SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions

Streamline Security Clearance Applications with Paperform

The SF-86 Questionnaire for National Security Positions is one of the most detailed and time-intensive forms required by government contractors, defense industry professionals, and federal employees seeking security clearance. This comprehensive background investigation form collects sensitive personal, professional, and historical information needed by agencies like the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Department of Defense to evaluate candidates for positions of trust.

Paperform makes the SF-86 process significantly easier for HR departments, security officers, compliance teams, and contractors themselves. Instead of wrestling with dense PDF forms or fragmented document collection, you can guide applicants through a clean, organized digital experience that adapts based on their answers.

Why use Paperform for security clearance forms?

Conditional logic keeps it simple. The SF-86 traditionally spans dozens of pages with complex routing—questions that only apply based on citizenship status, foreign travel, or past employment. Paperform's conditional fields ensure applicants only see what's relevant to them, reducing confusion and completion time.

Secure data collection. With SOC 2 Type II compliance, SSO, role-based permissions, and data residency controls, Paperform is built to handle sensitive personal data with the rigor government contractors demand. Store submissions securely and control exactly who on your team can access what.

Integrate with existing workflows. Push completed questionnaires into your document management system, notify security officers via Slack or email, or use Stepper to trigger multi-step review and verification workflows—keeping your clearance pipeline moving without manual handoffs.

Streamline follow-up and eSignatures. Once the questionnaire is complete, use Papersign to send certification statements or consent forms for secure eSignature, maintaining a complete audit trail from initial submission through final approval.

This template is designed for government contractors, defense firms, federal agencies, consulting firms, and security compliance teams managing personnel security programs. It covers the core sections of the Standard Form 86, including personal identification, citizenship, residences, employment history, education, references, foreign contacts, financial history, and legal/criminal background—tailored to guide applicants clearly through each requirement.

Whether you're onboarding new hires for classified projects or maintaining ongoing clearance renewals, Paperform helps you replace outdated PDFs with a modern, compliant, and efficient digital process.