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Guidance

United Kingdom Security Vetting

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is the main UK government provider of security clearances.

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Defence and United Kingdom Security Vetting
Published:
12 December 2012
Last updated:
12 February 2020
Show all updates

  1. A new link has been added for 'existing clearance holders'.

  2. Page reformatted

  3. Reformatted page

  4. Amended out dated text

  5. Removal of obsolete information and reformatting of bullet points

  6. Updated email address

  7. Announcement

  8. Announcement

  9. Updated the Privacy and Data Protection section

  10. Removal of closure announcement Cheadle Hulme now back open

  11. Announcement added re Cheadle Hulme site closure due to severe weather.

  12. Announcement added re Cheadle Hulme site closure due to severe weather.

  13. Removal of phone lines down announcement

  14. Announcement added re enquiry centre issues

  15. Removal of Christmas opening times

  16. Amended UKSV email address

  17. Christmas and New Year opening times included.

  18. Updated the contact us information

  19. Amended to bullet under change of personal circumstances

  20. Page re-branded to reflect launch of UKSV

  21. Disruption to Cheadle Hulme resolved announcement updated.

  22. Announcement of Cheadle site evacuation added

  23. Christmas and New Year enquiry centre opening hours added

  24. Announcement updated

  25. New announcement

  26. Updated information throughout

  27. Updated announcement

  28. New NSVS announcement included

  29. New announcement added to page and deletion of old information

  30. Announcement updated.

  31. Further NSV reminder announcement included

  32. Latest NSVS update included

  33. Announcement for sponsors included.

  34. Latest update announcement added.

  35. Latest National Security Vetting update available

  36. Added announcement about the National Security Vetting Solution (NSVS) project.

  37. DBS NSV page updated with the latest information

  38. Change to announcement

  39. Updated announcement

  40. New announcement

  41. Annoucement included

  42. Announcement removed

  43. Announcement added

  44. Remoed of announcement.

  45. Added announcement about issues experiened when creating applicatios on DBS NSV Internet and RLI Portals.

  46. Update to telecom issues.

  47. Removal of background paragraph

  48. Intermittant problems with the telephones message included.

  49. Removal of Christmas opening hours.

  50. Latest update on phone line incident.

  51. Update on telephone lines.

  52. Removed section on feedback.

  53. Removed announcement 23 October 2015: FAO GSI/PSN network users.

  54. Added announcement 29 October 2015: email access issues

  55. Added notice: 23 October 15 – FAO GSI/PSN Network users regarding outage.

  56. Removed the announcements section as there are no current announcements available.

  57. Updated opening hours for Enquiry centre.

  58. Removed What are the definitions for routine priority and immediate requests for clearance? section of content.

  59. Added announcement for the latest DBS National Security Vetting sponsor bulletin.

  60. Deleted announcement.

  61. Added new announcement regarding release of SC eform.

  62. Removed Christmas opening times announcement.

  63. Added new announcement for opening hours.

  64. Added new announcement 20 November 2014.

  65. Added annoucement about the RLI Portal outage taking place 4 December from 4:00pm.

  66. Removed expired announcement.

  67. Added link to DBS National Security Vetting sponsor bulletin.

  68. Added announcement

  69. Updated Contact us section and move up the page.

  70. Removed some of the out of date announcements.

  71. Added announcement under Business Development and Improvement Update

  72. Amended announcement 17th July 2014.

  73. Added new announcement dated 23rd July 2014.

  74. Added new announcement and updated another.

  75. Added new announcement regarding NSV forms.

  76. Removed text in the ROUTINE - Process section of the table.

  77. Updates have been completed in the following sections "What are the definitions for priority and immediate requests for clearance?" and "What will I be asked at interview as a vetting subject or as a referee".

  78. Updated 'Contractors and consultants' section with new text. Replaced complaints section with link to complaints procedure document.

  79. Updated information about International Personnel Security Clearances

  80. Updated section "NATO Security Officers" which is now titled "NATO security clearances".

  81. Updated the opening times for the Contact Centre for Vetting.

  82. Removed announcements dated 9 May 2013 and 11 April 2013.

  83. Added announcement for 11 November 2013.

  84. Added 'RFC 107 improve decision maker working' announcement

  85. Added an announcement

  86. First published.

This guidance was withdrawn on

The page is no longer up to date. Please visit the United Kingdom Security Vetting organisation page for up to date information.

Contents

Applicant

Existing clearance holders

Sponsor

Decision Maker

Referees, Hiring Managers, Contractors and Consultants

Forms and Guidance

International personnel security clearance

Contact us

Privacy and data protection

There are 3 security levels:

  • Counter Terrorist Check (CTC): is carried out if an individual is working in proximity to public figures, or requires unescorted access to certain military, civil, industrial or commercial establishments assessed to be at particular risk from terrorist attack
  • Security Check (SC): determines that a person’s character and personal circumstances are such that they can be trusted to work in a position that involves long-term, frequent and uncontrolled access to SECRET assets
  • Developed Vetting: (DV) in addition to SC, this detailed check is appropriate when an individual has long term, frequent and uncontrolled access to ‘Top Secret’ information. There is also Enhanced DV.

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Contents