Guidance

United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels

List of national security vetting clearance levels with guidance on who needs it and what checks are completed.

• From: United Kingdom Security Vetting
• Published: 12 February 2020
• Last updated: 2 December 2022 — See all updates

Documents

National security vetting: clearance levels

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There are 5 main levels of national security vetting;

• Accreditation Check (AC)
• Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
• Level 1B
• Security Check (SC)
• Developed Vetting (DV)

CTC and above also requires the successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).This document provides further information on the levels of clearance, who needs clearance and what checks are carried out.

Published 12 February 2020
Last updated 2 December 2022 + show all updates

1. 2 December 2022

   Updated to include Level 1B clearance

2. 31 January 2022

   Guidance updated to reflect introduction of the Accreditation Check (AC) as a national security clearance in Jan 2022.

3. 12 February 2020

   First published.