Pre-checks are incomplete
SC normally follows sponsor initiation and completed BPSS checks. Identity, right-to-work, employment-history or criminal-record checks can hold up the point at which vetting properly begins.
PERSONNEL SECURITY • SECURITY-SENSITIVE PROJECT READINESS
Seasonal editionPractical guidance for every stage.
Security Check (SC)
Clearance is a process.
Preparation makes it smoother.
A practical guide for Advanced Engineering Group employees and subcontractors who may need access to security-sensitive projects, information or sites.
01 / UNDERSTAND
What SC clearance is
Security Check is national security vetting for roles involving long-term, frequent and uncontrolled access to SECRET assets, or occasional supervised access to TOP SECRET assets. It supports a risk-based decision—it is not a qualification, employment guarantee or personal possession.
- Started by
- An authorised sponsor
- Delivered through
- UK Security Vetting
- Built on
- Completed BPSS checks
START HERE
What do you need to do?
Choose the route that best matches your situation. You can return here at any time without reading the entire guide.
01
Prepare for SCUnderstand BPSS, gather your information and get ready for the questionnaire.
Start preparing →
02Request formsContact the team, get your email approved and open the secure forms portal.
Get forms →
03Check or renewConfirm an existing clearance, understand renewal and contact the correct sponsor.
Check status →
04I’m an employerDiscuss project staffing, mobilisation and sponsor-led clearance coordination.
Employer support →
New to the process?Begin with The Journey for a clear eight-stage overview.Open The Journey →
Real engineering environments
Preparation protects people, projects and access.
This guide supports safe, accurate mobilisation into controlled workplaces. Follow the sponsor-led route and keep sensitive vetting information within approved systems.
02 / THE PROCESS
From project need to site access
Do not begin independently. Your Advanced Engineering Group contact or contracting authority will tell you when a role requires vetting and who will sponsor it.
- 01
Role and sponsor confirmed
The contract authority confirms that the role requires SC and an authorised sponsor initiates the case.
- 02
BPSS completed
Identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent criminal-record checks are verified.
- 03
Questionnaire checked and submitted
You provide complete, accurate personal information by the deadline. The completed forms must then be checked by the contractor and sent through the correct approved secure route by authorised personnel.
- 04
Checks and enquiries
Checks may cover departmental and criminal records, credit references and Security Service records. Follow-up questions or an interview may be required.
- 05
Decision and confirmation
The sponsor receives the outcome. Do not assume clearance until formal confirmation is received.
- 06
Share, transfer and access
For another authority or security-sensitive site, the receiving organisation validates the clearance and need-to-know. Site onboarding follows separately.
TIMING & DELAYS
How long can the process take?
There is no guaranteed standard turnaround. UKSV says every application is unique, checks can involve several agencies and its helpdesk cannot provide an exact completion date.
Plan around confirmation—not an estimate
Allow enough time and keep the start date flexible.
The safest planning assumption is that clearance may take longer than expected. Do not resign from another role, promise a security-sensitive start date or assume access has been approved until the sponsor confirms the decision and the receiving site confirms access.
Gaps or errors in the form
Missing addresses, uncertain dates, unexplained employment gaps, inconsistent details or omitted information can trigger clarification and rework. Intentional omissions or misleading answers may cause serious delay or cancellation.
Slow replies or documents
Delays in activating the portal, answering follow-up questions or supplying requested evidence will extend the process. Check the email address, phone number and spam folder used for the application.
Additional enquiries are needed
Some cases require further checks, supporting documents, clarification or an interview. Overseas history or other complex circumstances are not automatically a problem, but may require information from more sources.
External checks take longer
UKSV relies on mandatory checks and enquiries involving other agencies. Some waiting time is outside the applicant’s, sponsor’s and UKSV’s direct control.
Help prevent avoidable delay
- Gather exact addresses, dates and employment history before opening the form.
- Answer every question accurately and explain gaps rather than guessing.
- Respond promptly through the approved secure route.
- Tell the sponsor if contact details or circumstances change.
Waiting for an update?
Contact your sponsor or nominated security contact first. They own the application relationship and are the correct route for progress updates.
See contact and status routes →Official guidance: UKSV applicant guidance ↗ and SC guidance pack for applicants ↗.
