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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.

Updates to this page

From:
United Kingdom Security Vetting and Cabinet Office
Published:
14 October 2020
Last updated:
31 October 2025
Show all updates

  1. This guidance has been updated to include a code of conduct for applicants and sponsors.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 The attachments Guidance For Applicants and Guidance for Sponsors have been removed from this page as they contained out of date links.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.

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

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

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

  8. Guidance for applicants and sponsors has been added.

  9. First published.

Documents

Vetting explained

HTML

The vetting charter

HTML

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

PDF, 336 KB, 3 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email uksv-helpdesk@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Applying for National Security Clearance - Guidance for the Trans community

PDF, 68.2 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email uksv-helpdesk@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

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

UKSV Code of Conduct - Interviewee Guidance on Unacceptable Behaviour

HTML

UKSV Code of Conduct - Sponsor Guidance on Unacceptable Behaviour

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

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