How does the appeal procedure work?

The applicant, and if required, his/her lawyer, are invited to inspect the investigation or verification dossier. In principle, the applicant has the right to inspect the entire dossier. However, at the request of police or intelligence services, the Appeal Body may decide to remove certain elements from the dossier. The applicant can be heard at his/her request.
The Appeal Body may request additional information and hear the members of the services who have carried out the investigation or have participated in the verification.

The Appeal Body is obliged to adhere to strict time limits. It must take its decision within a period of:

• 60 days if the appeal is related to a security clearance;
• 15 days if the appeal is related to a security certificate;
• 30 days if the appeal is related to security advice;
• 15 days if the appeal is related to a decision of an authority to request security certificates or security advice in specific cases