THE JOURNEY
Your SC clearance journey
Use this map as a quick route through the guidance. Select any stage to jump to the detailed information—your sponsor remains the formal point of contact throughout.
01Confirm the roleA genuine role requires SC and need-to-know.
02Sponsor initiatesAn authorised sponsor starts the process.
03Complete BPSSIdentity, right to work, history and checks.
04Prepare & submitGather accurate facts and complete the e-form.
SCSecurity clearanceSponsor-led • evidence-based • risk assessed
05UKSV checksTimes vary; checks and enquiries can add delay.
06Decision & accessWait for confirmation; site access is separate.
07AftercareReport changes and protect information.
08Renew or transferThe sponsor confirms continuing need.
Need a blank form? Documents are kept outside this public page and require an approved email.
Go to secure forms guidance →03 / PREPARE
Have the facts ready
Honesty, completeness and prompt replies matter more than trying to present a “perfect” history. Never omit information because you think it may cause concern.
BPSS requirement
Criminal-record check
A basic criminal-record check is required as part of the BPSS process before an SC application can progress. Use the service for the country where the role is based. Application fees apply and may change, so check the official service before applying.
Northern IrelandAccessNIApplication and current fee informationOpen official service ↗
England & WalesBasic DBS checkApplication and current fee informationOpen official service ↗
ScotlandDisclosure ScotlandApplication and current fee informationOpen official service ↗
Do not apply for the wrong check. Confirm the required route with Advanced Engineering Group or the authorised sponsor before paying. The correct service is normally determined by where the work will be carried out, not simply where the applicant lives.
Identity & status
Current identity documents, nationality details, citizenship and immigration status where applicable.
Address history
Accurate addresses and dates, including periods overseas. Check gaps and overlaps before submitting.
Employment history
Employers, dates, roles and explanations for gaps. Include self-employment and unemployment periods.
Travel & connections
Overseas residence, significant travel and relevant foreign connections requested by the questionnaire.
Financial information
Information needed for credit checks. Explain financial difficulty truthfully rather than concealing it.
Referees & contacts
Up-to-date details for any people requested. Let them know they may be contacted.
!
Protect your information. Enter sensitive vetting data only in the official portal or an approved secure route. Do not send completed security questionnaires, passwords, bank data or full identity-document packs to a general email inbox.
04 / ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE
Prepare before you open the form
The questions shown depend on the clearance level and your circumstances. Use this as a preparation guide, then follow the wording and help text in your own UKSV application.
Likely topic areas
What you may be asked
UKSV says a Security Questionnaire can cover your background, family, employment and address history, criminal record and—in relevant cases—finances, health, overseas connections and other security information. Not every topic appears in every application.
Identity & nationality
Current and previous names, date and place of birth, nationalities held from birth, passport or naturalisation details, and relevant citizenship or immigration information.
Prepare for: “What nationalities have you held, and when?”
Addresses & co-residents
A continuous address history with month-and-year dates, including overseas periods. The form may ask about people who share living space with you.
Prepare for: “Where did you live during each period, with no gaps?”
Partners & family
Marital status, current partner and previous partners where requested, plus details of parents or guardians, siblings and—in some cases—your partner’s parents.
Prepare for: names, birth details, nationalities, occupations and current or last-known addresses.
Work, education & supervisors
Current employment and five years of employment history for an SC application, including self-employment, periods out of work, education and people or HR teams who can verify each period.
Prepare for: employer addresses, exact months, roles and any gap longer than three months.
Referees & previous clearance
If requested, suitable character referees with current direct contact details. Gather the level, sponsor or vetting organisation and approximate dates of any previous national security clearance.
Prepare for: people who know you well and can respond promptly.
Police, criminal & security matters
Convictions, including spent convictions where the form requires them, charges and unresolved police matters. You may also be asked about previous clearance refusals, suspensions or withdrawals and other relevant security information.
Prepare for: dates, outcomes and a clear factual explanation.
Finances & property
If this section appears, expect questions about household income and outgoings, credit commitments, loans, mortgages or rent, properties, defaults, court judgments and shared financial responsibility.
Prepare for: balances, monthly payments and brief explanations of any difficulty.
Overseas, health & other information
The form may ask about overseas residence or connections, and only those health matters relevant to security risk. Use the additional-information field to explain estimates, missing details or unusual circumstances.
