Duplicate, transfer, or reactivate a reliability status or security clearance

Find out if you may request to duplicate, transfer or reactivate an individual's reliability status or security clearance and explore the processes to do so. Understand whether an individual can work while the duplication, transfer or reactivation request is being processed.

Note

As of October 4, 2021, organizations can only request a duplicate, transfer or reactivation of an employee’s reliability status or security clearance if the individual has a valid requirement to access protected or classified information, assets or worksites.

Visit who is eligible for a personnel security screening for more information on an individual’s eligibility for personnel security screening.

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Duplicating a reliability status or security clearance

The company security officer (CSO) or alternate company security officer (ACSO) may request a duplicate of a valid reliability status or security clearance that an individual holds with 1 or more organizations security screened by the Contract Security Program (CSP).

When a reliability status or security clearance may be duplicated

A valid reliability status or security clearance may be duplicated only if there has been no change of circumstance, such as a criminal conviction.

If the reliability status or security clearance cannot be duplicated, the CSO or ACSO will need to submit a new or update personnel security screening request.

Request a duplicate

Refer to requests to duplicate, transfer or reactivate to learn more about how to duplicate a reliability status or security clearance.

Working on a contract while the duplication request is being processed

An employee may begin work on a contract when:

  • the duplication request is noted as "pending" after the CSP verifies that the employee's original reliability status or security clearance is active and in good standing
  • the government procurement officer managing the contract verifies with the CSP that the employee is eligible to begin work on the contract

Note

Some departments do not allow employees to work on contracts with security requirements until the duplication of their reliability status or security clearance has been completed.

Transferring a reliability status or security clearance

The CSO or ACSO may request a transfer when another Government of Canada department or agency holds the employee's valid reliability status or security clearance.

When a reliability status or security clearance may be transferred

A valid reliability status or security clearance may be transferred only if:

  • there has been no change of circumstance, such as a criminal conviction
  • the security screening results are not more than 5 years old
  • the security screening was previously done in accordance with the Standard on security screening
  • there is no adverse information on file

If the reliability status or security clearance cannot be transferred, the CSO or ACSO will need to submit a new or update personnel security screening request.

Request a transfer

Refer to requests to duplicate, transfer or reactivate to learn more about transferring a reliability status or security clearance.

Employees with a higher security clearance than the organization

An employee maintains their higher security clearance level, even when their security clearance is being duplicated or transferred in an organization with a lower level of security. When the security clearance is due to be updated, it will be reassessed based on the needs at that time. Please note that this will not entitle the employee to maintain a higher information level than the one required to perform their duties with the organization, nor will it entitle the organization to be awarded contracts or perform work at the employee's higher level.

Reactivating a previously held reliability status or security clearance

The CSO or ACSO may request a reactivation when an employee held a reliability status or security clearance with an organization if:

In cases where a reliability status or security clearance was held by another Government of Canada department or agency, a reactivation may include other checks if:

If the reliability status or security clearance cannot be reactivated the CSO or ACSO will need to submit a new personnel security screening request.

Process to reactivate

Refer to requests to duplicate, transfer or reactivate for more information about how to reactivate a previously held reliability status or security clearance.

To reactivate a reliability status or security clearance that was terminated more than 1 year ago, the CSO or ACSO must send the applicant to have their electronic fingerprints taken.

Learn more about the mandatory electronic fingerprints process.

Requests to duplicate, transfer or reactivate

To request a duplicate, transfer or reactivation, the CSO or ACSO and the employee must complete and submit a Personnel screening, consent and authorization form (TBS/SCT 330-23E).

Review the instructions on properly completing sections A to D of the Personnel screening, consent and authorization form.

Note

For a transfer request, complete section B, providing the name of the department, the level of security clearance and the year the screening was done.

Once the request process is completed, the CSO or ACSO will receive a Security screening certificate and briefing form (TBS/SCT 330-47) for signature.

Refer to the security officer's guide to completing and submitting personnel security screening forms.

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