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Guidance

F680 policy and guidance

This document provides guidance on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Form 680 (F680) procedure.

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published:
11 July 2013
Last updated:
7 July 2025
Show all updates

  1. Link to apply for an F680 updated to signpost to a new online service. Users should use this new service instead of SPIRE to apply for F680s. Both existing attachments have been changed to HTML from PDF for accessibility. The information in both documents has been updated to signpost to and provide information about a new service for applying for F680 security approvals.

  2. Updated page title

  3. Updated: information about the Form 680 application process.

  4. Added updated MOD form 680 guidance and MOD form 680 quick guide.

  5. Added updated procedure and quick guide documents.

  6. Added revised MOD Form Policy and quick guide and detail text.

  7. Added revised programme and application form.

  8. Added seminar application form.

  9. Removed MOD Form 680 seminar and workshop application form: 12 February 2015.

  10. Added application form for seminar.

  11. Added updated quick guide flyer.

  12. Added MOD Form 680 quick guide.

  13. Updated document with the latest version of guidance.

  14. Updated document following changes to government security classifications.

  15. First published.

Documents

Form 680 policy and guidance

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Form 680 (F680) further information

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Details

UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has set a mandatory requirement for the control of the release by industry of equipment or information with a classification of OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE or above, including in their marketing campaigns to foreign end-users (this includes UK material classified RESTRICTED or above, graded prior to April 2014, and equivalent internationally security classified material). Control of release is therefore conducted through the Form 680 (F680) application process.

All UK companies must obtain F680 approval in order to release information or equipment classified OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE and above to foreign entities. This includes internationally security classified material being released from the UK to foreign entities. Approval is also required for some material classified OFFICIAL, but only where the information or equipment connected with the release holds a higher classification. If both the equipment and information is classified OFFICIAL an F680 is not required.

An F680 approval is also required before a UK Company releases US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) material to any foreign entity. For the these purposes, US ITAR material means defence articles including technical data relating thereto or derived therefrom that is subject to controls under the US ITAR.

Under the terms and conditions of certain Open General Export Licenses (OGELs) published by the Department for Business and Trade, an F680 must be in place prior to any export under the licence concerned.

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