SUPO conducted more than 109,000 security clearance vettings in 2025

The number of security clearance vettings exceeded 100,000 for the second consecutive year.

The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO) conducted more than 100,000 security clearance vettings for the first time in 2024. That number was also exceeded last year, even though the total number of 109,000 was a few thousand less than the 115,000 vettings carried out in the previous year.

Approximately 88,000 new vettings were performed and around 21,000 existing security clearances were utilised in people’s new positions.

Approximately 47,000 concise security clearance vettings were performed and they accounted for more than half of all security clearance vettings. Concise security clearance vetting may take place, for example, when an employee's duties involve accessing secure premises. At approximately 40,000, the number of standard security clearance vettings was at nearly the same level. Comprehensive security clearance vetting continues to apply only to special cases, and just over 600 were performed last year.

SUPO has focused on developing the use of interviews in the security clearance vetting procedure. If necessary, they can be utilised in all scopes of security clearance vetting. More than 900 security clearance vetting interviews were conducted last year.

Employers were informed of security clearance vetting observations in about three percent of the cases

Security clearance vetting involves examining the background of a person in order to ensure their reliability in relation to the position for which the vetting is performed. SUPO uses overall consideration and only informs the organisation requesting security clearance vetting of details that may be relevant to performing the duties in question.

Last year, SUPO notified employers of relevant information revealed during security clearance vetting around 2,600 times. This corresponds to approximately three percent of the cases. Employers can use this information to support their recruitment decisions or to assess whether a person can continue in their position.

Last year, almost all vettings were completed in less than two months. On average, security clearance vettings were completed within 12 working days, i.e. slightly over two weeks.

Inquiries

SUPO communications, tel. +358 50 402 6981, [email protected]