DossierPublished on 3 March 2026
Who requires a personnel security screening?
Personnel security screening (PSS) is conducted for individuals who perform security-sensitive activities as part of their role or assignment. PSS is a preventive measure designed to protect against “insider threats”. It achieves this by identifying risks associated with a specific individual in relation to the performance of a security-sensitive activity. Whether a function qualifies as security-sensitive is determined in accordance with Art. 27 to 30 of the Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128).
Specifically, such risks may include, for example, the misuse or unauthorised disclosure of information, acts of sabotage, the causing of reputational or operational damage to the office or to the Federal Administration as a whole, the misuse of federal funds, or the misuse of an issued personal military weapon. The purpose is therefore to assess the likelihood that an individual may intentionally or negligently compromise the federal government’s information security or cause harm to persons.
The following areas can be distinguished:
Please note that the information sheets provided for each group of stakeholders are only available in German, French and Italian. On this page, the German version is provided. For the French and Italian information sheets see the respective language version of this webpage.
Members of the Armed Forces are subject, among other things, to a personnel security screening (PSS) if, in the course of their duties, they perform a security-sensitive activity. Furthermore, at the request of the Armed Forces Personnel Department (PersA), an assessment of the risk or potential for misuse may be carried out for members of the Armed Forces in relation to the (continued) issuance of a personal weapon.
All screenings or assessments concerning members of the Armed Forces may be conducted without the consent of the individual concerned.Initiating authority
Training and Education Command, Armed Forces Personnel
Deciding authority
Training and Education Command, Armed Forces Personnel
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
Security screen officerDocuments
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Federal Act on the Army and the Military Administration (Bundesgesetz über die Armee und die Militärverwaltung, Militärgesetz, MG; SR 510.10)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Federal employees undergo a personnel security screening (PSS) when, in the course of their duties, they perform a security-sensitive function in accordance with Art. 5(b) ISG or meet the requirements set out in Art. 20b(1)(a)-(c) BPG.
Initiating authority
Responsible for HR or federal office
Deciding authority
HR department or federal office
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
HR department or federal officeDocuments
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Personnel Act (Bundespersonalgesetz, BPG; SR 172.220.1)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Cantonal employees may undergo a personnel security screening (PSS) upon request by the competent cantonal authority if they are designated for a position in which they directly participate in federal tasks under the ISG, or if they meet the conditions for a PSS pursuant to Art. 35 para. 1 VPSP. For PSS of cantonal employees, Art. 8 para. 1 VPSP and Art. 8 para. 1bis VPSP are applicable.
The canton must submit a request to the Federal Information Security Office (SEPOS) before initiating a PSS, to determine whether the employee’s role qualifies as security-sensitive. For questions regarding this type of security screenings, including the application and initiation process, please contact the Federal Information Security Office at: infosec@sepos.admin.ch
Initiating authority
This varies from canton to canton. If you have any questions, please contact us at fspsp@sepos.admin.ch.
Deciding authority
This varies from canton to canton. If you have any questions, please contact us at fspsp@sepos.admin.ch.
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
This varies from canton to canton. If you have any questions, please contact us at fspsp@sepos.admin.ch.Documents
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Third parties are employees of businesses and companies. They undergo a personnel security screening (PSS) if they perform security-sensitive function for the Federal Administration, the Armed Forces, or operators of critical infrastructure. Regarding responsibility and the conduct of the PSS, a distinction is made between companies with industrial security declaration (ISD) and those without, as established in the Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128). The Industrial Security Unit is responsible for this distinction and for implementing the relevant procedures.
General provisions
Personnel security screenings (PSS) for third parties and companies may only be initiated once it has been clarified whether the company requires an industrial security declaration.
According to Art. 33 para. 3 ISG, third-party companies performing security-sensitive activities may only be commissioned, or may only commence work, once the PSS of the employees who will provide the service has been completed.
In general, the Personnel Security Screening Unit carries out the screenings within the following timeframes:- Basic personnel security screening: within one month
- Extended personnel security screening without interview: within two months
- Extended personnel security screening with interview: within four months
Stay abroad prior to the personnel security screening – important information:
If a person has lived abroad within the five years preceding the initiation of a PSS, the timeframes indicated above are generally extended by at least two months until the screening is completed. If the Personnel Security Screening Unit does not have access to the necessary data, a Declaration of Findings will be issued.
