What are the conditions of access to the public service? 

Verified 16 May 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Access to the public service, as an official or under contract, is subject to general conditions which are the same for the three public services. These conditions are: nationality, diploma, civil rights and lack of conviction, military service, physical fitness.

Become a public servant

To be a public servant in one of the three public functions, you must be French or European or a national of the Principality of Andorra.

The so-called sovereignty jobs are, however, only accessible to French people.

However, some jobs are open to all candidates without nationality requirements by competition. These include jobs as a university professor and lecturer, a doctor in hospitals.

The nationality condition must be met by the date of 1re competition test.

If there is a prior examination of diplomas, the date is 1re meeting of the selection board responsible for selecting candidates, unless otherwise specified in special status of the body or framework of uses concerned.

Competitions are most often submitted at a diploma level.

This degree level is specified by the special status of each body or framework of uses (patent, HEADING: titleContent, BEP: titleContent, bachelor's degree, master's degree,...).

If it is a competition or a specific recruitment for a regulated profession (social worker, doctor, child care worker, veterinarian, etc.), you must have the corresponding diploma.

If you have a foreigners degree, you can apply for the recognition of your diploma.

You must meet the following 2 conditions:

  • Enjoy your civil rights, that is to say, have the right to vote and to stand for election in France or in the country of which you are a national
  • Not subject to any conviction entered in bulletin n°2 of the criminal record incompatible with the duties performed or not to have undergone, in the country of which you are a national, any conviction incompatible with the duties performed

FYI  

the loss of your civil rights can be pronounced by a court or on the occasion of a trusteeship.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You're French

You must provide proof of your participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

You're European

You must have completed national or military service if it is compulsory in your country of origin.

You must be physically fit to perform your future duties.

Your medical condition must be compatible with the job you are considering.

If your duties require special health conditions, you will undergo a medical examination by a doctor approved by the administration upon entering the public service.

This is the case for some, for example body of the national police or for the job managers of firefighters.

If you are disabled, you may be excluded from a competition or employment only if your disability is declared incompatible with the job as a result of a medical examination.

Be contractual

There are no nationality requirements for recruitment to the three public offices as a contractor.

If you are a foreigner, you must have a valid residence permit.

The so-called sovereignty jobs however, they are only accessible to the French.

Competitions are most often submitted at a diploma level.

This degree level is specified by the special status of each body or framework of uses (patent, HEADING: titleContent, BEP: titleContent, bachelor's degree, master's degree,...).

If it is a competition or a specific recruitment for a regulated profession (social worker, doctor, child care worker, veterinarian, etc.), you must have the corresponding diploma.

If you have a foreigners degree, you can apply for the recognition of your diploma.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You're French

You must meet the following 2 conditions:

  • Enjoying your civil rights, that is to say having the right to vote and to stand for election in France
  • Not subject to any conviction entered in bulletin n°2 of the criminal record incompatible with the duties performed and have not been the subject of any conviction incompatible with the duties performed in a country other than France

You're a foreigner

You must meet the following 2 conditions:

  • Enjoying your civil rights, that is, the right to vote and stand for election in the country of which you are a national
  • Have not been convicted in France or in a country other than France of any offense incompatible with the performance of his duties

You may be subject to an investigation by the administration to verify that you meet these 2 conditions.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You're French

You must provide proof of your participation in the Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

You're a foreigner

You must have completed national or military service if it is compulsory in the country of origin of which you are a national.

If you are stateless person, you are not subject to this condition.

You must be physically fit to perform your future duties.

Your medical condition must be compatible with the job you are considering.

If your duties require special health conditions, you will undergo a medical examination by a doctor approved by the administration upon entering the public service.

This is the case for some, for example body of the national police or for the job managers of firefighters.

If you are disabled, you may be excluded from a competition or employment only if your disability is declared incompatible with the job as a result of a medical examination.