Apply for a security screening: Step 1. What screening is for
Obtaining and maintaining a valid security screening is a condition of employment, for all positions with the Government of Canada.
Security screening is for:
- all applicants who are being considered for employment and who received an invitation to apply for security screening from a CBSA hiring official
- all current employees of the CBSA required to maintain their security screening (permanent, term, casual, part-time and students)
- individuals requiring unescorted access to CBSA facilities
- government employees seconded or assigned to the CBSA
- other government department employees requiring access to CBSA information, assets or facilities
- other government department employees utilizing CBSA's security screening services
Note: if you are applying to the Officer Induction Training Program (OITP), please refer to our application information for border services officers.
Levels of security screening
The security screening levels for CBSA employees are as follows:
Reliability status is for access to protected information and assets, and to operations zones. It is the minimum security status and is valid for 10 years.
Enhanced reliability status builds on screening criteria for a Reliability status and when positions require access to perform security and intelligence functions. Enhanced reliability status is valid for 10 years.
Secret clearance is for access to classified information and assets, and to security zones. Secret clearance is valid for 10 years.
Enhanced secret clearance is required for all front line employees and is valid for 10 years. This builds on screening criteria for a secret clearance and when positions require access to perform security and intelligence functions.
Top secret clearance is for access to classified information and assets, and to security zones. Top secret clearance is valid for 5 years and can only be granted to individuals with Canadian citizenship.
Enhanced reliability status plus top secret clearance is valid for 5 years and can only be granted to individuals with Canadian citizenship. This builds on screening criteria for a Top secret clearance and when positions require access to perform defence, security and intelligence functions.
Note: The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) Directive on Security Screening introduced a new level of security screening: Enhanced top secret clearance. However, the CBSA does not currently have any positions that require this level of security screening.
The security screening levels for non-CBSA employees, including external service providers are the following:
Site access status with additional inquiries is needed to enter areas where protected information and assets are present, even when access to sensitive government information is not required.
This status is valid for 10 years.
Site access clearance with additional inquiries is needed to enter areas where classified information and assets are present (as well as restricted-access areas of law enforcement facilities), even when access to sensitive government information is not required.
This clearance is valid for 10 years.
Page details
- Date modified: