The Department of Justice has confirmed that a new Garda recruitment competition is expected to open in the coming weeks.
Applications are not open yet, but this is an important update for anyone considering a career with An Garda Síochána.
The official Publicjobs Garda Trainee page is currently still showing the 2025 competition as closed for applications, so candidates should wait for the official application link before applying. However, the latest government update is a clear signal that the next campaign is approaching.
What has been confirmed?
In a press release published on 1 May 2026, the Department of Justice confirmed that 193 new Gardaí had been assigned to stations across the country. The same update also stated that there is a strong pipeline of recruits and that a new Garda recruitment campaign will be launched soon. The notes to editors further state that a new recruitment competition will open in the coming weeks.
Why you should start preparing before applications open
Once a Garda recruitment competition opens, the process can move quickly.
After submitting an application, candidates can expect to move towards the Stage 1 online assessments. These assessments are an important part of the selection process and can include aptitude-style tests and other assessment exercises.
In previous campaigns, candidates have had limited time between receiving test information and completing the Stage 1 assessments. For that reason, waiting until the test window is announced can leave little time to prepare properly.
Want to be notified when the next Garda recruitment campaign opens?
If you are interested in applying for the upcoming Garda recruitment campaign, you can sign up for the free Career Services Garda Job Alert.
By signing up, you can receive updates and free resources including:
- notification when the official Garda recruitment campaign opens
- updates on key dates and deadlines
- information on the Garda recruitment process
- guidance on what to expect at each stage
- free Garda sample test resources
- and more
Join the free Garda Job Alert:
https://careerservices.ie/job-alert-service/
Important note
Career Services is a private education and preparation course provider. We are not affiliated with An Garda Síochána, Publicjobs.ie, or the Department of Justice. Candidates should always refer to official sources for application dates, eligibility criteria, and competition instructions.
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