Permanent staff selection

Permanent staff are members of the EU civil service appointed for an indefinite period. They form the core workforce and are selected through open competitions organised by EPSO. These competitions are designed to draw up reserve lists – pools of successful candidates from which the institutions, bodies, and agencies of the European Union can recruit when they have job openings.

Each competition includes several steps, from publication of the competition to the establishment of a reserve list.

There are two main types of competitions:

1. Graduate competitions

• Open to university graduates from any field of study
• No previous professional experience required
• Successful candidates will be recruited as administrators at grade AD5 (entry-level grade for this staff category)

2. Specialist competitions

• Open to graduates and non-graduates
• Designed for candidates with expertise in a specific professional field
• Relevant work experience required
• Successful candidates will be recruited as administrators (grade AD6–AD9) or assistants (grade AST3–AST9)

How to apply

1. Choose the right competition
   Select the competition that best matches your educational and professional background. 
2. Read all key documents
   Carefully review the Notice of Competition, the essential reference document, and any supporting information available on the competition webpage.
3. Check your eligibility (optional)
   The eligibility requirements are indicated on the competition page and on the Notice of Competition.
4. Access the Single Candidate Portal
   Click “Apply” on the competition webpage. You will be prompted to log in to the Single Candidate Portal using your EU Login account. If you don’t have one, you will need to create one first.
5. Complete and validate your application form
   Fill in the application form carefully and submit it before the deadline.

Testing

All candidates who have submitted their application form by the deadline will be invited to sit a series of tests, depending on the competitions. Learn more about testing.

Eligibility check

At a specific stage of the selection process, EPSO verifies that candidates meet all eligibility criteria (e.g., nationality, education, language skills, professional experience).
Only candidates who meet the criteria can be included on the reserve list.

Reserve list

At the end of the competition, EPSO establishes a reserve list of successful candidates who can be recruited by the EU institutions when a suitable position becomes available.
Being on this list means you are eligible for recruitment but not automatically employed.

Recruitment

Once a reserve list is established, the EU institutions manage their own recruitment based on their specific staffing needs.

When vacancies arise, the institutions:

1. Consult the reserve list to identify candidates whose profiles best match the job requirements.
2. Invite shortlisted candidates for an interview (some may be contacted by several institutions)
3. Make job offers to successful interviewees.