Guidance

HMG personnel security controls

Guidance on the government’s personnel security and national security vetting policies and how the processes work.

Documents

HMG Personnel Security Controls (PDF)

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Details

This document describes the government’s personnel security and national security vetting policies and how the processes work including:

  • why and in what circumstances personnel security and national security vetting controls may be applied
  • the information you may be asked to provide about yourself, your partner, your family and other third parties, and the checks that may be made against it
  • decision making criteria and avenues of appeal

A statement of the government’s personnel security and vetting policy and set of frequently asked questions and answers can be found at the back of this document.

Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2013
Last updated 31 October 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updated to reflect the amendments to the transference of clearances, to allow virtual individual/referee interviews, to introduce Level 1B as a new level of National Security Vetting and to update the SVAP policy.

  2. Added information about Accreditation Check, which is a new level of national security vetting.

  3. PDF updated due to new GDPR regulations of May 2018.

  4. Updated HMG Personnel Security Controls - April 2014

  5. New version of document - previous edition from October 2013.

  6. Updated guidance with October 2013 version

  7. First published.

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