United Kingdom Security Vetting: Contact Us
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-13)

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is the main UK government provider of security clearances.

Before contacting us

Before contacting the UKSV Helpdesk, please read the information contained in the links below. Answers to most queries can be found within these pages.

Applicant (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-applicant)

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: Guidance for applicants (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-national-security-vetting-solution-guidance-for-subjects)

Existing clearance holders (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-existing-clearance-holders)

Sponsor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-sponsor)

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: Guidance for sponsors (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uksv-national-security-vetting-solution-portal-guidance-for-sponsors)

Decision Maker (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-decision-maker)

Referees, Hiring Managers, Contractors and Consultants (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vettingreferees-hiring-managers-contractors-and-consultants)

Forms and Guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-security-vetting)

International personnel security clearance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-security-vetting-international-personnel-security-clearances)

Contacting the UKSV Helpdesk

The UKSV Helpdesk facilitates enquiries about cases handled by United Kingdom Security Vetting. All vetting applicants and sponsor queries should be directed to the UKSV Helpdesk.

Sponsors, applicants and existing clearance holders can now submit your enquiries directly to the UKSV Helpdesk via our web portal. (https://helpdesk.uksv.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/s/)

The UKSV Helpdesk phone number is xx-xxxx-xxxx.

The phone lines are open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm and on Fridays from 9am to 12pm.

We recommend using the web portal method for initial enquiries as it will ensure the correct information is captured and categorised so that our teams can process it as quickly as possible. However, if your enquiry type cannot be found on the form, please see the Further Enquiries process below.

We advise that that very sensitive or personal information should not be shared unless using a secure file-sharing platform.

Festive Period Opening Hours

Please find below advance notice of the UKSV Helpdesk operating hours during the festive period:

Monday 22 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Tuesday 23 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Wednesday 24 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Thursday 25 December – closed for Bank Holiday

Friday 26 December – closed for Bank Holiday

Monday 29 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Tuesday 30 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Wednesday 31 December – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Thursday 01 January – closed for Bank Holiday

Friday 02 January – reduced operating hours, 9am – 1pm

Please submit any urgent priority requests by noon on Monday 22 or 29 December to ensure action before the Bank Holidays. Any urgent requests received over the weekend will be picked up as a priority on Monday morning as usual.

Helpdesk requests can still be submitted over the festive period via the web portal service (https://helpdesk.uksv.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/s/) or via the email service.

Help us to help you

The UKSV Helpdesk would like to help you with your query as quickly as possible. To help us do this, when contacting the UKSV Helpdesk please make sure you are prepared with all the necessary information:

Sponsor

If you are a Sponsor, please provide us with:
- Your Sponsor ID. This is needed every time you need to contact us.
- Applicant’s full name.
- Applicant’s Date of Birth / Case ID
Please note:

ASI / VSI information can only be discussed with registered Sponsors who have NSVS Sponsor accounts. If you have forgotten your Sponsor ID or if you have registered for an account but not received your Sponsor ID yet, please contact the UKSV Helpdesk. You will be asked a number of questions to establish your identity. Once your identity has been confirmed we will inform you of your Sponsor ID.

If you have not registered for an account please contact your authorising body or Departmental Security Officer: If you are MOD, a list of authorising bodies can be found on the Defence Net / UKSV Team site / Departmental Security Authorities link. Other government department sponsors should contact their DSO.

Vetting Applicant

If you are a Vetting Applicant please provide us with:
- Your full legal name and Date Of Birth on all correspondence
- Town of Birth
- Case ID if known.
Failure to pass the security questions will result in your request being refused.

Without the above information the UKSV Helpdesk is unable to respond to queries received and this will delay responses to your queries.

If you are calling in response to receiving a Reminder Email requesting urgent action - please fully check your Spam / Junk folders for the original request, before contacting the UKSV Helpdesk.

Please note that a Change of Personal Circumstances (CPC) should now be submitted via the NSVS portal and not to the Helpdesk as set out in this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/change-of-personal-circumstances).

If required to complete a Security Appraisal Form (SAF), please refer to the guidance here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/security-appraisal-form-saf).

Please also note that the Helpdesk is unable to view or reset PINs, Passwords or Usernames. This is a self-service function that will need to be done on the portal. If you are unable to log into the portal it is advisable to use ‘Forgotten Username’ before attempting to use ‘Forgotten Password’.

Further Enquiries

Please see the types of enquiries that should be directed to our other points of contact rather than the UKSV Helpdesk:

Complaints

How to make a complaint to UKSV (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-make-a-complaint-to-united-kingdom-security-vetting).