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.

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.