National Security Vetting: security appraisal form
Guidance for maintaining security clearance for those with access to highly classified information.
Documents
Details
What is a Security Appraisal Form?
The annual Security Appraisal Form (SAF) is a policy requirement for all Developed Vetting (DV) clearance holders, and some Security Check (SC) holders, and their line managers. A SAF is intended to provide an update of the information you submitted when you applied for your clearance and to confirm the details held by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) are correct. If the details held by UKSV are not correct, this could impact your national security clearance and any new information may need to be assessed, such as a criminal conviction. The security appraisal form covers the previous 12 months from the day you receive the request notification.
The line manager is required to note any concerns on their form, such as changes in behaviour of the clearance holder during the previous 12 months, to provide extra assurance.
Without completion of a SAF, your clearance may be withdrawn or suspended. It is therefore vital that both clearance holders AND line managers complete their respective forms. Having an annual SAF history is beneficial when your clearance is due for renewal.
How to submit a SAF
Your annual Security Appraisal Form (SAF) should be submitted via the NSVS SAF Portal route - this is the fastest and safest route to ensure that your clearance is maintained. You will receive an email notification when your annual SAF is due, so please ensure you monitor your emails or follow further instruction from your sponsoring authority.
Please follow this guidance when trying to access the portal:
In general, you should only access vetting forms/portals via secure Government WiFi or a secure WiFi connection, such as your company’s WiFi. You should preferably be in the UK. Please ensure you have logged out of all previous sessions (vetting application/renewal/SAF etc).
If you are abroad, please note the following guidance:
- If you have access to the MOD or FCDO overseas network/WiFi, you may use a secure MODnet device or similar to access vetting forms/portals. Do not use a personal device or local/welfare network.
- If you do not have access to the MOD or FCDO overseas network/WiFi and you are due to return to the UK within a year, you should wait to complete your SAF form in the UK.
- If you do not have access to the MOD or FCDO overseas network/WiFi and have no plans to return to the UK, please contact your local security advisor in the first instance. If security advisors are unsure how best to proceed, they should contact UKSV.
We will only accept Security Appraisal Forms in other formats in exceptional circumstances:
In exceptional circumstances, please contact our UKSV Helpdesk via the SAF webform to request the form in another format.
Once we authorise this request for the SAF, you will then receive an email from UKSV which provides the form for completion, along with a secure link to a secure file-sharing platform. This is used to ensure that any information shared either by you or with you is done so in a secure and safe manner. Instructions on how to upload and download information to and from the platform will be provided along with the link.
Updates to this page
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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.
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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.
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Guidance updated to require SAF submission via the NSVS portal from September 2023
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Guidance added to inform clearance holders that Security Appraisal Forms (SAFs) must be submitted to UKSV via the NSVS portal from September 2023.
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Edited details to refer to sponsor portal process for SAFs
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Guidance for sending forms electronically whilst Covid-19 measures are in place has been added.
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Form updated with latest version
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Replaced form with latest edition
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Updated with latest form
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Updated with latest edition of form NSV006
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Added note to alert customers about difficulty with opening forms.
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Added updated version of NSV006.
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First published.