Morning. Thank you for your question.

For the Civil Service graduate schemes (including Fast Stream), the process is consistent across departments:

When you get the Level 2 Disclosure Scotland link

You are not sent the link immediately after completing the pre‑employment form.

Instead:

• The Civil Service must first initiate the Level 2 disclosure using your pre‑employment information.
• Only after they do this will Disclosure Scotland email you a secure link to complete the application online.
• You cannot trigger this yourself — Disclosure Scotland will not send a link until the employer starts the check. [mygov.scot]

Where this sits in the Civil Service process

For Civil Service graduate schemes, the disclosure link is normally sent:

After:

• you have accepted a conditional offer
• your role is confirmed as needing a Level 2 disclosure
• During pre‑employment checks, alongside or after identity and right‑to‑work checks
• Before final clearance and confirmed start date

The delay is usually because:

• recruitment are batching disclosures, or
• waiting for earlier checks to be validated before initiating Disclosure Scotland.

What to expect when it is sent

• The email comes directly from Disclosure Scotland
• You will be asked to sign in or create a ScotAccount
• You complete the form and pay the £25 fee
• Disclosure Scotland aims to process it within 14 days, unless more information is needed [mygov.scot]

If you are worried it’s late, it is reasonable to contact the recruitment or onboarding team only to check whether the disclosure has been initiated yet, not to chase Disclosure Scotland. A simple check is enough:

“Could you confirm whether my Level 2 Disclosure Scotland application has been initiated yet, as I haven’t received the link?”

In short:
For the Civil Service, the Level 2 Disclosure Scotland link is sent only after recruitment initiates it, not automatically after you submit the pre‑employment form.

Hope this information is useful to you and well done on reaching this stage!

10 March, 2026 09:01

Fantastic thank you

10 March, 2026 09:45