Free Appointment in Public Administration 2026: which positions are called and how to apply

Key data

Civil servants aspiring to positions of special responsibility or trust have a new window open: the Under-Secretariat has called for the provision of certain positions through the free appointment system, effective from April 27, 2026. The official reference is the Resolution of April 27, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-9747), published on May 5, 2026.

Unlike merit-based competitions, free appointment gives the Administration discretion to choose among candidates who meet the requirements. This makes these positions strategic opportunities for civil servants with a management profile or institutional trust.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution regulates the call for certain job positions in the General State Administration through the free appointment system. The key elements it establishes are:

• Provision system: free appointment, which allows the Administration to freely select among civil servants who meet the requirements for each position.
• Type of positions: positions of special responsibility or trust, a common category for applying this system in the civil service.
• Requirements: each position has specific requirements set out in the call itself. Candidates must fully meet them to be able to submit an application.
• Deadlines: interested parties must submit their application within the deadlines established in the call.
• Effects: the resolution takes immediate effect from its publication in the Official Gazette, with a resolution date of April 27, 2026 and publication on May 5, 2026.
• Processing obligation: the competent bodies are obliged to process the procedure in accordance with current civil service regulations.

The free appointment system differs from merit-based competitions in that the Administration is not bound by an objective scale: it can choose any candidate who meets the requirements, and appointments are revocable at any time for service reasons.

Economic and operational impact

For civil servants, accessing a position through free appointment usually involves a change in salary level and responsibility. These positions are usually associated with higher destination and specific allowances than base positions, which has a direct impact on the payroll.

From an operational perspective, the call generates the following immediate effects:

• For candidates: need to review the requirements for each position, prepare documentation and submit an application within the deadline. Failing to act in time means losing the opportunity until the next call.
• For managing bodies: obligation to process the selection procedure in accordance with civil service regulations from the publication date.
• For affected units: possible personnel movements in management or trust positions, with the organizational impact this entails.

Free appointment also means that positions are revocable, which adds an element of uncertainty for those who hold them: continuity depends on the trust of the superior body, not on a right consolidated by competition.

Who does it affect?

• Civil servants interested in management or trust positions who meet the specific requirements of the called positions.
• Civil servants currently active in the General State Administration who want to change their destination or advance to positions of greater responsibility.
• Competent bodies of the Administration obliged to process the procedure from the publication of the resolution.
• Units and departments where the called positions are located, which will see their management personnel structure affected.
• Civil servants currently holding positions through free appointment in the affected units, whose continuity may be affected by the process.

Practical example

A civil servant from the Senior Corps of State Civil Administrators who currently holds a level 26 position in a management unit wants to apply for a service management position at level 28 called through free appointment in this resolution.

The process they must follow is as follows:

1. Consult the call published in the Official Gazette (BOE-A-2026-9747) to verify that they meet the specific requirements of the position they want to apply for: body of origin, minimum level, required experience or other criteria set.
2. Prepare documentation proving the merits and requirements required.
3. Submit the application within the deadline established in the call. If they do not submit an application on time, they are automatically excluded from the process.
4. If selected, the appointment is made by resolution of the competent body. If not selected, the Administration is not obliged to justify the decision beyond what civil service regulations require.

This example illustrates the key difference with merit-based competitions: meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection. The Administration has discretion to choose among all candidates who meet the conditions.

What should civil servants do now?

1. Consult the complete call in the Official Gazette (BOE-A-2026-9747) to identify the called positions and their specific requirements. It is not enough to know that the call exists: you must review each position in detail.
2. Verify compliance with requirements for each position of interest: body, scale, level, experience and any other criteria set. Submitting an application without meeting requirements means automatic exclusion.
3. Prepare documentation proving merits and requirements with sufficient advance notice to avoid reaching the deadline limit.
4. Submit the application within the deadline established in the call. The entry into force date is April 27, 2026, but the application deadline is set in the resolution itself: check it expressly.
5. For managing bodies: begin processing the selection procedure in accordance with civil service regulations from the publication of the resolution, without delays that could generate administrative liability.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article provides information about the Resolution of April 27, 2026, from the Under-Secretariat, regarding the provision of positions through free appointment (BOE-A-2026-9747). The information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on your situation, consult the complete resolution published in the Official Gazette or contact the competent Administration body. The regulations and procedures described may be subject to changes or updates. CambiosLegales is not responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this information without consulting official sources or legal professionals.