step-by-step guide to the application process for a national security clearance can be found at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant.