SF-86 Complete Walkthrough 2026: Section-by-Section Instructions

The SF-86 (Standard Form 86) is a 127-page questionnaire requiring detailed personal history for security clearance investigations. Average completion time is 4-8 hours for thorough, accurate submission.

SF-86 Overview

Metric	Value
Total Pages	127
Required Sections	29
History Period	7-10 years (varies by section)
Average Completion Time	4-8 hours
Submission Method	e-QIP (electronic)

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Section 1: Personal Information

Required information:

• Full legal name (including maiden name)
• Social Security Number
• Date and place of birth
• Height, weight, eye color, hair color
• Contact information

Common mistakes:

• Using nicknames instead of legal name
• Incorrect date formats (use MM/DD/YYYY)
• Missing middle name or suffix

Section 2: Citizenship

Citizenship Type	Documentation Required
Born in U.S.	Birth certificate or passport
Naturalized	Naturalization certificate, A-number
Derived	Parent's naturalization, proof of minor status
Born abroad to U.S. parents	Consular Report of Birth Abroad

Dual citizenship disclosure:

• List all citizenships held (current and former)
• Include renunciation documentation if applicable
• Foreign passport usage must be disclosed

Section 3: Residence History (10 Years)

Provide complete address history with no gaps:

Required Details	Notes
Street address	Include apartment numbers
City, State, ZIP	Verify against records
Dates (MM/YYYY)	Must be continuous
Neighbors/verifiers	Name and contact for each address

Common issues:

• Gaps between addresses (even 1 month requires explanation)
• Missing apartment/unit numbers
• Unable to locate verifiers

Section 4: Education History

Education Level	Lookback Period
High school	If within 10 years
College/University	All attendance
Graduate school	All attendance
Trade/Technical	All attendance

Required for each school:

• Official school name
• Complete address
• Dates attended
• Degree/diploma received (if applicable)
• Major/field of study

Section 5: Employment History (10 Years)

Employment categories to include:

• Full-time employment
• Part-time employment
• Self-employment
• Military service
• Unemployment periods
• Full-time education

Required Details	Notes
Employer name	Official legal name
Supervisor name	Direct supervisor preferred
Supervisor contact	Phone or address
Position title	Official title
Dates (MM/YYYY)	Verify against pay stubs/W-2s
Reason for leaving	Brief explanation

Unemployment periods:

• Must be documented even if brief
• Explain circumstances
• Provide someone who can verify your activities

Section 6: Military History

If applicable, provide:

• Branch of service
• Dates of service
• Discharge type and character
• Highest rank achieved
• Military occupational specialty
• Any disciplinary actions

Section 7: People Who Know You Well

Provide 3 people who:

• Have known you for at least 7 years
• Are not family members
• Are not current/former cohabitants
• Can verify your character and activities

Required for each person
Full name
Current address
Phone number
Email address
How they know you
Dates of association

Section 8-12: Family Members

Required family information:

Relationship	Information Required
Mother	Name, DOB, POB, citizenship, address
Father	Name, DOB, POB, citizenship, address
Stepparents	Same as parents
Siblings	Name, DOB, POB, citizenship, address
Half-siblings	Same as siblings
Spouse/cohabitant	Extensive detail including relatives
Former spouses	Marriage/divorce details
Children	Name, DOB, POB, citizenship

Section 13-16: Spouse/Cohabitant Details

For current spouse or cohabitant:

• Complete personal information
• Their relatives (parents, siblings)
• Their citizenship and naturalization details
• Their foreign contacts
• Marriage details (date, location)

Section 17: Marital/Relationship History

For each marriage/civil union:

• Spouse name (including maiden name)
• Date and place of marriage
• Date and place of divorce/annulment (if applicable)
• Reason for ending (if applicable)

Section 18: Relatives and Associates

Foreign national relatives requiring disclosure:

• Parents and in-laws
• Siblings and their spouses
• Children
• Stepfamily members

Required details for foreign relatives:

• Citizenship
• Current location
• Relationship to foreign governments
• Foreign military service
• Frequency of contact

Section 19: Foreign Contacts

Disclose contacts with foreign nationals if:

• Bound by affection, obligation, or close friendship
• Contact is more than brief, casual, or infrequent

Required Information
Name
Country of citizenship
Current location
How you met
Nature of relationship
Frequency of contact
Any government/military affiliation

Section 20: Foreign Activities

Disclose:

• Foreign travel (7 years for Secret, 10 for TS)
• Foreign financial interests
• Foreign property ownership
• Foreign business ventures
• Support to foreign nationals
• Voting in foreign elections

Section 21: Financial Record

Financial issues requiring disclosure:

Issue	Disclosure Threshold
Bankruptcy	All filings, any time
Liens	Tax liens, any amount
Judgments	Civil judgments against you
Delinquencies	120+ days delinquent, last 7 years
Defaults	Loan defaults
Repossessions	Vehicle or property
Foreclosures	All instances
Collections	Accounts in collection

Section 22: Illegal Drug Use

Lookback periods:

Drug Type	Disclosure Period
Marijuana	7 years (may vary by agency)
Controlled substances	7-10 years
Drug treatment/counseling	Ever
Prescription drug misuse	7 years

Section 23: Alcohol Use

Disclose if:

• Ordered to counseling/treatment
• Received voluntary treatment
• Alcohol-related incidents (DUI, public intoxication)
• Advised to reduce consumption by medical professional

Section 24: Mental Health

Disclosure required only if:

• Court-ordered treatment
• Declared legally incompetent
• Posed danger to self or others

Note: Routine counseling, grief therapy, and family counseling generally do NOT require disclosure.

Section 25: Police Record

Disclose all:

Category	Examples
Arrests	All, regardless of outcome
Charges	All, regardless of conviction
Convictions	All types
Probation	All instances
Detained	Even if not arrested
Summons	Criminal summons

Exceptions:

• Traffic fines under $300 (unless alcohol/drug related)
• Sealed/expunged records (varies by state)

Section 26: Information Technology

Disclose if:

• Illegally accessed computer systems
• Introduced malicious code
• Unauthorized data modification
• Cyber crimes

Section 27: Protected Information

Disclose unauthorized disclosure of:

• Classified information
• Sensitive compartmented information
• Proprietary information

Section 28: Civil Court Actions

Disclose:

• Lawsuits where you were a party
• Restraining orders (any involvement)
• Civil judgments

Section 29: Association Record

Disclose membership or association with:

• Organizations advocating force/violence
• Terrorist organizations
• Groups seeking to overthrow U.S. government

SF-86 Completion Tips

Before Starting

1. Gather documents: Tax returns, W-2s, diplomas, passport
2. Create address list: Complete 10-year residence history
3. Contact references: Alert them to expect contact
4. Pull credit report: Know your financial history
5. Locate family info: Addresses and contact for relatives

During Completion

• Use exact legal names
• Verify dates against records
• Include all information (over-disclose vs. under)
• Save frequently in e-QIP
• Use comment sections for explanations

Common Disqualifying Factors

Factor	Impact
Deliberate omission	Serious - demonstrates dishonesty
Falsification	Can result in criminal charges
Recent drug use	12-36 month waiting period
Financial irresponsibility	Pattern more concerning than single issue
Unmitigated foreign influence	Case-by-case determination

e-QIP Technical Requirements

Requirement	Specification
Browser	Chrome, Firefox, Edge (current versions)
Session timeout	60 minutes inactive
Save frequency	Every 15 minutes recommended
Signature	Electronic signature required
Supporting docs	May upload scanned documents

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SF-86 instructions current as of January 2026. Form version and requirements subject to agency updates.