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30 March 2026·7 min read
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CAST Permanent: Your Always-Open Door to EU Institutions
Unlike open competitions, CAST Permanent has no deadline. With 70,000+ candidates in the database and over 35 professional profiles, it's the most accessible entry point to an EU career. Here's how it works.
EU·Now Editorial·24 March 2026·6 min read
Key takeaways
- CAST Permanent is always open — no deadline, no waiting years for the next competition cycle.
- The test is simpler than AD5: only Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning — no EU Knowledge, Digital Skills, or essay.
- There are 4 Function Groups (FG I to FG IV) with salaries ranging from €2,600 to €9,335/month across over 35 professional profiles.
- With 190,014 applications in the database and 8,755 test requests from institutions in 2024, CAST is the highest-volume EU recruitment channel.
There's more than one path to an EU career
When people think "EU career," they picture the AD5 competition — 174,900 ambitious professionals all pursuing the same goal. But there's a smart alternative that many successful EU professionals started with:
CAST Permanent — the Contract Agents Selection Tool — is always open, has no application deadline, and is the largest source of recruitment into EU institutions.
What is CAST Permanent?
CAST is EPSO's continuous database for contract agent positions across all EU institutions, bodies, and agencies. Unlike open competitions (which happen once every few years), CAST is permanently open for registration.
The numbers tell the story:
- 190,014 applications in the database (end of 2024)
- 111,125 active candidates
- 8,755 test requests from institutions in 2024
- Over 35 professional profiles across 4 Function Groups
How it works — step by step
1. Register (anytime)
Create an EPSO account and fill in your profile: education, experience, languages, and which profiles and Function Groups you're applying for.
No deadline. You can register today and your profile stays in the database.
2. Confirm every 6 months
EPSO requires you to reconfirm your interest every six months. If you don't, your profile becomes invisible to recruiters. Set a calendar reminder.
3. Get selected by an institution
When an EU institution, body, or agency has a contract position to fill, they search the CAST database and shortlist candidates whose profiles match their needs.
This is the key difference from open competitions: institutions choose you, not the other way around.
4. Take the EPSO reasoning tests
Once shortlisted, you take online reasoning tests organized by EPSO:
| Test | Questions | Time | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 20 | 35 min | 10/20 |
| Numerical Reasoning | 10 | 20 min | Combined 10/20 |
| Abstract Reasoning | 10 | 10 min | Combined 10/20 |
That's it. No EU Knowledge test. No Digital Skills. No essay. Just reasoning.
5. Interview with the institution
If you pass the reasoning tests, the recruiting institution conducts their own interview process. This varies by institution — some are formal panel interviews, others more conversational.
6. Contract offer
If selected, you receive a contract — typically 6–12 months initially, potentially renewable. Some EU bodies can extend contracts to indefinite duration.
The 4 Function Groups
Contract agents are organized into Function Groups based on qualifications and tasks:
| Function Group | Tasks | Minimum education | Salary range |
|---|---|---|---|
| FG I | Manual and administrative support | Compulsory education | €2,600–3,400 |
| FG II | Clerical, secretarial, office management | Post-secondary education | €2,715–4,449 |
| FG III | Executive tasks, drafting, accounting, technical | University diploma (3 years) | €3,476–6,444 |
| FG IV | Administrative, advisory, linguistic, equivalent to AD | University degree (4+ years) | €4,449–9,335 |
FG IV is the most popular target: it offers work comparable to permanent administrators (AD) with a bachelor's or master's degree requirement.
Over 35 professional profiles
You can apply for one or more profiles across Function Groups:
Finance & Administration: Finance, Human Resources, Project/Programme Management, Property/Buildings Management
Communication & Information: Communication, Political Affairs/EU Policies, Document Management/Library/Archives
Technical & Scientific: Information and Communication Technology, Science/Research, Statistics, Environment
Legal & Regulatory: Law, Audit, Anti-fraud
Operations: Logistics/Security, Catering, Driving, Manual work
Linguistics: Translation, Interpreting
And more: Education/Training, Health/Social Services, Psychology, General secretarial tasks
Why CAST is your best starting point
It's always open
No waiting 7 years for the next competition. Register today, get selected tomorrow (or next month, or next year — but the door never closes).
The test is simpler
Only reasoning skills — no EU Knowledge, no Digital Skills, no essay. This makes preparation more focused and achievable.
It's the volume play
With 8,755 test requests from institutions in 2024 alone, there are significantly more opportunities than in open competitions.
It's a bridge to permanent positions
Many contract agents later apply for open competitions with insider knowledge — they know how EU institutions work, they have the network, and they have the experience. Some institutions offer conversion paths.
Results are valid for 10 years
Once you pass the CAST reasoning tests, your results remain valid for a decade. You can be contacted for positions during this entire period.
Where you could work
Contract agents work across:
- European Commission (Brussels, Luxembourg)
- European Parliament (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg)
- Council of the EU (Brussels)
- EU agencies across Europe (Parma, Dublin, Warsaw, Valletta, The Hague, and more)
- EU delegations worldwide (over 140 countries)
Good to know before you start
- Contracts are renewable: Initial contracts run 6–12 months, and many are extended — some to indefinite duration
- Salary grows with your career: FG IV starts at €4,449 (compared to AD5's €6,150), with room to progress
- It's a stepping stone: Many contract agents move on to permanent positions through open competitions, now with insider experience
- Re-testing built in: You can retake the reasoning test after 4 months — a built-in opportunity to improve your score and strengthen your skills
- Stay visible: Reconfirm your interest every 6 months to keep your profile active for recruiters
Your action plan
- Register now at eu-careers.europa.eu — it takes about 30 minutes
- Choose your profiles carefully — apply for all that genuinely match your background
- Start preparing reasoning tests — VR, NR, and AR are the only gate
- Set a 6-month reconfirmation reminder in your calendar
- Practice regularly — you could be called for testing at any time
The AD5 might be the dream. But CAST is the strategy.
EU·Now offers focused CAST preparation: Verbal, Numerical, and Abstract Reasoning practice with questions verified against official EPSO sources, in the same format you'll face on test day. Join the waitlist at eu-now.com.
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