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General and Specific Eligibility Requirements

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General and specific eligibility requirements are conditions that candidates need to meet in order to apply for a job within the EU institutions. 

They vary depending on whether candidates apply to become a permanent staff member, a temporary or contract agent or a Seconded National Expert (SNE). 

Eligibility criteria and minimum requirements are all specified in the Notice of Competition, Call for Expressions of Interest or Vacancy notice that accompany each job opportunity announcement. 

Learn more about our selection procedures on our Selection process page.
 

General Eligibility Requirements

All applicants need to meet at least three general eligibility criteria:  

  • enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State of the EU (more information on what it means to be an EU citizen can be found here: EU citizenship: Rights and opportunities (europa.eu)),
  • have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service,
  • meet the character requirements for the duties concerned.

EU institutions, agencies and bodies may add additional eligibility criteria.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Candidates also need to meet specific requirements, as set out in the Notice of Competition, Call for Expressions of Interest or Vacancy notice.

  • Language Requirements 

You need to have the required level of at least two EU official languages for the selection procedure for which you are applying. You can find the specific language requirements in the respective Notice of Competition, Call for Expressions of Interest or Vacancy Notice. Different levels of knowledge are defined in the European Language Levels – Self-Assessment Grid.

  • Educational Requirements 

Minimum educational requirements vary according to the profiles sought. In general:

Non-graduate positions (assistant-level; function group I: manual and administrative support; function group II: performing clerical/secretarial/office management duties; function group III: performing administrative/advisory/ linguistic/technical duties) require that you to have completed secondary education 

Graduate positions (administrator-level; function group IV) require to have completed university education (a minimum of three years).

  • Professional experience 

You must meet the professional experience requirements as specified in the respective Notice of Competition, Call for Expressions of Interest or Vacancy Notice.

  • Age requirements

There is no age limit to apply for an EU post; however, the pensionable age for new recruited officials is 66. For more details, read the Staff Regulations of EU officials.
 

For more detailed information, visit our FAQs section on Eligibility criteria.