Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) in 2026
The coming CRE is tentatively scheduled to be held on 6 June 2026, or another date within June 2026 if necessary. On the other hand, with the launch of the Digitalised Basic Law and National Security Law Test (Degree / Professional Grades) (BLNST) since May 2025, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) will no longer organise the paper-based BLNST on the same day of the CRE in Hong Kong. For more details of the Digitalised BLNST, please visit the CSB website at https://www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html.
Application details
The application period for the coming CRE is tentatively scheduled from 28 March to 10 April 2026. The application details and an on-line application system will be available on our webpage at www.csb.gov.hk/eng/cre.html during the application period. Applicants may choose to take any of the CRE papers in this examination. The relevant information will be sent to you before the start of the application period for dissemination to your students.
The coming CRE is open to all holders of degree or a qualification meeting the entry requirement on professional qualifications for civil service degree or professional posts. Students who will have attained a degree in the academic year of 2025-26 or 2026-27 may also apply to take the coming CRE.
I should be most grateful if you would help publicise the coming CRE by disseminating the relevant information to your students who are studying in postgraduate courses, or in the final year of undergraduate courses (i.e. graduating in the academic year of 2025-26) or in the penultimate year of undergraduate courses (i.e. graduating in the academic year of 2026-27).
Year-end CRE
Please also note that another round of the CRE will be held in Hong Kong tentatively scheduled for 3 October 2026. For the convenience of those studying or residing outside Hong Kong, the year-end CRE together with the paper-based BLNST will also be held in some cities outside Hong Kong, tentatively scheduled for 5 December 2026. We shall inform you of the details relating to this round of examination later this year.
Joint Recruitment Examination (JRE)
The next JRE for the Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and the relevant grades is tentatively scheduled to be held in Hong Kong and some non-local cities on 5 December 2026. The recruiting grades will inform you of the relevant details separately in due course.
To facilitate your students attending the above examinations, you are invited to inform the relevant faculties / departments / offices of your institutions of the above examination dates so that clashes with lectures, examinations and other activities can be avoided as far as possible.
Enquiries
General enquiries regarding the CRE and BLNST may be directed to us by phone at 2537 6429 or by e-mail to csbcseu@csb.gov.hk.