Prepare for: honest context rather than leaving unexplained gaps.
Before you start
Build one accurate reference sheet
Keep it offline and secure. Do not type personal or vetting information into this website.
- 1
Read the portal’s Preparation screen first. It reflects the form assigned to you and is the best guide to the exact information required.
- 2
Create continuous timelines. List addresses and employment month by month. UKSV advises that date ranges should meet without gaps; for SC, prepare five years of employment history.
- 3
Check names and dates against records. Use passports, naturalisation documents, address records, employment records and education dates. Record previous names exactly.
- 4
Confirm contact details. Check supervisors or HR contacts and tell any requested referees in advance. Use direct email addresses and mobile numbers where possible.
- 5
Review police and financial records if needed. If dates are unclear, official guidance suggests obtaining the relevant record or credit report rather than guessing without explanation.
- 6
Explain what you cannot obtain. Give as much as you safely can and use the form’s additional-information field. UKSV says not to put yourself at risk to obtain missing family information.
- 7
Work to the deadline and save as you go. Check every section for errors. Download or print your completed application before submitting because it cannot be edited or retrieved afterwards.
- 8
Watch for follow-up requests. Check every email address and phone number supplied. Respond promptly and use only the official portal or an approved secure document-upload route.
!
This is preparation guidance, not the questionnaire. Do not send names, dates of birth, addresses, family details, financial information, criminal-record information, portal credentials or completed answers to Advanced Engineering Group through this public page or ordinary email.
Official UKSV sources:
Application guidance ↗ E-form hints and tips ↗ Vetting explained ↗ Applicant guidance ↗05 / SECURE FORMS
How to request the forms
The forms are not available directly on this public page. Contact Advanced Engineering Group first so we can confirm your requirement and approve the email address you will use to access the secure portal.
START HERE
Contact the Security Clearance Team
Email from the work address you want approved. Tell us your name, company or employer, the relevant project or Advanced Engineering Group contact, and which blank forms you need.
- 01
Send your request
Use the email button above and provide only the basic work details requested. Do not attach completed forms or sensitive vetting information.
- 02
We confirm access
The team will check the request and add the exact email address to the approved-users list. You may receive an invitation email.
- 03
Sign in and download
Open the secure forms portal and sign in using the same approved email address. The blank document pack and individual forms will then be available.
ALREADY APPROVED?
Sign in to secure forms →
Open the secure forms portal
Sign in with the exact email address that was approved. Always confirm with your sponsor or security contact that you have the correct current version.
Keep sensitive information out of the request.Do not email dates of birth, home addresses, passport details, clearance references, questionnaire answers or completed forms. Completed documents must be checked and submitted only through the secure route specified by the authorised sponsor.
06 / CHECK YOUR CLEARANCE
How do I check if my current clearance is still valid?
A pass, old email or previous security-sensitive contract does not prove that an SC clearance is current or usable for a new role. Its status must be verified through the proper security channel.
- 01
Contact your sponsor
Ask your current employer, contracting organisation or nominated security contact to check your clearance. Give them your full legal name, date of birth and any case or clearance reference you hold.
- 02
Request formal validation
Your registered sponsor can request or check Vetting Status Information. UKSV states that this status information can only be discussed with registered sponsors who have an NSVS Sponsor account.
- 03
Check the receiving authority
If you are moving to another security-sensitive contract or establishment, the receiving sponsor must confirm whether the clearance can be shared, transferred or otherwise accepted. Site access is approved separately.
- 04
Contact UKSV if needed
Applicants and existing clearance holders can submit an enquiry through the UKSV Helpdesk web portal. Have your full legal name, date of birth, town of birth and Case ID, if known, ready for the security checks.
!
Do not share highly sensitive or personal information by ordinary email. UKSV advises using a secure file-sharing platform when such information is required.
07 / RENEWALS
Renew before access is at risk
An SC clearance holder cannot start a renewal independently. The organisation that owns the requirement decides whether clearance is still needed and its authorised sponsor starts the formal review.
10 years
Normal Cabinet Office policy point for formal review of an SC clearance.
7 years
Formal review point for contractors outside a Facility Security Clearance (FSC) contractor organisation.
Earlier
A risk owner may issue a shorter clearance or review it sooner for a role, workforce category or identified risk.