Detailed information on PSS in the context of foreign stays, including information sheets specifying which documents must be submitted for each country, can be found under personnel security screenings for stays abroad.If the stay abroad cannot be clarified and assessed using a legal system comparable to Switzerland’s and equivalent assessment criteria, no security declaration can be granted. Instead, only a declaration of findings may be issued. In such cases, the deployment of these individuals in security-sensitive roles is generally not permitted.
Initiating authority for companies with industrial security declaration (ISD)
Industrial Security Unit
Initiating authority for companies without industrial security declaration (ISD)
Requesting organisation or its information security officer
Deciding authority for companies with industrial security declaration (ISD)
Industrial Security Unit
Deciding authority for companies without industrial security declaration (ISD)
Relevant office by the requesting organisation
Further information on your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.) can be obtained from the
person responsible for security or the security officer(s) at your company.Documents
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
In accordance with the Federal Act on the Army and the Military Administration (Bundesgesetz über die Armee und die Militärverwaltung, Militärgesetz, MG; SR 510.10), conscripts are assessed during recruitment for the potential risk or misuse related to the issuance of a personal weapon. In addition, depending on their future military role, a personnel security screening may be conducted in accordance with the ISG. All examinations or screenings of conscripts may be carried out without consent.
Stays abroad before recruitment – key considerations:
If there are any (criminal) judgements issued by a foreign authority, complete copy of the judgement, decision, fines, or similar documents must be submitted. Documents that are not in German, French, Italian, or English must be accompanied by a translation from a recognised translator. The databases of the Swiss Association of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters ASTTI and the Swiss Association of Court Interpreters and Translators juslingua.ch offer valuable assistance in finding translation professionals in Switzerland.
In addition:
If, in the five years prior to the initiation of the security screening, you stayed abroad for more than 90 days, you are kindly asked to present at the recruitment all documents that conclusively prove your stay (location and duration). Examples of acceptable documentation include:- Tickets (airplane, train, etc.)
- Confirmation of enrolment from the relevant school or university
- Diplomas, certificates or study certificates
- Confirmation of deregistration from your municipality of residence in Switzerland
- Confirmation of registration with a Swiss representation abroad
- Rental agreements
- Employment contract (including of your parents, if relevant)
- Visas
- Etc.
For questions, you may contact the Personnel Security Screening Unit at your recruitment centre directly via email.
- Contact: PSP RZ Sumiswald
- Contact PSP RZ Aarau
- Contact PSP RZ Rüti
- Contact PSP RZ Mels
- Contact PSP RZ Payerne
- Contact PSP RZ Monteceneri
Initiating authority
Training and Education Command, Armed Forces Personnel
Deciding authority
Training and Education Command, Armed Forces Personnel
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
Training and Education Command, Armed Forces PersonnelDocuments
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Federal Act on the Army and the Military Administration (Bundesgesetz über die Armee und die Militärverwaltung, Militärgesetz, MG; SR 510.10)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Reliability screenings are conducted for employees of nuclear power plants who perform tasks essential to nuclear safety and the protection of the facility (Art. 13 VPSP).
Initiating authority
The bodies pursuant to Art. 15 Abs. 4 VPSP (alternatively: safety officer of the nuclear facility)
Deciding authority
Safety officer of the nuclear facility
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
Person responsible for safety at the nuclear facilityDocuments
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Nuclear Energy Act (Kernenergiegesetz, KEG; SR 732.1)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Persons employed in critical or highly critical functions by the national grid operator are periodically assessed for their trustworthiness in order to evaluate the security risk (Art. 20b StromVG).
Initiating authority
The national grid company (Swissgrid)
Deciding authority
The national grid company (Swissgrid)
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
The national grid company (Swissgrid)Documents
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Federal Electricity Supply Act (Bundesgesetz über die Stromversorgung, StromVG; SR 734.7)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
The Swiss National Bank is among the authorities and organisations obligated Art. 2 ISG. Accordingly, employees who perform security-sensitive functions within the Swiss National Bank are also subject to a personnel security screening.
Initiating authority
HR Swiss National Bank
Deciding authority
HR Swiss National Bank
Further information about your own PSS (validity, repetition, etc.)
HR Swiss National BankDocuments
Legal bases
- Federal Act on Information Security (Bundesgesetz über die Informationssicherheit, ISG; SR 128)
- Federal Act on Administrative Procedure (Bundesgesetz über das Verwaltungsverfahren, VwVG; SR 172.021)
- Ordinance on Personnel Security Screening (Verordnung über die Personensicherheitsprüfungen, VPSP; SR 128.31)
Contact
Monbijoustrasse 51a
CH - 3003 Bern