About

The Frontex Standing Corps continues to grow, and the recruitment process is currently underway. Below you will find information about the mission of the Standing Corps and what it offers. While the application phase has closed, you can follow updates on the ongoing recruitment process and learn more about current and future opportunities via the Recruitment page.

The European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps is the EU’s first and only uniformed service. Composed of Frontex personnel and officers from EU Member States and Schengen-Associated Countries, the Corps supports national authorities at Europe’s external borders whenever needed.

Standing Corps officers serve at land, sea, and air borders across the EU and Schengen Area. They can also be deployed outside the EU where a Status Agreement or Working Arrangement exists with a non-EU country. Standing Corps officers work under the command of the host country’s national authorities. 

Officers assist with:

• Border checks and surveillance
• Migration management (e.g. screening, registration, fingerprinting, debriefing)
• Coast guard functions and search & rescue
• Return operations for people without the right to stay in Europe
• Combating cross-border crime, including smuggling and document fraud

Standing Corps officers have executive powers to perform border controls and may carry a service weapon.

The Standing Corps includes three categories:

• Category 1 – Officers directly employed by Frontex
• Category 2 – Long-term, seconded officers from EU Member States
• Category 3 – Short-term, seconded officers from EU Member States

By 2027, the Standing Corps will total 10,000 officers, including about 3,000 in Category 1. 

Selected candidates complete up to 12 months of training that combines classroom learning with practical exercises. The programme covers EU border management standards, fundamental rights, operational safety, communications, first aid, and equipment use, alongside practical skills such as document examination, interviewing and reporting. On completion, officers deploy according to their operational profile to land, sea or air operations under the command of the host country. Throughout their careers, officers follow regular refresher and specialised courses, for example in document forensics, return operations, cross-border crime detection, information gathering and languages. Clear development pathways support progression to new profiles and broader responsibilities across integrated border management, including supervisory and specialist roles.

A career in European law enforcement with a clear public mission.

Pay and pension

• Competitive EU remuneration
• Participation in the EU pension scheme

Health and wellbeing

• Health and accident insurance
• Access to wellbeing support services

Learning and development

• Basic training followed by role-specific courses
• Continuous professional development, including language training

Operational experience

• International deployment alongside national authorities in the EU and, where agreements exist, beyond the EU
• Work within a European law enforcement community

Family and relocation

• Practical support for relocation and settling in

(Specific eligibility and entitlements depend on contract type and applicable rules.)