Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is building the EU's first uniformed service: a Standing Corps of border and coast guard officers deployed at the external borders of the EU and Schengen area. In the 2025–2026 campaign, the Agency plans to recruit up to 400 officers across two profiles:

• EBCG Officer – Team Member (FGIV) — the entry-level operational role (Reference: RCT-2025-00108)
• EBCG Officer – Deputy Section Leader & Head of Operational Horizontal Activities (AD8) — the leadership track (Reference: RCT-2025-00107)

Applications for both closed on 15 December 2025, and the selection procedure is now in its final stages. Whether you are working your way through the process or preparing for the next campaign, this guide covers everything: who can apply, how each test works, what the knowledge test covers (with the official reading list), and what the job actually pays.

The 2025–2026 timeline at a glance

According to Frontex's official recruitment updates, the Team Member (FGIV) procedure runs as follows:

The AD8 leadership procedure follows an almost identical calendar. Two rules every candidate must know: you are invited to each test once — rescheduling is not granted — and failure to appear on time means exclusion from the procedure.

Who can apply

Eligibility for the Team Member (FGIV) profile requires you to:

• Be a citizen of an EU Member State or a Schengen-Associated Country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) with full citizen's rights
• Be under 47 years old on the closing date (a duty-of-care criterion for the entry-level profile; no age criterion applies to higher levels)
• Hold a university diploma of at least three years (EQF level 6), or a combination of professional training and experience in a public uniformed service (law enforcement, military, fire service)
• Have English at B2 level (CEFR) or better — this is tested
• Hold a category B driving licence (manual transmission) issued in an EU/SAC country
• Provide a clean criminal record certificate and have fulfilled any military service obligations
• Be physically fit and consent to tasks that may require the use of force, including carrying service weapons
• Be able to obtain a personal security clearance at CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL level

Importantly, the Team Member role is not limited to law enforcement candidates — any field of university study qualifies, which makes this one of the most accessible uniformed EU careers.

How the selection works, stage by stage

The procedure is conducted entirely in English. Your final ranking is the sum of your scores across the knowledge test, psychometric tests, physical and swimming tests, and the interview — with Stage I weighted at 60% and Stage II at 40%. The English test and psychological assessment are pass/fail.

Stage I — Online tests

The knowledge test. Every candidate who submits a complete application is invited. It is a timed multiple-choice test: each question has a statement and at least three options, only one correct. Beware the negative marking — a wrong answer deducts half the value of a correct one, while blanks score zero, so random guessing is penalised. It is scored 0–10 with a minimum of 3 points to stay in the race — but since only the top scorers advance, your real target is to score as high as possible.

English language proficiency test. Run by an external contractor, covering listening, speaking, reading and writing. You must reach B2 in every component — failing one means exclusion. The test is recorded by camera and microphone throughout.

Psychometric tests. Two timed multiple-choice tests focused on verbal reasoning and abstract reasoning, each scored 0–10 (you need at least 3 on each). In the 2025–2026 calendar these are scheduled within Stage II, after the physical tests — the format is unchanged.

Stage II — Physical aptitude and swimming tests (Warsaw)

You must bring a medical certificate issued no more than 10 days before the test. The most recently published standards are:

Physical aptitude — three exercises, each scored 0–5; minimum 6 points overall, and a 0 in any exercise means exclusion:

The endurance test is the Multistage 20-m Shuttle Run (Beep Test), Léger and Lambert version.

Swimming — two exercises, each scored 0–2.5; a 0 in either means exclusion:

• 50 m swim, non-stop: 25 m crawl then 25 m breaststroke, one attempt. Full points require ≤54 seconds (men) or ≤1:19 (women).
• Dynamic apnea: starting in flotation, dive and retrieve two ~0.2 kg objects from the pool bottom (1.4–2.5 m deep) in a single breath. Two attempts allowed; goggles permitted.

Stage III — Psychological assessment and interview

The psychological assessment (online) combines a personality questionnaire, a situational judgement test and a psychological interview. It is pass/fail.

The competency-based interview scores you (up to 5 points) on five criteria: motivation to serve; ability to gather and process information; ability to work under tight deadlines and stress; teamwork and interaction with public authorities; and experience working abroad in a multicultural environment.

