BPSS Security Clearance
BPSS checks (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) are critical for reducing the risk of illegal workers, identity fraud and protecting national security.
What are BPSS Security Clearance Checks?
A BPSS check is comprised of four essential components, collectively known as RICE:
- Right to Work – Verification of nationality and immigration status, including entitlement to undertake the specified work.
- Identity – ID data check, including electronic identity authentication (name, address, aliases, links, accounts, etc.).
- Criminal Records – Search for unspent convictions (Basic Disclosure).
- Employment History Check – Confirmation of at least three years of employment history or activity.
These checks ensure compliance, reduce risks, and maintain trust within sensitive roles.
Why choose CBS for BPSS Security Clearance Checks?
BPSS is one of our most frequently selected screening services. As industry leaders, CBS combines years of experience with a purpose-built, NSV-compliant system that streamlines the process and delivers results quickly and securely online – eliminating the delays associated with traditional, paper-based checks.
Our service includes global screening capabilities, enabling you to manage candidates who have spent significant periods abroad (six months or more in the past three years) with ease. By offering the international equivalent of BPSS, we ensure your organisation remains compliant across all borders.
- 100% validated results
- 80% of applications completed in 24 hours
- Quick and easy, free registration
- A web-based solution available 24/7 from any location
- Pay-as-you-go service
Our solutions guarantee 100% submission rate with zero errors
BPSS at a Glance
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks are critical for reducing the risk of illegal working, identity fraud and protecting national security. They form the UK Government’s baseline pre-employment standard for anyone who needs access to government premises, public-sector systems or official information.
BPSS is not a certificate you apply for, it’s a process employers must complete to confirm identity, right to work, criminal record and recent employment history before granting access to secure environments.
CBS delivers BPSS screening at scale through a secure, digital workflow designed for government-linked contracts, major suppliers and multi-site organisations.
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Why BPSS Screening Matters
BPSS clearance is a contractual expectation across public-sector frameworks such as Crown Commercial Service (CCS), G-Cloud/Digital Marketplace, Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office contracts, NHS Digital and DEFRA supplier arrangements.
Failure to complete BPSS correctly can delay onboarding, block security passes or breach contract terms. Home Office civil penalties for inadequate Right to Work verification are up to £45,000 per worker for a first breach and £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches. CBS ensures each BPSS record is compliant, consistent and audit-ready.
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Who Needs BPSS?
BPSS is typically required for:
- Access to government buildings or official IT networks.
- Handling official or sensitive public data.
- Working within or alongside central government departments or agencies.
- Suppliers and subcontractors operating under CCS, G-Cloud or defence frameworks.
- Facilities, engineering or IT contractors accessing secure estates.
It is often a mandatory condition before security passes are issued or system access is granted.
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Common Employer Mistakes and How CBS Prevents Them
- Treating BPSS as a certificate – BPSS is a process, not a document. CBS supplies complete evidence packs for audits.
- Missing Right to Work evidence – Inadequate verification risks Home Office penalties. CBS integrates digital capture and retention of documents.
- Using outdated identity routes – From November 2025, the new DBS identity routes are mandatory. CBS enforces the correct route automatically.
- Gaps in employment history – Unexplained gaps delay onboarding. CBS prompts applicants to complete every period.
How CBS delivers BPSS screening
- End-to-end BPSS workflow aligned to Cabinet Office guidance
- Integrated Basic DBS component with 2025 identity routes
- Digital Right to Work and ID verification
- Automated audit logs and document retention
- Bulk processing and tracking for multi-site recruitment
- Reporting for HR, compliance and procurement teams
BPSS FAQs
Right to Work, Identity verification, a Basic criminal records check and at least three years of Employment History with gaps explained. These four elements are known as RICE.
Anyone requiring access to UK government data, systems or premises, including employees, contractors and suppliers working on public-sector or defence contracts.
No, BPSS is a process. Employers carry out the checks and keep evidence for audits and contract reviews.
Most BPSS applications complete within 24–48 hours once documents are provided. International or complex history may take longer.
Yes. CBS provides international equivalents where permissible where candidates have lived abroad for six months or more within the last three years.
There is no fixed expiry. Many organisations rescreen every 3–5 years or prior to re-engagement on new contracts.
It can delay onboarding, fail audits or breach contract conditions. Home Office civil penalties for Right to Work failures can reach £45,000 per worker for a first offence.
CBS provides a digital, NSV-aligned platform that validates documents, enforces 2025 criminal records identity routes, stores audit evidence and integrates the Basic DBS element.
Our solutions guarantee 100% submission rate with zero errors
CBS IN NUMBERS
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Processing solutions
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