A move between participating Civil Service departments should usually be processed as a staff transfer. The employee should not resign from the old department when the transfer process applies, because resignation can affect continuity, pension and payroll handling.
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Start the transfer process early
Tell the recruiting or onboarding team that you are an existing civil servant. Follow the staff transfer guidance and give your current department enough time to complete the required information.
The release date must be coordinated between the exporting and importing departments.
What may transfer
Continuity of service is normally preserved through a correctly handled transfer. Pay, annual leave entitlement, pension, loans, vetting, working arrangements and other terms may still need specific confirmation.
The importing department applies its own policies and may have different leave rules or working practices.
Do not resign
Where the staff transfer process applies, use transfer wording and forms. A resignation may create a break in service and avoidable pension or payroll problems.
Civil Service departments use different contracts, policies and approval routes. Check your own contract, intranet guidance, scheme documents and any letter you have received before acting.
Members can unlock the cross-department transfer checklist, release-date plan, pay and leave questions, model emails for both departments and troubleshooting steps for delayed transfers.
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