United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant

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Levels of national security clearance

If your role working for the government or an industry partner requires access to sensitive information, assets or equipment, you will need to hold a valid security clearance.

There are 5 main levels of national security clearance:

Accreditation Check (AC)
Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
Level 1B
Security Check (SC)
Developed Vetting (DV)

For further information on the levels of clearance, who needs clearance and what checks are carried out, please see United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels

You must also undergo a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before you start your security cleared role, unless you are undergoing the Accreditation Check. BPSS is not a national security clearance and is not carried out by UKSV. However, the rigorous and consistent application of BPSS underpins the national security vetting process. Please see the linked BPSS guidance for further details.

Vetting explained

To hold security clearance you must go through a process called national security vetting. This is a series of background checks which will assess your suitability to have access to sensitive information, assets and equipment.

In addition to the guidance on this page, you can find further information about the process on our Vetting Explained page. We are aware that applicants may have some concerns and preconceptions about the process. Our Demystifying Vetting page helps to address these.

Vetting charter

Our vetting charter also provides information on what you can expect during the vetting process, as well as your responsibilities as an applicant and a clearance holder.

Applying for or renewing security clearance

This section is not applicable to applicants undergoing an Accreditation Check (AC).

First, you need a sponsor, who is usually your human resources officer or company security controller. Your sponsor must confirm that your role requires security clearance and that they have carried out the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Once these checks have been made, your sponsor will create your clearance application and you will receive a link to fill out a security questionnaire.

If you are a civil servant or serving in HM Forces, your sponsor will be allocated once it is decided that you need clearance to carry out your role.

If you are contracting into a role which requires security clearance, then the organisation which owns the requirement for clearance will act as your sponsor and administer your application. Further guidance for contractors and consultants.

Being security cleared does not provide a guarantee of future reliability. All security clearances are kept under review to ensure that the necessary level of assurance is maintained. This review is carried out by those government departments and government- sponsored contractors who are responsible for the oversight and aftercare of individuals granted a security clearance.

UKSV acts on the instruction of your sponsoring authority to process your security clearance application. Security clearance is not owned by you as an individual, your sponsoring authority will own the security clearance. So it is their responsibility to inform UKSV if you no longer need a security clearance for your role, or have left the organisation.

Activating your NSVS portal account and submitting your security questionnaire

This section is not applicable to applicants undergoing an Accreditation Check.

Guidance on how to activate your NSVS Portal account, access, complete and submit your security questionnaire, and submit an Aftercare Incident Report (AIR) can be found in the guidance documents on the page UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants.

Next steps after you have submitted your security questionnaire

This section is not applicable to applicants undergoing an Accreditation Check

Cross-checks

Once you have submitted your security questionnaire, we will carry out cross-checks appropriate to the level of security clearance applied for. These may include checks against crime and security databases, with credit reference agencies and with your referees and supervisors.

Requests for further information

Occasionally, we may need to contact you by telephone, email or post to clarify information provided to us or request further information relevant to your circumstances. If you have provided more than one email address in your application, make sure you check each account regularly so that you can respond to any requests in a timely manner. If you do not respond to a request for further information, your application may be cancelled.

We strongly advise that you provide a work email address as your primary email address where possible. These are likely to have a higher level of security than a personal email account. If you have a work address ending in gov.uk, please provide this, as it will have a high level of assurance for the secure sending and receiving of sensitive and personal information.

Progress updates

The vetting process includes a range of mandatory checks and enquiries involving different agencies, which occasionally results in delays outside of UKSV’s control. If you need an update on the progress of your application, please contact your sponsor. Every security clearance application is unique and can take varying amounts of time to complete. The UKSV Helpdesk is unable to provide exact timescales for your application to be completed.

Level 1B

UKSV is currently working on a transformation of national security vetting. The aim of this transformation is to improve the applicant experience throughout the vetting process. From the 31st October 2022, Level 1B was introduced as part of this transformation work.

The vetting interview

An interview is a routine step for some levels of National Security Vetting. We know that the interview can be a source of concern for applicants. Please be assured that all Vetting Clearance Officers are highly trained and treat all applicants with respect. They will not be making any moral judgments about you during the course of the interview.

All Vetting Clearance Officers are trained to the same high standards and will treat all applicants with respect, regardless of their background.

