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.
03A / 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 ↗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.
08 / 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.
09 / 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.
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.