Have you ever wondered how other countries process their applicants for a security clearance? Is it more or less stringent? It depends on what country we are talking about. Let’s take Australia for instance. They are in a strategic geographic region and have to be politically sensitive to relations with China, as well as the United States. Here are some basic facts on their security clearance processes: Show
They have four security clearance levels:
According to data released by the Australian Government, over 49,000 new security clearances were completed in 2019-20, and over 400,000 active clearances were maintained in the same year. Just as in the U.S., to be eligible for a clearance the applicant must be an Australian citizen and be hired for a job that requires a security clearance with a company who is willing to sponsor it. The next step is getting vetted by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). The vetting (investigation) includes verifying identity, citizenship, background (between 5-10 years), digital footprint, references, qualifications, education, criminal history and financial history. Depending on the clearance level some will undergo additional steps such as security interviews and psychological assessments. The higher the clearance, the more information sought out and sorted through. A baseline clearance can take 3 months, and an NV1 clearance can take up to six months. Baseline vetting costs $884 Australian dollars ($647 US) and Positive Vetting costs $15,280 Australian dollars ($11,192 US), which is substantially more than U.S. investigative costs. People spitting out random timeframes but the truth is it depends. If you are fresh out of uni, lived at only a handful of addresses (in Australia) your whole life, no foreign contacts (and no travel to dodgy countries), it will be a lot quicker than the opposite. Someone from a more hostile nation e.g. Russia who only moved to Australia / gained citizenship more recently? You bet that will take significantly longer. Skip to content
If you’re looking for work in government, chances are you’ve heard about security clearances. For many, it’s a topic that makes us feel our hands are tied. What are they? Do you need one? How do you get one? Who issues them? What do they cost? So many questions need to be answered. Our recruitment experts have pulled together this starter guide to help demystify the security clearance process. What is a security clearance?A security clearance (also called vetting) determines if you can be entrusted with classified information and resources as part of your work. You’ll only be granted a clearance if you demonstrate integrity and character traits indicating you can protect Australian Government resources. These traits are honesty, trustworthiness, maturity, tolerance, resilience and loyalty. You don’t need a security clearance to access information that doesn’t have a security classification. Are there different levels?In Australia, the federal, state and territory governments have four security clearance levels—Baseline, Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1), Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) and Positive Vetting (PV). Each level allows you to access different levels of information, from ‘protected’ to ‘top secret’. Here are more details on security clearance levels. Who issues them?The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA)—Australia’s central vetting agency—conducts security clearance assessments for federal, state and territory agencies. How do I know if I need one?Job applications specify if a security clearance is required, and what level. How do I get one?As an individual, you can’t sponsor yourself for, or order and pay for a security clearance yourself. You need to be sponsored by a government department or official to apply. This is a Catch-22 for many applicants who can’t get a government job without a clearance but can’t get a clearance without being sponsored by government. If you’re sponsored, you apply through ASGVA. Important:
How long does it take to get a security clearance, and can I speed up the process?Getting a security clearance doesn’t happen overnight. Processing timeframes can range from a month up to 12 months. As an applicant you have no control over this and can’t ask for urgent turnaround. I’m interested a position that requires a security clearance but don’t have one. Can I still apply?You can apply, but it takes time to get a security clearance, so if the position requires an immediate start, you likely won’t get the job. What information do I need to provide?You’ll need much more than photo ID when applying for a security clearance. You’ll need tax details, referee details, a statutory declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace and other information. The number and type of documents varies depending on the clearance level. The higher the security clearance, the more background information you’ll need to provide, including where you’ve lived for the past 15 years. Does it cost anything to get a security clearance and who pays?Costs range from more than $700 for Baseline up to more than $10,000 for a PV. You’ll need to check if the organisation you’re joining (public or private sector) will cover the costs. If you’re applying for government on-going or non-ongoing roles, the department you’ll be working for will do so. What are my responsibilities as a holder of a security clearance?As a security clearance holder, you have many responsibilities. AGSVA has these on its website. How often does my security clearance need to be reviewed?All security clearances are reviewed at regular intervals. Review times vary depending on level and if you have continuous work with the same department: Baseline—15 years Negative Vetting 1—10 years Negative Vetting 2—7 years Positive Vetting—7 years. AGSVA will email you when your security clearance is to be reviewed. Note: Keep your contact details up-to-date with AGSVA or they won’t be able to contact you. This can be detrimental to your clearance review. It’s your responsibility to keep AGSVA up-to-date. I have a police check. Will this be enough to apply for a security clearance?No it’s not. You might need a police check as part of your security clearance application, but a police check alone isn’t enough. They are two different things. I’m registered with a recruitment agency. Can they apply for a security clearance for me?Recruitment agencies can’t sponsor you for a security clearance or apply for you. face2face will, however, help you better understand security clearances and how this affects jobs you want to apply for. TIPIf you land a government role that didn’t require a security clearance, you can—once you’ve proven yourself—ask if your department will sponsor you for a Baseline security clearance. If the department says yes, they may require you to cover the cost. It would be a great investment. Share this article with your friends.Related PostsPage load linkHow do I get a security clearance in Australia?All security clearances must be sponsored by the approved sponsoring entity who requires the individual to access Australian Government sensitive or classified information. Individuals cannot sponsor their own security clearance.
How long does it take to process a typical security clearance?In general, expect a CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET clearance to take between 1 and 3 months. A TOP SECRET will probably take between 4 and 8 months. However, some individuals have been waiting for the results of their TOP SECRET investigation for more than one year.
What are the 5 levels of security clearance Australia?Personnel security policy and clearances. What is the highest level of security clearance available in Australia?The four levels of security clearance:
Baseline Clearance – Access to protected information. Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) – Access to secret information. Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) – Access to top secret information. Positive Vetting (PV) – Access to top secret information when NV2 clearance isn't sufficient.
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How long does it take to get a security clearance Australia?
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