Security Clearance Timeline Estimator
Estimate how long it takes to get a security clearance based on the level and your situation. See key steps and tips to help speed up the process.
Select a clearance level and your situation to see the estimated timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I speed up the clearance process?
You can minimize delays by completing the SF-86 thoroughly and accurately the first time, having all required documentation ready, resolving financial issues before applying, and being responsive to investigator requests. However, you cannot directly speed up the government's investigation timeline.
What if my clearance takes longer than expected?
Clearance processing times vary significantly based on individual circumstances, investigation backlog, and the complexity of your background. Foreign contacts, extensive travel, financial issues, and employment gaps can extend timelines. Most employers are understanding about delays and will keep you employed on uncleared work.
Can I work while my clearance is being processed?
Usually, yes. Most people start work on a preliminary determination (what used to be called an interim) before the final decision; for contractors these averaged under two weeks in FY2024–FY2026. Employers can also start you on uncleared work while the final decision is pending.
How long does a clearance take for a contractor?
On DCSA's FY2026 Q3 figures, a contractor's initial Secret clearance took 197 days on average from initiation to the final decision, and an initial Top Secret 243 days. Adjudication, not the investigation, was the longest phase. TS/SCI adds SCI eligibility and, for some agencies, a polygraph, with no published average.
Do clearances still need periodic reinvestigation?
For most national security positions, no. Continuous vetting replaced fixed periodic reinvestigations for national security positions in the early 2020s: automated record checks run for as long as you hold eligibility, and an alert can lead to follow-up questions or an investigation. Non-sensitive Public Trust positions are still moving from periodic reinvestigations to continuous vetting (about a third enrolled in FY2026 Q2), so a reinvestigation is still possible there.
Does having a prior clearance speed up getting a new one?
Yes. When you move to a new employer at the same or a lower level, the decision to accept your existing eligibility (Transfer of Trust) took 1–2 days on average in the Department of War in FY2026. Onboarding, SCI briefings and any polygraph the new position requires are separate and can add time. If you left a cleared job recently, your eligibility can often be re-established without a new full investigation; how long that window lasts depends on the agency and on how current your last investigation is.
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