Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 1, 2026, from the Under-Secretariat, declaring August 2026 as a non-working month for the purpose of calculating deadlines in selective processes for technical, scientific scales and civil service personnel |
|---|---|
| Publication | July 10, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 10, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Candidates and applicants for scientific, technical scales and civil service personnel at CSIC, CIEMAT and ISCIII |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Year | 2026 |
| Legal basis | Royal Decree 364/1995 |
| Reference calls | December 2025 |
If you are taking a civil service exam for a position at CSIC, CIEMAT or ISCIII, August 2026 does not count for you. The Under-Secretariat for Science, Innovation and Universities has declared August 2026 as a non-working month for the purpose of calculating deadlines in ongoing selective processes, through the Resolution of July 1, 2026 published in the BOE on July 10. This means that any deadline running during August is suspended and resumes on September 1.
The measure is based on Royal Decree 364/1995 and responds to the practical difficulties that candidates and tribunals face in meeting deadlines during the summer period.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution declares August 2026 as non-working specifically for ongoing selective processes, not for general administrative activity. It affects the following scales and calls, all launched in December 2025:
Technical scales of the OPI
- Research Assistants
- Specialized Technicians
- Specialized Senior Technicians
- Technologists
Scientific scales of the OPI
- Senior Scientist
- Research Scientist
- Research Professor
Fixed-term civil service personnel and specific calls
| Organization | Type of process |
|---|---|
| CSIC | Fixed-term civil service personnel |
| CIEMAT | Fixed-term civil service personnel |
| ISCIII | Fixed-term civil service personnel |
| Unspecified OPI | Senior Graduate (specific call) |
| Unspecified OPI | Librarian (specific call) |
In practice, this means that if a tribunal set a deadline for submitting documentation, taking a test or any other procedure, and that deadline falls wholly or partly in August, the August time is not deducted. The deadline resumes on September 1, 2026 with the remaining days.
Economic and operational impact
This resolution has no direct economic impact in the form of costs or penalties. Its impact is operational and planning-related: it affects how candidates and tribunals manage the timing of the selective process.
For candidates, the declaration of August as non-working means:
- No obligation to take action in August within the framework of these selective processes. Deadlines cannot be lost due to inactivity during this month.
- Automatic resumption in September: deadlines continue from where they were interrupted, without need for request or additional procedure.
- Need to be prepared in September: if a deadline was interrupted with few days remaining, those days will be consumed starting September 1.
For tribunals and convening bodies, the measure allows reorganization of evaluation activity without deadline pressure during summer, ensuring the quality of the selective process.
Who does it affect?
- Candidates who have submitted applications in the December 2025 calls for the scales of Research Assistants, Specialized Technicians, Specialized Senior Technicians and Technologists of the OPI.
- Candidates for the scientific scales of Senior Scientist, Research Scientist and Research Professor of the OPI.
- Applicants for fixed-term civil service personnel positions at CSIC, CIEMAT and ISCIII.
- Candidates for the specific calls for Senior Graduate and Librarian included in the resolution.
- Members of tribunals and selection bodies of the affected processes.
Practical example
Suppose a candidate for the Senior Scientist scale at CSIC receives on July 25, 2026 a notification from the tribunal to submit supporting documentation within 10 working days.
Without the resolution, the deadline would expire counting working days in August. With the resolution in force, the calculation stops on July 31 (end of July) and resumes on September 1. The working days elapsed between July 25 and July 31 (for example, 5 working days) would already have been consumed. The remaining 5 working days would begin to count from September 1, which would place the actual deadline expiration around September 8, 2026.
The candidate does not need to perform any procedure to benefit from this suspension: it operates automatically by mandate of the resolution.
What should candidates do now?
- Identify what phase your selective process is in: check if you have any open deadline or pending tribunal communication before the end of July.
- Note the exact resumption date: on September 1, 2026 deadlines resume automatically. Mark that date on your calendar.
- Calculate the days you have left: if a deadline was interrupted in August with pending days, count how many you have left to know when it really expires in September.
- Prepare documentation during August: although deadlines are not running, you can use the month to gather and organize the documentation you will need to submit in September.
- Check the electronic office of the convening organization (CSIC, CIEMAT or ISCIII) from September 1 onwards to verify if the tribunal has published new communications or calls for proceedings.
- Do not assume that all ministry activity is paralyzed: the declaration of non-working status affects exclusively the calculation of deadlines in these selective processes, not general administrative activity.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean that August 2026 is non-working in scientific civil service exams?
It means that the days of August 2026 are not counted in the calculation of deadlines for the affected selective processes. If a deadline was running before August, it is suspended on August 1 and resumes on September 1 with the remaining days. No candidate can lose a deadline for not taking action during August.
Which CSIC, CIEMAT and ISCIII civil service exams are affected by this resolution?
All selective processes called in December 2025 for the scales of Research Assistants, Specialized Technicians, Specialized Senior Technicians, Technologists, Senior Scientist, Research Scientist and Research Professor of the OPI are affected, as well as fixed-term civil service personnel processes at CSIC, CIEMAT and ISCIII and the specific calls for Senior Graduate and Librarian.
When do the deadlines for scientific civil service exams resume after August 2026?
Deadlines resume automatically on September 1, 2026. No procedure or request is necessary for the resumption to take effect: it operates automatically by mandate of the Resolution of July 1, 2026 from the Under-Secretariat for Science, Innovation and Universities.
What regulation is the declaration of August as non-working based on?
The resolution is based on Royal Decree 364/1995, which regulates the admission of personnel to the service of the General State Administration. The measure responds to the practical difficulties of meeting deadlines during the summer period, both for candidates and for the rating tribunals.
Does this resolution affect all Ministry of Science activity in August?
No. The declaration of non-working status affects exclusively the calculation of deadlines in the specific selective processes mentioned in the resolution. It does not paralyze the general administrative activity of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities or dependent organizations.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in 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-2026-15064