Start here
Ask the clearance-owning organisation
Your vetting notification or company security record should show the validity period. If it is unclear, contact your Security Controller, sponsor or nominated security contact. They can confirm the recorded status and the organisation’s timetable for starting a review.
- 01
Check the recorded expiry
Do not rely on an old pass, email or the date you started a previous contract. Ask the current clearance-owning organisation to confirm the level, sponsor and review or expiry date.
- 02
Confirm a continuing requirement
The sponsor must confirm that your current or planned role still requires SC. Clearance is not renewed simply to keep it available for possible future work.
- 03
Sponsor starts the review
The authorised sponsor initiates the renewal or review through the approved UKSV route. Follow your organisation’s lead time and respond quickly—there is no applicant self-service route for starting an SC renewal.
- 04
Complete the requested forms
Watch for the official activation or portal message. Review the Preparation screen, update the information requested, submit by the stated deadline and use only the secure portal or approved document-upload route.
- 05
Support checks and enquiries
UKSV may repeat checks appropriate to SC and may ask for clarification or further evidence. Keep your sponsor informed and answer official requests promptly.
- 06
Wait for formal confirmation
Your sponsor receives the outcome and tells you what applies. Do not assume that submitting the form extends the clearance or that access may continue after the recorded expiry.
While clearance is valid
Keep aftercare current
- Report required changes of personal circumstances through your local security route and the NSVS process.
- Complete an annual Security Appraisal Form if your organisation or UKSV requires one; this applies to some SC holders.
- Keep contact details current, monitor official messages and comply with reviews promptly.
Moving organisation?
Renewal is not a transfer
A receiving organisation should check your status and, if there is a continuing need, its sponsor requests a transfer or share. UKSV decides whether the clearance is eligible. An expired, lapsed or unsuitable clearance may require a new application instead.
!
If the date is close or has passed, contact the sponsor now. This public guide cannot renew, extend or validate a clearance. Do not send personal vetting details, completed forms or portal credentials through this site or ordinary email.
08 / AFTER CLEARANCE
Clearance comes with continuing duties
REPORT
Tell the appropriate security contact promptly about relevant changes in personal circumstances, foreign travel or contacts, finances, criminal matters, or security concerns, as instructed.
PROTECT
Follow need-to-know, document handling, IT, photography, mobile-device and site security rules. Never discuss sensitive work casually or online.
MAINTAIN
Complete aftercare, reviews and renewal activity when requested. A clearance can lapse, expire, be restricted or be withdrawn.
CONFIRM
Before moving between contracts or authorities, ask for clearance validation or a formal share/transfer. Never rely on an old pass or verbal assurance.
09 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you contact the team
How long does SC clearance take?+
There is no guaranteed standard time and UKSV cannot give an exact completion date. Timing depends on the application, the checks required, responses from other agencies and whether clarification or documents are needed. Read the timing and delays guide, reply promptly and do not make irreversible employment decisions until the sponsor confirms the outcome.
Can existing clearance be used on another security-sensitive contract?+
Possibly, but it must be checked through the proper sponsor and receiving authority. A verified BPSS may also be required before a share or transfer is processed. Do not assume an existing clearance is active or accepted.
What if I have lived or worked overseas?+
Declare it fully. Overseas residence may require additional evidence or enquiries; it is not, by itself, an automatic refusal.
Who can tell me the progress of my application?+
Your sponsor or nominated security contact is the appropriate route. Managers and colleagues usually cannot see detailed vetting information.
What outcomes are possible?+
Clearance may be awarded, awarded with aftercare, awarded with caveats or restrictions, refused, or voluntarily withdrawn. The sponsor will communicate the relevant outcome.
I have not received my secure forms invitation. What should I do?+
Check your junk or spam folder and confirm that the Security Clearance Team has the correct email address. If the invitation is still missing, contact the team using the details on this page. Do not forward another person’s invitation or access link.
I used the wrong email address. Can it be changed?+
Contact the Security Clearance Team so the approved-viewer record can be checked. For security, access cannot be transferred simply by forwarding an invitation.
My secure access has expired. How do I regain access?+
Request a fresh access review from the Security Clearance Team. Access is granted only for a current business need and may be removed or allowed to expire when that need ends.
Can I use the secure forms portal on a mobile phone?+
The portal may open on a mobile device, but a managed computer with a supported browser is recommended for downloading, completing and securely handling documents. Follow your organisation’s device and information-handling rules.
