Key data
| Regulation | Order TDF/821/2026, of July 28 |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | August 5, 2026 |
| Entry into force | August 5, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Candidates approved in the Secretary-Comptroller competitive examinations of National Qualification convened in July 2024 |
| Category | Public Sector — Local Administration |
| Deadline for taking office | 1 month from BOE publication (until September 5, 2026) |
| Duration of permanent position | 2 years of mandatory permanence |
| Available remedy | Reconsideration (1 month) or administrative litigation before the National Court (2 months) |
The new National Qualification Secretary-Comptrollers now have their positions. The Order TDF/821/2026, published on August 5, 2026, formalizes the appointment as career civil servants of those who passed the selective tests convened in July 2024 for the Secretary-Comptroller Sub-scale of the Scale of Local Administration Officials with National Qualification. Each is assigned their first permanent position in a third-category municipality or secretarial grouping distributed throughout the national territory.
The process has concluded: the positions are permanent and the clock is ticking. The deadline for taking office is one month from publication, which sets the deadline at September 5, 2026.
What does this regulation establish?
Order TDF/821/2026 closes the selective process initiated with the July 2024 call for the Secretary-Comptroller Sub-scale. Its specific effects are as follows:
- Appointment as career civil servants of all candidates who passed the selective tests, with full integration into the National Qualification Scale.
- Assignment of first permanent position in third-category municipalities and secretarial groupings, distributed throughout the national territory.
- Allocation by qualification: positions were assigned according to the score obtained in the selective process. In cases where candidates did not request sufficient positions, ex officio allocation was carried out.
- Permanent nature of the position for two years: during this period, new civil servants cannot participate in transfer competitions or request provisional appointments.
- One-month deadline for taking office from BOE publication (August 5, 2026), that is, until September 5, 2026.
Two remedies are available against the resolution:
| Type of remedy | Deadline | Competent body |
|---|---|---|
| Reconsideration remedy | 1 month from publication | The same body that issued the resolution |
| Administrative litigation | 2 months from publication | National Court |
Economic and operational impact
For third-category municipalities, the arrival of a new Secretary-Comptroller with national qualification has a direct impact on their operations:
- Coverage of vacant positions: many small municipalities have had positions covered provisionally or temporarily for months or years. The appointment of a permanent official stabilizes the administrative and financial management of the municipality.
- Legal certainty in oversight: the Secretary-Comptroller is responsible for the comptroller function (expenditure control) and public faith. Their permanent presence reduces the risk of challenges to contracts, budgets, and plenary agreements.
- Guaranteed stability for two years: municipalities receiving these new civil servants have assured permanence for two years, which facilitates budget planning and project continuity.
For the appointed civil servants themselves, the permanent position means that for two years they cannot compete or request transfers, which limits their geographic and professional mobility in the short term.
Who does it affect?
- Approved candidates in the Secretary-Comptroller competitive examinations of National Qualification convened in July 2024, who are now appointed career civil servants with assigned positions.
- Third-category municipalities and secretarial groupings throughout the national territory that receive the new permanent officials.
- Mayors and municipal government teams who must prepare for the appointment and incorporation of the new civil servant before September 5, 2026.
- Temporary or seconded civil servants who were provisionally covering positions that are now filled with permanent officials.
- Advisors and human resources managers of provincial councils and municipal associations that coordinate the management of national qualified officials in their territorial scope.
Practical example
A candidate who obtained one of the highest scores in the selective process convened in July 2024 requested several positions in municipalities in their autonomous community. According to the ranking, they were allocated a position in a third-category municipality of their choice.
With Order TDF/821/2026 published on August 5, 2026, this civil servant has one month to present themselves to the destination municipality and formally take office, that is, they must do so before September 5, 2026. From that moment, they are bound to that position for two full years: they cannot participate in transfer competitions or request a provisional appointment in another municipality until that period expires.
If this civil servant believes that the assigned position is incorrect (for example, due to an error in the application of the criteria), they have one month to file a reconsideration remedy or two months to go directly to the National Court through administrative litigation.
In the case of a candidate who did not request sufficient positions in their preference list, the administration proceeded with ex officio allocation, assigning them an available position without prior choice.
What should those affected do now?
- Verify the assigned position: check Order TDF/821/2026 published in the BOE of August 5, 2026 to confirm the assigned municipality or secretarial grouping.
- Plan to take office before September 5, 2026: the one-month deadline is non-extendable. Coordinate with the destination municipality the date and necessary procedures for formal incorporation.
- Review the position if there are discrepancies: if you believe the allocation is incorrect, you have one month for reconsideration or two months for administrative litigation before the National Court. Both deadlines count from August 5, 2026.
- Accept the mobility restriction for two years: plan your personal and professional situation taking into account that you cannot participate in competitions or request provisional appointments until the two-year mandatory permanence period expires.
- Receiving municipalities: prepare the appointment file, notify the new civil servant of the necessary data for their incorporation, and manage the termination of the temporary or substitute covering the position provisionally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to take office in the position assigned by Order TDF/821/2026?
The deadline is one month from BOE publication, which took place on August 5, 2026. Therefore, the deadline to take office is September 5, 2026. If the deadline is exceeded without incorporation, the civil servant could incur disciplinary liability.
Can I request a transfer or compete during the first two years in the permanent position?
No. Order TDF/821/2026 expressly establishes that the position has a permanent nature for two years, during which new civil servants cannot participate in transfer competitions or request provisional appointments in other municipalities.
What happens if I did not request sufficient positions in the selective process?
In cases where candidates did not request sufficient positions, the administration proceeded with ex officio allocation, assigning an available position without prior choice by the candidate.
How can I appeal the assigned position if I believe there is an error?
You have two options: reconsideration remedy within one month from Order publication (August 5, 2026), or administrative litigation within two months before the National Court. Both deadlines are counted from August 5, 2026.
What type of municipalities have been assigned positions in this call?
Positions have been assigned in third-category municipalities and secretarial groupings, distributed throughout the national territory. These are the smallest municipalities, which are precisely those that make up the Secretary-Comptroller Sub-scale of the National Qualification Scale.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17011