Vetting

What is vetting and why is it important?

Vetting is the process to identify and manage any risks that could make our secrets vulnerable, and it takes place to help keep you and our organisations safe. MI5 work with very sensitive information, therefore most employees are required to obtain Developed Vetting (DV), which is the highest level of government security clearance.

To attain DV clearance, you will attend a vetting interview. Trained vetting officers will begin to build an open and honest relationship with you and get to know you as a whole person. Everyone is different, and it is our different perspectives and experiences that make us a stronger team.

Some of the questions during the interview may feel intrusive, but our vetting officers are professional, discreet, and compassionate. Your vetting information will be held safely and securely, separate from recruitment information. If you are granted clearance, this is the beginning of a constructive relationship with our vetting team, and we’ll keep working with you to manage your clearance. You can learn more about DV in the video below.

Advice to candidates

We do not publicly disclose the identities of our staff. Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application other than with your partner or a close family member, providing they are British. You should inform them of the importance of discretion. You should not post on social media about your application or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive guidance during the recruitment process.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.

What does the vetting process involve?

Your Information
Questionnaires

You will complete detailed questionnaires, discussing these with a vetting officer and agreeing references for interview. To avoid delays to your application please provide full and accurate information.

Our Experts
Vetting Officer

Vetting officers are not employed to make moral judgements, they expect people will have had varied life experiences and will take a realistic view of modern life and its pressures.

Second Opinion
References

Providing character referees is an important part of the vetting process. Your referees should be people who have known you well over a significant period of your life.

If you are not sure how much detail to provide then more is preferable.

Misleading information or omitted information will lead to a rejection.

Later on in the process you will be asked to provide details about yourself, family, partner and friends and associates. You have to provide financial information and there will be a check with a credit reference agency. You will also have to provide information relating to your health and lifestyle.

Do I have to maintain my vetting?

Islamist terrorism is the most significant terrorist threat to the UK by volume.

Islamist terrorists are generally driven by an extreme interpretation of Islam or perceived grievances against ‘the West’, particularly those propagated by terrorist groups such as Daesh (also referred to as ISIL, ISIS or the Islamic State) or al-Qaeda. Much of the volume of the threat is from individuals who have self-radicalised, seeking to carry out attacks using unsophisticated or low-sophistication methodologies. Generally, individuals will decide themselves to conduct an attack, rather than the attack being directed or controlled by a terrorist group. This can make it harder to identify terrorist activity.

There also remains an enduring threat from overseas terrorist groups which seek to inspire, support or enable attacks and which retain an intent to conduct sophisticated attacks.

How do you decide who is granted vetting?

Northern Ireland-related terrorism continues to threaten UK interests. Some dissident republican groups continue to mount terrorist attacks, primarily against security forces but with the potential to cause harm in wider communities in Northern Ireland.

There is a separate terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland-related terrorism in Northern Ireland, which is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). MI5 has an office in Northern Ireland.

Will I get feedback on the vetting?

The extreme right wing terrorism landscape has evolved away from structured groups towards a more diffuse threat where individuals form loose networks, often online. The ideologies and grievance narratives are varied, wide-ranging and often overlapping. They can encompass elements of cultural nationalism, white nationalism, and white supremacism and are often fuelled by conspiracy theories.

Extreme right-wing influencers operating globally online seek to fuel grievances and amplify conspiracy theories. Much of the volume of the threat is from self-radicalised terrorists seeking to conduct low-sophistication attacks. Generally, individuals will decide themselves to conduct an attack, rather than the attack being directed by a terrorist group. This can make it harder to identify terrorist activity.

I already have DV clearance. Do I have to be vetted again?

Left-wing, anarchist and single-issue terrorism makes up a significantly smaller portion of our casework than other forms of terrorism. It encompasses a wide range of ideologies. It includes those from the extreme political left-wing as well as anarchists who seek to use violence to advance their cause in seeking to overthrow the state in all its forms.

What is your policy on using the internet?

What if I have a criminal conviction?

A criminal record would not necessarily preclude an applicant from gaining a job here. Each case is considered on an individual basis and all relevant convictions are taken into account.

Can I apply if I have taken drugs?

Our staff and contractors are subject to a no drugs policy to reflect the adverse impact of illegal drug use and the misuse and abuse of other substances on behaviour, judgement, physical and mental health.

The policy prohibits use, possession or supply of illegal drugs, including use of drugs that are illegal in the UK, but are legal in some other countries. Misuse or abuse of prescribed medication or any other substance is also incompatible with holding security clearance which can be refused or withdrawn if this policy is not observed.

You must adhere to our policy from the point of application onwards. The point of application is the date you submit your application form. During the recruitment process, you may be asked for your consent to provide a sample which will be tested for drugs should your application proceed.

We realise some of our candidates will have used drugs in the past, and this may not be a bar to a successful application, but it is important to be open and honest about your drug/substance use.

Why do I have to give character referees?

Providing character referees is an important part of the vetting process. Your referees should be people who have known you well over a significant period of your life.

During the process you will be given advice on what to tell your referees and how to manage the relationship with them during this period and going forwards.

Will I have to provide personal documents?

You will have to provide a range of documents during the process. Examples include:

current and expired passports
photo card and paper counterpart of your driving licence, if held
recent statements for bank, building society, credit card and store card accounts

This list is not exhaustive.

Will you contact my employer for a reference?

We will need to contact your current employer at an appropriate stage during the process and we will seek your permission to contact them. You will be asked to provide details of past employers.

Why join MI5?

A career at MI5 is like no other. Not only is it rewarding and unique but the variety here is like no-where else. It is this variety that means most people stay at MI5 as they are able to fulfil all their career ambitions here without ever having to leave. We are also committed to rewarding the people who work for us and demonstrating our appreciation for their vital contribution by offering an excellent range of benefits.