Who approves access to the forms?+
The Advanced Engineering Group Security Clearance Team reviews the request and business need. Access to forms does not create or confirm sponsorship, clearance or permission to enter a security-sensitive site.
10 / OFFICIAL SOURCES
Latest official updates
Current guidance from GOV.UK, AccessNI and Disclosure Scotland. Five GOV.UK sources are checked automatically; the regional services link directly to their latest official guidance.
Waiting to check official sources.
What updates automatically? This section retrieves five official GOV.UK pages covering UKSV contacts, SC applicants, sponsors, BPSS and basic DBS checks. A source update may be editorial; read the publisher’s change note and full guidance for its effect.
Northern Ireland and Scotland: AccessNI and Disclosure Scotland are included as direct official sources. Their cards link to the latest guidance but are not automatically checked for changes by this site.
Company instructions and downloadable forms are reviewed separately by the Advanced Engineering Group Security Clearance Team. This feature does not replace forms, check individual clearance records, send alerts or run checks while the page is closed.
Source content: GOV.UK, available under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Previous successful checks may be stored on this device and are labelled if a new check fails.
Content governanceOwner: Advanced Engineering Group Security Clearance TeamLast reviewed: 16 October 2026Next scheduled review: January 2027, or sooner if official guidance changes
11 / FOR EMPLOYERS
Build your security-sensitive project team
Speak to Advanced Engineering Group about engineering resource, mobilisation and sponsor-led clearance coordination for controlled environments.
Project staffing
Discuss the disciplines, location, programme and access requirements for your project.
Mobilisation support
Plan BPSS readiness, onboarding evidence and secure submission routes around your delivery schedule.
Clearance coordination
Route existing-clearance validation, sharing or transfer activity through the appropriate sponsor and receiving authority.
Start a conversation
Tell us what the project needs.
Share the role types, work location and intended timescale. Do not send personal vetting information or completed clearance documents.
Advanced Engineering Group can support project staffing and process coordination. National security vetting decisions remain with UKSV and applications require an authorised sponsor.
WE’RE HIRING
Build your career with Advanced Engineering Group.
Join our growing teams delivering high-quality engineering solutions across the UK, Ireland and Europe. View the latest opportunities and application details on our official careers page.
Apply directly to us.We welcome applications submitted through the Advanced Engineering Group careers page, where you’ll find the latest vacancies and application details.
View current vacancies ↗
12 / PRIVACY AND COOKIES
How this site uses information
Advanced Engineering Group Ltd is responsible for personal information used through this guidance site. This notice explains the limited analytics and contact information involved; it does not replace any separate privacy information supplied during employment, sponsorship or formal vetting.
Optional analytics
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We do not deliberately send names, email addresses, dates of birth, clearance references, questionnaire answers, completed form contents or identity-document contents as custom analytics events.
Purpose and lawful basis
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Sharing and retention
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Clarity retention information ↗ Microsoft privacy statement ↗
Contact and secure-form access
If you email or call us, we use the contact details and information you provide to respond, support project onboarding and, where requested, assess a business need for access to the separate secure forms portal. Do not send completed vetting questionnaires or sensitive identity, financial or health information to the general email address.
Approved-viewer account and access information is limited to what is needed to manage secure access and investigate misuse. It is retained only for as long as required for that purpose and applicable company obligations.
Your choices and rights
You can withdraw analytics consent at any time. Depending on the circumstances, you may also ask for access to, correction of, deletion of or restriction on personal information, or object to its use. Contact info@advancedeng-ltd.com. You may complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.
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13 / ACCESSIBILITY
Using this guidance
We want this site to be usable with keyboards, screen readers, zoom and reduced-motion settings across desktop and mobile devices.
What we have done
The page uses a logical heading structure, labelled controls, alternative text, keyboard-operated navigation and FAQs, visible focus styles, a skip link and reduced-motion support.
Tell us about a problem
If you cannot access part of this guidance or need information in another format, email the team with the page section and the help you need. Do not include sensitive vetting information.
Report an accessibility problemNEED SUPPORT?
Speak to the Advanced Engineering Group Security Clearance Team.
For project onboarding, sponsorship routes, existing-clearance checks or security-sensitive site-access queries, contact the nominated project or compliance lead.