Identity & status
Current identity documents, nationality details, citizenship and immigration status where applicable.
PERSONNEL SECURITY • SECURITY-SENSITIVE PROJECT READINESS
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
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.
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.
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 / 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.
05 / 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.
06 / COMMON QUESTIONS
Before you contact the team
How long does SC clearance take?+
There is no guaranteed standard time. It varies with individual circumstances, the completeness of the form and checks required. Reply quickly to requests and do not make irreversible employment decisions until an outcome is confirmed.
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.
07 / DOWNLOADS
Clearance forms and guidance
Download blank copies for preparation. Always confirm with your sponsor or security contact that you have the correct current version before completing or submitting a form.
COMPLETE PACK · ZIP
Download complete pack ↓
SC clearance forms pack
All four documents in one compressed folder.
Baseline completion notes
Instructions for completing the BPSS verification record.
Download file ↓BPSS verification record
Blank applicant, reference, employment and sponsor record.
Download file ↓Electronic vetting form
Blank candidate information sheet for the vetting process.
Download file ↓Official Secrets Act declaration
Form 134 declaration supplied in the document pack.
Download file ↓Completed forms must be checked and submitted securely by the contractor.Do not upload or email completed forms through this public site. Completed documents may contain identity, nationality, criminal-record and security-vetting information. The contractor must check them and send them only through the correct secure route specified by the authorised sponsor. Forms must not be submitted by unauthorised personnel; unauthorised submissions will be rejected.
NEED 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.