NV1 and NV2 security clearance: What does AGSVA check? 

Needing a Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1) security clearance or a Negative Vetting Level 2 (NV2) security clearance? Understanding exactly what the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) investigates is crucial to your success.

These security clearances are a prerequisite to high-paying, future-proofed roles in Defence and Government. From cyber security and aerospace to sovereign defence programs like AUKUS submarines and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), they are the initial requirement to access Australia’s biggest industrial projects.

You must pass an extensive assessment before you can step into a Designated Security Assessed Position (DSAP) and access classified information.

We will go through what the AGSVA checks during the NV1 and NV2 vetting processes to provide you with guidance on what may be asked. Before we do that, it’s important to understand the two security clearance levels.

What is the difference between NV1 and NV2 clearances?

• NV1 (Secret): Permits ongoing access to classified resources up to and including the Secret level, and temporary access to Top Secret in certain circumstances.
• NV2 (Top Secret): Permits ongoing access to classified resources up to and including the Top Secret level.

What do they check for NV1 and NV2 security clearances?

Eligibility

You must meet two non-negotiable requirements set by the Australian Government before anything else. These are:

• Australian citizenship: You must be an Australian citizen. While rare waivers exist in exceptional circumstances for government roles, they are generally unavailable for the Defence Industry.
• Checkable background: Applicants must be able to provide a checkable background from the last 10 years. AGSVA will assess your residential history, employment history, and overall background.

Overseas travel requirements

All overseas travel within this period must be fully disclosed. This assessment is particularly important if you have spent more than 365 days overseas during the 10 year period. Additional referees may be required to verify your extended overseas travel.

Additional referees

Referees must be contactable by both phone and email. Keep in mind when you are picking any additional referees, they should:

• Ideally be Australian citizens. If that’s not possible, the AGSVA may accept referees from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or New Zealand.
• Know you either personally or professionally, but they can’t be related to you or be a current or former partner.
• Have had regular contact with you during the extended overseas period and be able to corroborate your activities and whereabouts during this time.

Suitability

The vetting process for the NV1 clearance and the NV2 clearance in Australia is ultimately designed to assess your integrity and risk level. The AGSVA evaluates your suitability to hold a clearance. They do this using six core character traits defined in the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF):

1.  Honesty

2.  Trustworthiness

3.  Maturity

4.  Tolerance

5.  Resilience

6.  Loyalty

Primary investigation areas

Once WorkSec initiates your application, you will be given access to the myClearance portal. You will have up to 20 business days to submit your detailed vetting ePack application. 

The AGSVA will conduct a comprehensive review across several major areas:

• Employment and education: A full verification of your work history, including referee interviews with former supervisors to gauge your reliability in professional settings.
• Residential history: A detailed map of where you have lived for the last 10 years 
• Financial situation: An assessment of your financial stability to ensure you are not under undue financial stress, which could make you vulnerable to bribery or coercion.
• Digital footprint (OSINT): An Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) review of your online presence and digital associations to ensure they align with government security standards.
• Travel and foreign associations: A complete record of your international travel to identify any potential risks of foreign influence. 

Why is the NV2 security clearance process more intensive?

As the key difference between an NV1 security clearance and an NV2 security clearance is the level of access you need, the depth of assessment is also different and more intense.

In Australia, an NV1 security clearance level allows access to SECRET information, while an NV2 security clearance allows access to TOP SECRET information. 

As a result, AGSVA applies more detailed checks to assess suitability and risk. The same core areas are reviewed for both the NV1 and NV2 security clearances, however, the level of scrutiny increases at NV2.

At NV2 level, this typically includes:

• More comprehensive referee checks, including additional independent sources
• Mandatory security interviews conducted in greater depth.
• More detailed financial assessments, including broader household considerations

The NV2 process is more intensive to ensure individuals entrusted with TOP SECRET access meet the highest standards of reliability and integrity.

How long does the AGSVA vetting process take?

These security clearances take time to process because they grant access to highly sensitive national security information. As a general guide, the total average timeframe is 3 months for an NV1 security clearance and 5 months for an NV2 security clearance. These timeframes can fluctuate based on the complexity of your background and how quickly you and your referees respond to information requests. 

Why sponsorship is the crucial first step

One of the most common misconceptions is that you can initiate an AGSVA security clearance application on your own. You cannot. You must be sponsored by a government agency or an accredited Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) provider to initiate your security clearance application.

Before your application even reaches the AGSVA, a DISP accredited sponsor like WorkSec will conduct a mandatory Employment Suitability Check (ESC). This screening is aligned with AS4811:2022 standards and includes a 100-point identity verification. It also includes a Criminal History Check through Nation Crime Check (NCC). The process identifies any potential red flags early, ensuring you are placement-ready for Defence contracts before the formal vetting begins. 

Additionally, WorkSec will look at your employment history and skill set and compare that against the Designed Security Assessed Position (DSAP) as part of the Employment Suitability Check.

A security clearance is a career long asset

Getting your clearance is just the beginning. It is a career long asset that requires constant care. Security clearances are not a set and forget. 

WorkSec can act as the sponsor for the life of your clearance as long as you have engaged us to do so. We charge for our clearance sponsorship on an annual basis. 

We can act as the bridge between you and the AGSVA for the entire life of your clearance.

Secure your clearance pathway with WorkSec

To successfully navigate the vetting process and maintain an active security clearance throughout your career, you need a partner that understands the nuances of the PSPF and DISP standards.

If you are ready to advance your career in the Australian Defence Industry, WorkSec provides the streamlined security clearance sponsorship and ongoing governance you need at the NV1 and NV2 levels. Our team offers extended support hours, seven days a week, to ensure you have the help you need when you need it.

Reach out to WorkSec today to take the next step in securing your trusted workforce future.