Published on 3 March 2026

Personnel security screening

Personnel security screening (PSS) is a preventive measure designed to safeguard the internal and external security of Switzerland.

Personnel Security Screenings are carried out on individuals in security-sensitive positions. — © iStock

The purpose of PSS is to identify and mitigate the risk that a specific individual could intentionally or negligently undermine essential security interests. It is intended to protect public interests such as the decision-making autonomy and freedom of action of federal authorities and organisations, Switzerland’s internal and external security, foreign policy interests, and the country's economic, financial and monetary policy interests.

The legal basis for personnel security screenings is set out in the Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128), the special legal provisions referred to therein, and the implementing provisions of the Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31).

The Personnel Security Screening Unit of the Federal Chancellery is responsible for screenings of State Secretaries, Secretaries General, Office directors and their deputies, Senior staff officers, heads of mission and delegates for digital transformation and ICT Steering, as well as employees of the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS).

The Personnel Security Screening Unit at SEPOS

The Personnel Security Screening Unit within the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) is assigned to the State Secretariat for Security Policy (SEPOS). It carries out PSS in cooperation with the federal and cantonal security authorities.

Its main office is located in Bern. In addition, the Personnel Security Screening Unit is represented in the six recruitment centers of the army.

Initiating and deciding authorities

PSS may only be initiated by designated initiating authorities (see Art. 31 ISG and Art. 15 VPSP). The Personnel Security Screening Unit conducts the screening and informs the designated deciding authority of the outcome. The deciding authority then determines whether the individual concerned may assume the relevant function (see Art. 41 para. 2 ISG and Art. 24 VPSP).

Core process of a personnel security screening

Core process of a personnel security screening — © SEPOS

The initiating authority collects the necessary data for personnel security screening and initiates the screening process. It is typically located within the organisation itself, usually within the Human Resources department. It is responsible for determining the appropriate screening domain and the correct vetting level, and for ensuring compliance with the applicable function lists.

Once the PSS has been recorded, it is transmitted electronically to the competent Personnel Security Screening Unit. This specialist unit conducts the PSS, and for this purpose, collects information relating to the person's lifestyle. Based on this information, the Personnel Security Screening Unit evaluates the security risk and issues a recommendation.

Upon completion of the PSS, the deciding authority receives this recommendation.

It is the responsibility of the deciding authority to determine whether to follow the recommendation of the Personnel Security  Screening Unit. It decides whether the individual may perform the function without restriction, may perform it subject to specific conditions, or may not perform it. The deciding authority may therefore deviate from the Personnel Security Screening Unit’s recommendation and may, for example, impose its own conditions to mitigate a safety risk. Organisationally, deciding authorities are generally situated at the highest management levels of the Federal offices or State Secretariats. In the case of third parties subject to industrial security procedures, the decision is made by the Industrial Security Unit.