Yes. You can leave the Civil Service and come back later. You can apply again through normal Civil Service recruitment, including for a higher grade. In some circumstances, a department can also reappoint a former civil servant without a new fair and open competition under Exception 5 of the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles.
On this page
Can you leave the Civil Service and come back later?
Leaving does not normally prevent you from applying for another Civil Service job in the future.
There are two main routes back. You can apply for an advertised vacancy through the normal recruitment process, or a department may be able to reappoint you under the Civil Service Commission’s rules for former civil servants.
Returning through normal Civil Service recruitment
You can apply for advertised Civil Service jobs in the normal way after leaving. Your previous grade does not stop you applying for a higher-grade vacancy if you meet its requirements.
You will be assessed against the requirements of the new vacancy. Previous Civil Service experience can form part of your evidence, and experience gained after leaving can be just as relevant.
If you are preparing to apply again, use our Civil Service application guide. If you already know the type of job you want, the Civil Service role application guides bring together the relevant CV, personal statement, behaviour and interview guidance.
Returning under Exception 5
The Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles contain a specific exception for former civil servants. Exception 5 allows a former civil servant to be reappointed to a permanent or fixed-term role within a maximum of five years of leaving where the required conditions are met.
- You must previously have been appointed on merit through fair and open competition.
- You must meet the essential selection criteria for the new role.
- The new role must be at your previous substantive pay band or lower.
- Exception 5 cannot be used to bring you back at a higher grade.
A department does not have to use Exception 5 simply because you meet those conditions. It is a permitted recruitment route rather than an automatic right to return.
You can read the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles for the official Exception 5 wording.
What if you left more than five years ago?
The five-year Exception 5 route would no longer apply. You can still apply for advertised Civil Service vacancies through normal recruitment.
Can you return at a higher grade?
Yes, through normal recruitment. You would need to apply for the higher-grade vacancy and meet its assessment requirements.
Exception 5 is different. It only allows reappointment at your previous substantive pay band or lower, so it cannot be used as a promotion route.
Members: what happens when you actually return?
Continue below for the detail on how Exception 5 works in practice, how resignation, career breaks, redundancy, retirement or a difficult departure can affect a return, and what previous service can mean for pay, pension, annual leave, probation and security checks.
Join our careers service to read more...
If everyone knew the best tricks and tips then they would no longer work! That is why the best guidance is for members only.
Subscribe to open the locked section on this page and get access to the full Civil Service Careers premium library.
Get help with applications, interviews, behaviours, personal statements, CVs, tests, workplace problems, promotions, and career decisions, all written for people who want a better result.
Already subscribed? Log in