If you would feel more comfortable speaking to someone of the same sex as you, then please let us know via the UKSV Helpdesk and we will try to arrange this. If you are under 18 and require a vetting interview you will always be offered a Vetting Clearance Officer of the same sex.

Arranging an interview

One of our Vetting Clearance Officers will contact you directly to arrange your interview, if one is required. They may call you from an unknown phone number or email address. Regularly check for any messages you have received to any phone numbers or email addresses which you have supplied during your NSV application process. Please make sure you also check your junk or spam email folders.

You will be contacted in advance of the interview about any supporting documentation you need to provide. You will be sent a secure link by email which will enable you to upload these documents to UKSV.

It is important that you feel as comfortable as possible in your interview. Please read the guide to reasonable adjustments for vetting applicants in advance of the interview. All reasonable adjustments are considered and supported where possible.

Interviews usually last for about three hours, but can sometimes take longer. They usually take place during normal working hours. Most interviews are conducted virtually, through a video call. Some interviews are conducted face to face. If this applies to your interview then your Vetting Clearance Officer will let you know. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted at the most appropriate Cabinet Office location to you, which the Vetting Clearance Officer will discuss with you. In exceptional circumstances, for example as a reasonable adjustment, it may be possible to have your interview at your home address.

Under certain circumstances UKSV may consider requests for another person, such as a friend, colleague or relative to attend a vetting interview with you, as a reasonable adjustment. Please refer to the guidance on reasonable adjustments. This can only be considered if you feel able to discuss sensitive personal topics with them present and relevant safeguards to the security of the process can be arranged. They must be over 18 and must not influence or restrict the interview in any way.

Interview format

If you are required to attend an interview, this will cover all aspects of your life. At the interview, the Vetting Clearance Officer will build as complete a picture of you as possible. The purpose of this is to make an informed assessment that you will be able to cope with access to sensitive information or assets at the highest levels and will not become a security risk and a threat to national security.

Key themes include:

your loyalty, honesty and reliability, and identifying any vulnerabilities that could lead you to being bribed or blackmailed
your wider family background (relationships and influences)
past experiences of drug taking (if any)
financial affairs
general political views
foreign travel
hobbies

If you are asked to attend an interview in relation to a CTC, Level 1B or SC application, the interview will usually cover a specific area of your life, but may extend to include questions asked in a full DV interview.

How to approach the interview

Be completely honest.

The interview will be very searching, but it is not an interrogation and should not feel like one. Some of the questions will be intrusive but are asked because we are trying to find out if you are vulnerable to pressure. If you have any concerns about the relevance of any of the questions, please ask your Vetting Clearance Officer and they will explain why they are asking the question.

Sometimes people have aspects of their lives that they are ashamed or embarrassed to tell us about. Usually these are of little or no security significance. They will generally not stop or restrict the granting of a security clearance.

The Vetting Clearance Officer is not there to make moral judgements about your experiences or circumstances. Their role is to assess any potential security risks. It is essential therefore that you are open and honest at all stages of the interview process.

We may refuse your clearance, or subsequently withdraw it, if we later find out that you have lied or withheld information.

Supervisors and referees

UKSV will contact the most appropriate supervisors and referees who you have nominated on your security questionnaire, who will be required to provide information to us. This may be in the form of an interview or a written testimony.

It is important to make sure your supervisors and referees are aware that they may be contacted and that you have provided their most up to date contact details.

Documents you need for interview

You will be contacted by UKSV in advance of your interview. We will explain what documents you will need to provide to us in support of your interview and the process for submitting these. These may include:

General documents:

evidence of identification, for example: birth certificate, passport (also required as evidence of travel), driving licence, identity card
deed poll or certificate of declaration in respect of any change of name
naturalisation or registration certificate
adoption certificate
marriage certificate / civil partnership documents
conditional order, decree nisi, final order or decree absolute
separation or maintenance orders
HM Forces (HMF) discharge certificate

Financial documents:

bank statements for any current accounts (last three months)
statements for credit, charge and store cards (last three months)
statements for mail order accounts (last three months)
details and statements of all loans and hire purchase agreements
latest mortgage statement, including monthly repayments and remaining balance
details of any County Court Judgements, Debt Management Plans, Individual Voluntary Agreements or bankruptcy order
pay statements or payslips
documents and statements connected with savings and investments
business accounts, self-assessment statement or self-assessment annual assessments (if applicable)
any other documents which support or help to explain any figures on the Financial Questionnaire (FQ)

Should further documents be required at any point, your Vetting Clearance Officer will discuss this with you on a case by case basis.

