A security screening looks at whether someone is honest, independent, loyal, sincere, and security aware. This is recorded in the Security Screening Act (Wet Veiligheidsonderzoeken).
If a person is going to work with confidential information or at a special location, they may hold a position involving confidentiality. In that case, the Security Screening Unit (Unit Veiligheidsonderzoeken, UVO) carries out a security screening into the person in question. The UVO is a joint department of the General Intelligence and Security Service (Algemene Inlichtingen en Veiligheidsdienst, AIVD) and the Military Intelligence and Security Service (Militaire Inlichtingen en Veiligheidsdienst, MIVD). Only after the security screening investigation has been completed and a certificate of no objection (Verklaring van geen bezwaar, VGB) has been issued, the person under consideration for or in a position involving confidentiality can start working.
A position involving confidentiality is a position in which someone could damage the national security. If a person abuses their access to information or specific locations, it could have serious consequences for the Netherlands.
Click here for general information about the (the process surrounding) the security screening, the different security clearance levels, a clearance, and frequently asked questions.