EU contract types explained
Officials, temporary agents, contract agents, national experts, local agents and trainees: what each contract means, how long it lasts and how you get it.
Permanent officials
Officials are members of the EU civil service, appointed for an indefinite period. You become one by passing an open competition run by EPSO and being recruited from the reserve list.
There are three function groups: administrators (AD, grades AD 5 to AD 16), assistants (AST, grades AST 1 to AST 11) and secretaries and clerks (AST/SC, grades SC 1 to SC 6). Most new administrators start at AD 5, most assistants at AST 1 or higher depending on the competition.
Temporary agents
Temporary agents work on fixed-term contracts in the same function groups as officials (AD, AST, AST/SC). You apply directly for a specific post and go through the selection procedure of the institution or agency that publishes it. Many EU agencies hire mainly temporary agents.
Contract agents
Contract agents work on fixed-term contracts, although some agencies, delegations and representations may offer contracts of indefinite duration. They are chosen from EPSO's contract staff database, with tests and an interview.
There are four function groups: FG I for manual or basic administrative support, FG II for clerical and secretarial tasks, FG III for executive and technical tasks and FG IV for administrative, advisory, linguistic or technical tasks of a similar level.
Seconded national experts
Seconded national experts are civil servants of a national, regional or local administration who work for an EU institution or agency for a limited time. Each institution runs its own selection, and applications usually go through your country's permanent representation to the EU.
Local agents in EU Delegations
EU Delegations around the world hire local agents for support, administrative and specialist jobs. They are recruited in the host country, under conditions set for that country, and the notices often ask for citizenship or legal residence there. Posts are published by each Delegation, with a group (for example Group 3 or Group V) that reflects the level of the job.
Trainees and interim staff
Traineeships last a few months and are meant for students and recent graduates: most are paid. Some institutions also use temping agencies for short assignments; those posts are published by the agencies, not by EPSO.
Official sources
- EU Careers – Contract types
- EPSO – Contract staff selection procedure
- EPSO – Permanent positions
- EEAS – Vacancies
Checked on 27 October 2026. Rules and figures change: the official pages and each notice always prevail. Content from europa.eu reused under CC BY 4.0 and rewritten by Kandidatu.
Other guides
- Working for the European Union: where to startWho hires, the main ways in, who can apply and which path fits you, explained in plain words.
- EPSO competitions step by stepHow an open competition for permanent EU officials works, from the notice to the job offer, and what the reserve list really means.
- Contract staff: EPSO's always-open databaseThe easiest way into the EU institutions for many people: register any time, get shortlisted, pass the reasoning tests and the interview.
- EU salaries and benefitsBasic salaries by grade, deductions, the EU tax and the main allowances, with the figures published by EU Careers.
- EU traineeshipsThe Commission's Blue Book, the traineeships of the other institutions and agencies, and those in EU Delegations: who can apply, when, and what they pay.
- EU jobs for people who are not EU citizensMost EU posts require EU citizenship, but not all of them: local posts in EU Delegations, some traineeships and some mission posts are open to others.