FAQs

Answering your questions

MI6 is an organisation that conducts its business mostly in secret, and because of that, it attracts lots of questions. There are some things we can’t explain in detail, but there are many things we can be more open about. Have a read below and find out what’s fact and what’s fiction: 

About us

What's the difference between an agent and an officer?

The term ‘Officer’ covers all our staff, secondees and contractors – they are people who have applied to work for MI6 and successfully passed the application process. An agent is someone who has agreed to help MI6 by passing intelligence to us or helping us in some way to get access or information. Agents often put themselves in danger to help us, and keeping both them and their identities safe is our top priority. 

What does Intelligence mean?

Intelligence is secret information. We collect intelligence for His Majesty’s Government to help gather insight and understanding of events around the world. This helps the government to make informed decisions that keep the UK safe and prosperous

What is HUMINT and SIGINT?

HUMINT (human intelligence) is information collected from humans. MI6 officers work with people and organisations outside the UK to get the intelligence we’ve been asked for. SIGINT (signals intelligence) is intelligence that has been collected by intercepting digital communications.  

What do you do with the intelligence you gather?

The intelligence we collect is in response to set tasking from our government customers. Intelligence is verified, analysed and reported to the customer in an Intelligence Report, also sometimes known as a CX report.  

How do you keep agents safe?

We assess the risks of every operation and take steps to ensure that all identified risks are kept to within acceptable limits. We might do this using technology, such as secure communications, or by ensuring our agents are trained in using techniques that help keep their identity secure.

Working here

Why don’t we tell people where we work?

In order to help keep our operations and the identities of our agents secret, we keep the identities of our staff secret too. We have a team dedicated to help us keep cover, advise us on what to say when people ask, and how to navigate difficult questions and conversations. If you apply to work here, please limit who you tell to your partner or a close family member.

Is MI6 a place where I will fit in?

Your understanding of MI6 may have come from how we are portrayed in popular culture. Whilst James Bond is a fantastic character, he wouldn’t make a good MI6 team member. If you don’t match the James Bond stereotype, don’t worry (neither do we), you should still apply.

Is there a dress code at MI6?

We don’t have a formal dress code here.

Do you pay for my travel into work?

No, only official business expenditure is reimbursed. However, we do offer an interest-free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme. 

Are roles only in London?

Our head office is in London, which is where most of our staff work, unless posted overseas.

What training do you offer?

Our training is something we are proud of. Your training will be structured and tailored to your role. You are likely to have a mentor or buddy to support you and help you learn the skills you need step-by-step. After that our dedicated academy supports your continued learning and development throughout your career. You can also gain externally recognised qualifications relevant to your role.

Can I choose where I go overseas?

Around 2–3 years after joining you can apply for postings that interest you and then be selected on a competitive basis. There may be some countries where you couldn’t be posted. This is usually if you have friends or family living in that country. This is to keep them safe.

Can I work for you if I have tattoos?

Yes, of course! Having a tattoo would not impact your application or vetting process, but if it’s particularly visible and identifies you, in some undercover roles you might want to cover it up. 

Vetting

How long will it take?

Vetting can take a while, as you and the vetting officers have multiple stages to work through. We expect the full process to take between 9 and 12 months.

Who can I tell that I am applying / going through vetting?

It’s important that you are discreet about your application and the vetting process, you should not post about it on social media, and limit who you tell to a partner or a close family member only.

When will you contact my referees?

We won’t contact any of your referees before gaining your permission. Some may be spoken to face-to-face, others over the phone or we may write to them. If you are struggling to identify a referee, don’t worry, you can talk it through with your vetting officer. 

I lived overseas for a few years, does this affect vetting?

There is a residency requirement, as stated in the relevant job description. As long as you meet that (or have good reason not to – for example, you’ve been studying abroad), then your time abroad will be looked at during the interview and taken into consideration as part of your application.

I have lots of close friends who are foreign nationals, will this affect my vetting?

Having foreign national contacts does not mean you cannot hold Developed Vetting status. We will need to discuss with you any foreign contacts you have, for both their safety, and yours.

How is the decision taken to grant DV? 

Each case is assessed individually and carefully considered. Vetting officers are not there to judge, they understand that everyone will have different life experiences and will take a realistic view of life and the stresses that come with it. We value and respect everyone’s differences, so we ensure that candidates undergoing our vetting process are treated impartially and consistently. Honesty and integrity are central to a career in MI6, so it’s important you don’t withhold information.

Will I get feedback on my vetting?

Unfortunately, we do not give feedback on unsuccessful vetting applications due to national security considerations. 

Do I have to maintain my DV?

Yes, once you have been granted DV clearance, our vetting team will work with you to help you maintain it.

What if I already hold a security clearance?

If you already hold a level of security clearance, you will be asked provide details as part of the vetting process. If you already have a DV from another government department, you may not need to go through some elements of the vetting process again, though this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.