Personal conduct and circumstances guide

This guide has been designed to clarify how personal conduct and circumstances are relevant to security screenings. It describes the framework used by the services when carrying out security screenings.

If a service grants Security Clearance, which takes the form of a ‘verklaring van geen bezwaar’, VGB (literally ‘a statement of no objection’), it has no objection on national security grounds to the subject taking up the position involving confidentiality. The security screening process always leads to a decision that is specific to a certain person in a certain position. First the guide explains on which principles an assessment is based. Subsequently, it deals with the criteria a person filling a post involving confidentiality has to meet and which indicators may point to any risks and vulnerabilities regarding this person. Finally it explains how the screening is regulated and how the procedure of appeals is organised.