Stage IV — Medical examination and job offer

Top-ranked candidates receive job offers and undergo an extensive pre-recruitment medical examination. Remaining suitable candidates are placed on a reserve list, valid until 31 December of the following year.

The knowledge test: topics and official reading list

This is where preparation pays off most — it is the first filter and a major component of your final ranking. Frontex publishes an official (non-exhaustive) reference list. The main areas:

1. EU legislation on Frontex, border/coast guard functions and returns

• EBCG Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 — the founding regulation of the Standing Corps. The single most important document: know the mandate, tasks, staff categories and executive powers.
• Schengen Borders Code (Regulation 2016/399) — entry conditions, border checks, border surveillance.
• Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EIBM Strategy 2023–2027, the Frontex Annual Risk Analysis 2025–2026, and European cooperation on coast guard functions.

2. Functioning of EU institutions and bodies

• Types of EU institutions, bodies and agencies — and who does what.
• EU priorities 2024–2029, the next long-term EU budget, and the Staff Regulations of EU officials.

3. Fundamental rights in law enforcement

• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU — dignity, non-refoulement, asylum, data protection, rights of the child.
• 1951 Refugee Convention, the SOLAS and SAR Conventions (safety of life at sea and search & rescue), and fundamental rights at Frontex.

4. Professionalism, integrity and ethics

• The Frontex Codes of Conduct (operational activities; return operations) and the anti-harassment policy.

5. ICT knowledge

• Microsoft 365 basics — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

6. Extra topics for leadership (AD8) only

• The EU's geopolitical situation, the Research Study on Polycrisis, and leadership/resource management.

How to study for it. The list is long, so prioritise. The EBCG Regulation, the Schengen Borders Code, fundamental rights instruments and the Frontex codes of conduct carry the most weight for operational profiles. For each document, know its purpose, key definitions, who it applies to, and the numbers (e.g. the Standing Corps target of 10,000 officers, the four categories of staff). Then drill with timed multiple-choice practice — the negative marking means accuracy beats speed.

Salary and benefits: what does a Frontex officer earn?

Figures below are from the most recent published FGIV recruitment notice; always check the current vacancy notice. Salaries quoted are net — after EU tax and compulsory deductions, weighted by the correction coefficient for Poland.

• Basic net salary (FGIV): roughly €2,794–€3,736/month depending on grade and step
• Expatriation allowance: 16% of basic gross salary if you move from another country; 4% foreign residence allowance otherwise
• Household and dependent child allowances, plus preschool and education allowances
• Shift allowance: up to ≈ €1,121 gross/month when working shifts
• Contract: 5 years, renewable once, with a 9-month probationary period
• EU Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme, EU pension scheme, generous annual leave, and salaries exempt from national taxes

What happens after you're hired

New officers start with an induction week at Frontex HQ in Warsaw, followed by an induction camp and the months-long Operational Training Programme — border checks, surveillance, fundamental rights, use of force and shooting training. Training falls within the probationary period: you must pass the assessments to keep the contract, and you are paid your full salary throughout.

After training, you are deployed on a rotating basis to the EU's external borders or third countries with Status Agreements. You cannot pick your location. Career progression to Group Leader, Deputy Section Leader and beyond runs through new selection procedures.

Quick FAQ

Can I apply with no law enforcement background? Yes — for the Team Member (FGIV) profile, a 3-year university degree in any field qualifies you.

Is there an age limit? Yes, for the entry-level Team Member profile you must be under 47 when applying. No age criterion applies to higher levels.

Can non-EU citizens apply? No. You must be a citizen of an EU Member State or Schengen-Associated Country.

Can I retake a test if I miss it? No. Each test is offered once, and missing it means exclusion.

Does the reserve list guarantee a job? No — it makes you eligible for offers as posts open, until the list expires.

When is the next recruitment? Frontex typically opens Standing Corps campaigns annually in late autumn. Start preparing early: candidates who begin before the vacancy opens have a decisive head start.

Prepare with EPSOHQ

The Frontex knowledge test rewards exactly the skills EPSOHQ trains: EU knowledge, verbal reasoning and abstract reasoning — the core of Stage I. Practise under realistic timed conditions, learn to handle negative marking, and walk into test day with the content recall and timing instincts that last-minute candidates simply won't have.

Explore the complete Frontex preparation course →