§ 147.22 Transferability.

Quick Answer: What This Section Does

§ 147.22 establishes that qualifying security clearance investigations should be accepted across federal agencies when they meet the required standards and are current.

It governs:

• clearance reciprocity
• transfer of eligibility between agencies
• reuse of prior investigations
• consistency across federal systems

👉 In practice, this section answers a common question:

“Can my security clearance transfer to another job or agency?”

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What This Means in Practice

Most applicants assume that once they have a clearance:

👉 it automatically transfers anywhere

That is not entirely accurate.

This section says:

👉 investigations that meet required standards should be accepted across agencies

But in practice:

👉 transferability depends on more than the investigation itself

Adjudicators are not asking:

👉 “Was this person previously cleared?”

They are asking:

👉 “Is this person currently eligible under our standards and risk tolerance?”

That distinction matters.

Because:

• transferability is allowed
• but not guaranteed

To understand how this works in real situations, see how security clearance portability actually works and what follows you between jobs.

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How This Rule Is Actually Used

This provision requires agencies to:

• accept qualifying investigations
• recognize prior eligibility determinations
• avoid unnecessary duplication

However, agencies may still:

• review the underlying record
• apply additional scrutiny
• delay or re-evaluate eligibility
• request updated information

👉 especially when concerns exist

This is why some individuals experience delays or issues when transferring, as explained in what causes security clearance delays and why cases are sometimes re-evaluated.

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Full Text of § 147.22

§ 147.22 Transferability.

Investigations that satisfy the requirements of a given standard and are current meet the investigative requirements for all levels specified for the standard. They shall be mutually and reciprocally accepted by all agencies.

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Why This Matters for Your Case

This section reflects a critical principle:

👉 clearance eligibility is portable—but your record is permanent

Two individuals may both hold clearances:

• one transfers seamlessly
• one encounters delays or issues

Because:

👉 the underlying record determines how the clearance is viewed

This is why prior issues—even resolved ones—can affect future opportunities, as explained in how security clearance records are reused over time and why past issues can reappear.

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Where Transferability Issues Arise

Most problems occur when:

• prior issues were not fully mitigated
• disclosures differ between applications
• the receiving agency applies stricter standards
• time has passed since the last investigation
• new concerns appear during review

From the applicant’s perspective:

👉 “I already have a clearance”

From the system’s perspective:

👉 “We are reviewing the record under current standards”

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How This Section Connects to Clearance Levels and Investigations

Transferability depends heavily on:

• the level of clearance (Secret vs Top Secret)
• the investigative standard used
• whether the investigation is still current

These factors are explained in the three security clearance investigation standards and how they determine scope and eligibility.

It also connects directly to how background investigations are conducted and updated, as outlined in how security clearance investigations actually work from start to finish.

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How This Section Fits Into the Clearance Process

This rule is part of the broader framework under the security clearance statutes and regulations governing investigations and adjudication.

It affects:

• job transitions between agencies
• contractor mobility
• promotions requiring higher clearance
• lateral moves across programs

Those transitions ultimately depend on how the case is evaluated under the security clearance adjudication process and how risk is assessed across agencies.

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How This Section Interacts With Other Rules

Transferability is closely tied to:

• investigation standards (§147.19)
• scope and expansion of investigations (§147.21)
• recency and completeness of records

Together, these determine:

👉 whether a clearance can transfer smoothly
👉 or whether it triggers additional review

Return to the full statute list in the Security Clearance Statutes and Regulations resource page, or explore how these rules are applied in practice in the Security Clearance Lawyers Resource Center.

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Why Insight Into the System Matters

Security clearance decisions are not made in a vacuum.

They are made by:

• adjudicators
• administrative judges
• agency decision-makers
• reviewers who rely on the written record

Understanding how these individuals evaluate risk, credibility, and mitigation is not theoretical—it is structural.

At National Security Law Firm, our security clearance lawyers include attorneys who have worked:

• as administrative judges and adjudicators responsible for deciding clearance cases
• inside federal agencies evaluating whether individuals should be approved or denied
• within military legal systems handling sensitive national security matters
• in roles directly applying the adjudicative guidelines to real-world cases

Our cases are not handled by a single attorney working in isolation.

They are reviewed through our internal Attorney Review Board, where multiple experienced attorneys analyze the record, test arguments, and refine strategy before submission.

This mirrors how the government evaluates cases—through layered review and institutional scrutiny.

Clients often come to us after receiving advice that focuses only on:

• legal arguments
• explanations of past conduct

But security clearance cases are not decided that way.

They are decided based on:

👉 how the record will be read, reused, and defended by decision-makers

That is the difference between a response that explains—and a record that supports approval.

You can read what clients say about their experience working with our team in our 4.9-star Google reviews, which reflect both outcomes and the level of strategic guidance we provide throughout the process.

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Speak With a Security Clearance Lawyer Before Assuming Your Clearance Will Transfer

The most important question is not:

👉 “Can my clearance transfer?”

It is:

👉 “What does my record look like when another agency reviews it?”

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The Record Controls the Case.