Form

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: Application Guidance

Updated 13 November 2025

1. Glossary

AIR	Aftercare Incident Report
Helpdesk	UKSV Helpdesk Web Portal or Contact UKSV
NSV	National Security Vetting
NSVS	National Security Vetting Solution
PIN	Personal Identification Number - additional information can be found in the Portal Login Guidance Page
Sponsor	An authorised individual who is responsible for initiating an application for National Security Vetting
Applicant	An individual who is applying for National Security Vetting
Vetting Clearance Holder	An individual who holds DV, SC, Level 1B or CTC security clearance
UKSV	United Kingdom Security Vetting

2. The NSVS Portal

National Security Vetting Solution (NSVS) is the current platform for the UK’s security vetting capability. The NSVS Internet Portal enables National Security Vetting applications and other forms to be initiated, completed and submitted by secure electronic means.

For guidance on creating a portal account, please refer to the Portal Login Guidance page.

3. Applicant Vetting Journey

1. Requirement for Security Clearance identified
2. Sponsor initiates clearance by inputting applicant’s personal data
3. Activation email is sent to applicant via the portal
4. Applicant inputs personal data to activate account
5. Applicant account created and unique PIN generated
6. eForms made available for completion
7. Applicant and Sponsor complete and submit forms
8. Link sent for the secure upload of personal documents (if required)
9. Sponsor is notified of outcome
10. Applicant informed by Sponsor of outcome

4. Accessing your NSVS Application

4.1 Information on Home screen

Once your NSVS Portal account is activated and you have your assigned 6-figure encryption PIN, click on the ‘Home’ button at the bottom of the confirmation message and it will take you to the ‘Home page’ screen. You will be able to access your NSV application from here.

Please note: Once you have reached this stage, subsequent access to the NSVS Portal must be made through the second link you received in the activation email sent to you by UKSV - see the Portal Login Guidance page for further guidance

We would encourage you to follow the link to the Preparation page which will offer information to help you prepare for your NSV application.

At the bottom of the page, you can enter your 6-figure encryption PIN to access your NSVS application and a printable form view. We strongly recommend that you use this last option to make a copy of your completed NSV application before submitting it.

4.2 Preparing to complete your NSV application

It is recommended that you review the preparation guidance that is linked from the Home screen and familiarise yourself with the information required to complete your NSV application prior to starting it.

• Overlapping dates – In any of the sections where you are required to provide dates to cover a period of time, they should be entered without any gaps. For example, from ‘January to June’ must then be followed by ‘June to December’.
• Please note that the HM Forces Employment and Government Employment sections cannot be marked as complete unless the Supervisor section is also fully completed.
• You can move to another section of the form before completing the one you are in – however you will need to complete all sections before you can successfully submit the form. You can exit and return to your NSV application as many times as you wish prior to submission. Each time you access the form you will be asked to provide your encryption PIN.
• When you have completed the form you can download or print a copy for your records. This must be done before it is submitted.

Further guidance and support with completing the form can be found within the Preparation screen of your application and in UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: Accessing your e-form hints and tips  and UKSV National Security Vetting Solutions: completing your e-form application hints and tips

4.3 Access to NSV application

To access your NSV application, enter your PIN and click on the Access Your Application link. This action will take you to the NSV application form that has been requested by your Sponsor.

5. Home Screen - Applicant view

The section explains how to complete and submit your NSV application form.

5.1 Completion of your National Security Vetting Application

To complete the NSV application please work through the section headings and input the information requested.

• When you are in the form you can monitor your progress by checking the navigation pane displayed down the left side of your screen. A white circle indicates those sections that require completion. A green tick will appear when the page is complete without errors.
• Hovering the cursor over the question mark will reveal completion guidance.
• Error messaging will appear if any section is shown as incomplete or inaccurate. Any errors will appear in red. The question will also be highlighted in grey. You will not be able to submit your application until the application is fully completed.
• Please provide as much information as possible when completing the application, or use the free text box to provide an explanation otherwise.
• The ‘Save and Exit’ button enables you to save information on an incomplete section and return to it at a later date.
• The ‘Next’ button is a navigational tool that allows you to move between topic headings and will open all pages within a topic that need to be completed.

5.2 Submitting your NSV application

When all sections are complete and without error, you can submit your part of the NSV application via the ‘Declaration’ section. You will not be able to edit the form after you have agreed to the Declaration. If you want to change anything on your application prior to submitting it you will need to ‘untick’ the Declaration box first. 

Upon completion, you will be taken to a new page which will have a large green box confirming ‘Application Submitted’. Once the form has been submitted you will not be able to edit, download or print it. 

Important points to remember

Applicants please note that:

• Although your Sponsor will be able to see when your application has been submitted onto the NSVS Case Management System they will not be able to see any of the information you have entered on your NSV application.
• There is a set time-frame for both the Sponsor and Applicant to complete their respective sections of an NSV application. An email reminder will be sent if any parts of the form remain un-submitted. If either the Applicant and/or Sponsor fail to submit their information by the deadline NSVS will cancel the application and it will not be possible to reactivate it, resulting in the need to restart the application process.

6. Aftercare Incident Report link

On the log-in page, you will see the option to ‘Raise an Aftercare Incident Report (AIR)’. Please note this should only be used for those without Sponsor IDs. For information on when to raise an Aftercare Incident Report, please view the linked guidance.