Free Appointment at the Under-Secretariat 2026: what it is and how to participate

Key data

The Under-Secretariat has called for the provision of certain job positions through the free appointment system, effective from May 1, 2026. The resolution, published in the Official Gazette on May 13, 2026 with reference BOE-A-2026-10351, establishes the bases, requirements and procedure for interested civil servants to submit their candidacy.

This type of call is relevant for any civil servant who aspires to occupy positions of greater responsibility or trust within the General State Administration, since the free appointment system is the usual channel for covering this type of position.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution regulates the provision of job positions through the free appointment system, a mechanism different from the ordinary merit competition. In this system, the Administration freely selects from among civil servants who meet the requirements for each position, without a closed scoring scale as in competition.

The key elements established by the resolution are as follows:

• Purpose: Provision of certain job positions of the Under-Secretariat through free appointment.
• System applied: Free appointment, reserved for positions of special responsibility or trust.
• Bases and procedure: The resolution sets the bases, requirements and complete participation procedure.
• Applications: Interested civil servants must submit their application within the deadline and form established in the call.
• Requirements: Each position has a specific profile that the candidate must meet to be able to participate.

The free appointment system differs from merit competition in that the Administration has greater discretion in selection, although always within legal limits and among candidates who prove the required requirements.

Economic and operational impact

This call does not generate direct costs for private companies or citizens. Its impact is strictly internal to the Public Administration and affects the mobility and promotion of civil servants.

From an operational perspective, the relevant effects are:

• For candidate civil servants: Opportunity to access positions of higher level, responsibility and remuneration within the General State Administration.
• For the Administration: Coverage of positions of trust or special responsibility that require a specific profile, with greater flexibility in selection than ordinary competition.
• For affected units: Possible changes in the direction or management of certain areas of the Under-Secretariat once the called positions are resolved.

Positions covered by free appointment usually correspond to high remuneration levels within the civil service scale, which means that their coverage has an impact on the command structure and on the continuity of ongoing projects.

Who does it affect?

This resolution affects exclusively the public sector. It does not generate obligations for private companies, self-employed workers or citizens in general.

• Civil servants who meet the profile and requirements of the positions called by the Under-Secretariat.
• Active civil servants of the General State Administration with interest in mobility towards positions of special responsibility or trust.
• Units and departments of the Under-Secretariat whose positions are vacant or pending provision.
• Human resources managers of the General State Administration who manage position provision processes.

Private companies, advisors and private sector executives are not affected by this call, unless they have an interest in monitoring the organizational structure of the Under-Secretariat.

Practical example

A civil servant from the Senior Body of State Civil Administrators who currently holds a level 26 position in a Under-Secretariat unit detects that a level 28 or higher position is being called through free appointment in the same Under-Secretariat, suitable for their profile and experience.

This civil servant must:

1. Consult the resolution published in the Official Gazette (BOE-A-2026-10351) to verify the specific requirements of the position of interest.
2. Check that they meet the required profile (body, group, minimum level, required experience).
3. Prepare and submit their application within the deadline and form established in the call bases.
4. Await the Under-Secretariat's resolution, which will freely select from among candidates who meet the requirements.

If they do not submit an application within the set deadline, they lose the opportunity to participate in this specific call, since the free appointment system does not allow applications outside the deadline.

What should civil servants do now?

1. Consult the complete resolution in the Official Gazette (reference BOE-A-2026-10351) to identify the specific positions called and their specific requirements.
2. Verify compliance with the requirements of each position of interest: body, group, level, experience and any other criteria required in the bases.
3. Prepare the necessary documentation for the application according to the procedure established in the call.
4. Submit the application within the deadline set in the bases, respecting the form of submission indicated. Applications outside the deadline will not be accepted.
5. Monitor the process through the Official Gazette and official Under-Secretariat channels to learn about the resolution of the call.

Official source

IMPORTANT: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance on your situation, consult with a legal professional or contact the Under-Secretariat directly.