Any additional requirements will be notified to you by your Vetting Clearance Officer, normally in advance of the interview. Any delay in providing these documents is likely to delay your clearance.

Decision process

The vetting process aims to establish if you present any security risks that may prevent you from being employed in a sensitive post.

The decision on whether to grant you security clearance will be taken either by UKSV, the department or police force that requires you to hold it, or by a Security Unit that carries out this task on behalf of several departments.

Security clearance is not guaranteed. If the role you are starting requires clearance, it is important not to leave your current employment or contract until your sponsoring authority informs you that your clearance has been granted, and a start date is confirmed.

The assessment of your suitability to hold clearance will take into account all relevant information gathered during the vetting process, both favourable and unfavourable. These factors are carefully considered along with the security requirements of your role.

The process will consider whether or not any adverse information is serious enough in itself to justify refusing or withdrawing a security clearance. If any information of security concern is discovered about you, the assessor will consider a range of factors including (where relevant) whether you have been as open as possible about it and whether you have resolved the issue, or it appears likely that you will resolve it favourably.

When someone’s conduct raises security concerns, the factors that the assessor will consider include:

the seriousness of the conduct
how often it has been committed
the circumstances, including the reason why it took place
the risk that it will make the individual vulnerable to pressure or exploitation
what it implies about their trustworthiness and reliability.

When considering the security significance of personal circumstances or behaviour that can lead to vulnerability, the assessor will not allow personal and cultural bias to affect their judgement. Personal circumstances or behaviour only become of security significance if they cause vulnerability to pressure or improper influence, or may cause a clearance holder to commit security breaches.

If you are denied clearance, you will be informed. Where possible, you will be given an indication of the concerns which led to the denial, but please be aware that this may not be possible in all circumstances. If you are eligible to launch an internal or external appeal, you will be informed of the process. There is no requirement in law to inform someone who is being recruited by a new employer why they have been refused employment if the decision has been made on security grounds. They will be told if possible, but considerations of national security or confidentiality may prevent this.

Appeal process

All government departments and other government organisations making National Security Vetting decisions are required to have an internal appeal process for people who have had a clearance denied or withdrawn. The right of appeal is available to the organisation’s employees (including members of the Armed Forces, in the case of the Ministry of Defence) and to anyone who is working for it under contract, either directly or as an employee of a contracted company. It is not available to an applicant for employment when no job offer has been made.

If you are refused clearance or have it withdrawn, the organisation that has made the decision should tell you whether you have the right to appeal.

If so, they will explain the process you will need to follow. Depending on the organisation concerned, this may consist of two stages, with the opportunity for a further internal review at a higher level if your appeal is turned down at the first hearing.

Once there has been an internal appeal, you will be notified in writing whether or not your appeal has been accepted. If your internal appeal is denied, you will be told as much as possible about the reasons why you have been judged unsuitable to hold a security clearance.

You will then have the opportunity, if you wish, to submit a final appeal to the independent Security Vetting Appeals Panel (SVAP).

If you decide to appeal to SVAP, you must inform them of your intention in writing within 28 days of receiving the result of your internal appeal. The SVAP Secretariat will explain the Panel’s procedures to you.

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant

Levels of national security clearance

Vetting explained

Vetting charter

Applying for or renewing security clearance

Activating your NSVS portal account and submitting your security questionnaire

Next steps after you have submitted your security questionnaire

Cross-checks

Requests for further information

Progress updates

Level 1B

The vetting interview

Arranging an interview

Interview format

How to approach the interview

Supervisors and referees

Documents you need for interview

General documents:

Financial documents:

Decision process

Appeal process

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United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant

Levels of national security clearance

Vetting explained

Vetting charter

Applying for or renewing security clearance

Why you need a sponsor

Activating your NSVS portal account and submitting your security questionnaire

Next steps after you have submitted your security questionnaire

Cross-checks

Requests for further information

Progress updates

Level 1B

The vetting interview

Arranging an interview

Interview format

How to approach the interview

Supervisors and referees

Documents you need for interview

General documents:

Financial documents:

Decision process

Appeal process

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