Guidance

Vetting explained and our vetting charter

An overview of what the vetting process involves and your responsibilities when you apply for and hold security clearance.

From:
United Kingdom Security Vetting and Cabinet Office
Published
14 October 2020
Last updated
1410 NovemberFebruary 20242025 — See all updates

Documents

Vetting explained

HTML

The vetting charter

HTML

Supporting colleagues going through national security vetting - Guidance for Line Managers

PDF, 336 KB, 3 pages

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Applying for National Security Clearance - Guidance for the Trans community

PDF, 68.2 KB, 1 page

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Applying for National Security Clearance - Guidance for the Trans community - Accessible version

MS Word Document, 35.9 KB

Applying for National Security Clearance - Guidance for those experiencing Menopause

HTML

Details

These documents outline our commitment to applicants and holders of a UK security clearance and what we expect from them. Useful additional guidance for vetting applicants and sponsors can also be found on this page.

Further guidance for vetting applicants and sponsors, including common errors to avoid, can also be found in these videos. More information is also available on our Demystifying Vetting page

Advice for new applicants

Advice for new applicants

Advice for vetting sponsors

Advice for vetting sponsors

Updates to this page

Published 14 October 2020
Last updated 1410 NovemberFebruary 2024 2025 + show all updates

  1. This guidance has been updated as part of UK Security Vetting’s ongoing review of all our gov.uk content, in consultation with subject matter experts and relevant stakeholders, to ensure that it accurately represents current vetting policy, processes and terminology.

  2. This guidance, including the Vetting Charter, has been updated as part of UK Security Vetting’s ongoing review of all our gov.uk content, in consultation with subject matter experts and relevant stakeholders, to ensure that it accurately represents current vetting policy, processes and terminology. The attachments Guidance For Applicants and Guidance for Sponsors have been removed from this page as they contained out of date links. Please refer to United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant and United Kingdom Security Vetting: Sponsor - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-sponsor for current guidance or follow the links from the UKSV homepage https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/united-kingdom-security-vetting.

  4. Guidance added to support national security vetting applicants who are experiencing menopause.

  6. Guidance added for Trans community on applying for national security clearance

  8. Guidance added for line managers on supporting colleagues applying for national security vetting.

  10. Links added to guidance videos for vetting sponsors and applicants

  12. Guidance for applicants and sponsors has been added.

  14. First published.

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