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Application Process

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The Audit Process

The Civil Service Commission provides independent advice on applications under the government’s Business Appointment Rules (BARs) for Civil Servants at SCS Pay Band 3 and SCS Pay Band 4 and special advisers at Pay Band 4. Guidance and instructions for applicants are set out on gov.uk. The Civil Service Commission can be contacted at [email protected].

Useful documents:

Decisions by the Civil Service Commission

Applications submitted to the Civil Service Commission are considered by a panel drawn from our team of independent Civil Service Commissioners. The current Panel is Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner, and Commissioners Christopher Pilgrim, Elizabeth Hambley and Elizabeth Walmsley. 

For more information on the panel and their outside interests, please see here.

In the event of a conflict of interest, a Panel member may decide to withdraw from a decision on an application, or the Panel may decide that the member should withdraw. This would be recorded in the issued advice. 

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.

1. 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. 
2. 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.

3. 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. 

4. 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.
5. Advice shared 

The Civil Service Commission issues the final advice letter to the applicant.

6. 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: March 2026