Can a public servant take several vacancies in a row?
Verified 29 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, you can request multiple availabilities in a row from each other, but every availability must be granted for a different pattern.
In some cases, the cumulative duration consecutive availabilities is limited.
The rules vary according to your public service (state - FPE, territorial - FPT, hospital - FPH).
EPF
Availability may be granted for the following reasons:
Family reasons
The duration of availability differs according to the reason for which it is granted:
Raising a child under 12
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable up to 12 years of the child
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employer administration)
Provide care to a loved one with a disability requiring the presence of a third party or following an accident or serious illness
Close care recipient: dependent child, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent, ascending
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable as long as the presence of a third person is justified
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employer administration)
Follow your spouse or Civil partnership partner who has to move for work reasons
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable without limitation
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employer administration)
Traveling overseas or abroad to adopt a child or children
Duration: 6 weeks maximum per accreditation issued by a department of theAse: titleContent
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employer administration)
Personal Suitability
Duration: 5 years maximum, renewable up to 10 years for the entire career
Please note
If the availability for personal convenience follows an availability to create or resume a company, the cumulative duration of the 2 availabilities may not exceed 5 years.
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
A public servant who has committed to serve in the EPF for a minimum period must, when requesting availability for personal convenience to carry out an activity in a private company or organization or a liberal activity, justify 4 years of actual service since his tenure in his corps of membership.
Performing another activity
The duration of availability differs according to the activity envisaged:
Creation or resumption of company
Duration: 2 years maximum non-renewable
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements and provided that the proposed activity is compatible with activities in the public sector in the previous 3 years.
A civil servant who has undertaken to serve the State for a minimum period of time must, when requesting availability to set up or take over a company, provide proof of 4 years of actual service since his appointment to his corps of membership.
Studies or research of general interest
Duration: 3 years renewable once 3 years
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
To serve as a local elected official
Duration: duration of the elected term
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employer administration)
FPT
Availability may be granted for the following reasons:
Family reasons
The duration of availability differs according to the reason for which it is granted:
Raising a child under 12
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable up to 12 years of the child
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing community)
Provide care to a loved one with a disability requiring the presence of a third party or following an accident or serious illness
Close care recipient: dependent child, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent, ascending
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable as long as the presence of a third person is justified
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing community)
Follow your spouse or Civil partnership partner who has to move for work reasons
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable without limitation
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing community)
Traveling overseas or abroad to adopt a child or children
Duration: 6 weeks maximum per accreditation issued by a department of theAse: titleContent
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing community)
Personal Suitability
Duration: 5 years maximum, renewable up to 10 years for the entire career
If the availability for personal convenience follows an availability to create or resume a company, the cumulative duration of the 2 availabilities may not exceed 5 years.
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
Performing another activity
The duration of availability differs according to the activity envisaged:
Creation or resumption of company
Duration: 2 years maximum non-renewable
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements and provided that the proposed activity is compatible with activities in the public sector in the previous 3 years
Studies or research of general interest
Duration: 3 years renewable once 3 years
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
To serve as a local elected official
Duration: duration of the elected term
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing community)
FPH
Availability may be granted for the following reasons:
Family reasons
The duration of availability differs according to the reason for which it is granted:
Raising a child under 12
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable up to 12 years of the child
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing institution)
Provide care to a loved one with a disability requiring the presence of a third party or following an accident or serious illness
Close care recipient: dependent child, spouse, partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent, ascending
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable as long as the presence of a third person is justified
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing institution)
Follow your spouse or Civil partnership partner who has to move for work reasons
Duration: 3 years maximum renewable without limitation
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing institution)
Traveling overseas or abroad to adopt a child or children
Duration: 6 weeks maximum per accreditation issued by a department of theAse: titleContent
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing institution)
Personal Suitability
Duration: 5 years maximum, renewable up to 10 years for the entire career
If the availability for personal convenience follows an availability to create or resume a company, the cumulative duration of the 2 availabilities may not exceed 5 years.
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
A public servant who has committed to serve in the FPH for a minimum period of time must, when requesting availability for personal convenience to carry out an activity in a private company or organization or a liberal activity, justify 4 years of actual service since his tenure in his corps of membership.
Performing another activity
The duration of availability differs according to the activity envisaged:
Creation or resumption of company
Duration: 2 years maximum non-renewable
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements and provided that the proposed activity is compatible with activities in the public sector in the previous 3 years.
An employee who has entered into a commitment to serve for a minimum period must justify, when requesting availability to set up or resume a company, 4 years of actual service since becoming a member of the staff.
Studies or research of general interest
Duration: 3 years renewable once 3 years
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements
To serve as a local elected official
Duration: duration of the elected term
Conditions for award: de jure (i.e. availability cannot be refused by the employing institution)
Engage in an activity in an international organization
Duration: 5 years maximum non-renewable
Conditions for award: subject to service requirements