Application process for senior civil servants and special advisers

This guide explains the process for the handling of applications under the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) for civil servants at SCS Pay Band 3 and SCS Pay Band 4 and special advisers at Pay Band 4. This guidance should be read alongside the Business Appointment Rules for Crown Servants and the process guidance.

Application submission

The applicant submits either:

A Level 1 application (for unpaid and lower-risk appointments) directly to the Civil Service Commission.
A Level 2 application (for all other appointments) to their former department. The department will review it according to its own internal process. The department, or, for SCS Pay Band 4 civil servants, the Cabinet Office, shares the application with the Civil Service Commission.

Civil Service Commission analysis and review

The Civil Service Commission analyses the application, requesting any further information from the applicant or department where necessary. Provisional advice is drafted and put to the Civil Service Commission BARs Panel for approval.

Provisional advice

Provisional advice and recommended conditions are issued to the applicant and copied to the former department. If required, confirmation is sought from the prospective employer that they will comply with the conditions applied to the applicant. The applicant is required to confirm they are content with the advice.

Final decision

The advice is submitted for approval by the final decision-maker defined in the Rules for formal approval.

For special advisers, the advice is sent to the Permanent Secretary.
For diplomats, the advice is sent to the Foreign Secretary.
For all other civil servants, the advice is sent to the Prime Minister's team.

Advice shared

The CSC issues the final advice letter to the applicant.

Publication

Once the applicant has announced or taken up the role, the Civil Service Commission will publish the final advice letter on its website.

Last updated: November 2025