Supporting Documents Checklist & What Your Invitation Letter Will Say

Two administrative events stand between you and your Part 1 test this autumn: the supporting documents deadline on 7 October 2026, and the individual invitation letter that assigns your test date. Both are simple, and both eliminate candidates every single competition cycle through avoidable mistakes.

This guide covers exactly what to prepare, when, and the errors that cost people their place before they ever sit a test.

The deadline that isn't optional

Note the detail that catches people: 12:00 midday Brussels time. Every cycle, candidates plan to upload "on the deadline day" in the evening, and discover the window closed at noon. Treat 6 October as your personal deadline.

Your document checklist

Gather these now, some take weeks to obtain if you need replacements:

• Identity document, valid passport or national ID card (check the expiry date now).
• University degree certificate, the diploma proving you meet the AD5 qualification requirement. If you graduated in 2026 and haven't received the physical diploma, obtain an official certificate of completion from your university.
• Transcripts, if requested, have them scanned and ready in case your institution's degree naming isn't self-explanatory.
• Proof of nationality, usually covered by your ID/passport (you must be an EU citizen).
• Name-change documentation, if your documents show different names (marriage, etc.), include the linking document.

Scanning rules that save you pain

• Scan in colour, legible, complete pages, no cropped corners or cut-off stamps.
• Keep each file small enough to upload but readable (PDF preferred).
• Name files clearly: surname_passport.pdf, surname_degree.pdf.
• Upload well before the deadline, then verify in your EPSO account that each document is correctly linked, uploading alone is not always enough.

Your invitation letter: what to expect

Because 174,922 people applied, EPSO will spread Part 1 testing across several days in the October/November window. Here is how the invitation process works:

• Timing: your individual invitation arrives several weeks before your test session, for an October start, that likely means invitations begin landing in September.
• Content: your exact date and time, plus all practical instructions for the remote, computer-based session.
• Assignment: your slot is scheduled, and different candidates get different dates across the testing period.

What to do when it arrives

1. Read the full letter the day it arrives, instructions matter for remote testing (system checks, ID requirements, room conditions).
2. Count backwards from your test date and lock in your final 2-week consolidation plan.
3. Test your equipment early: computer, webcam, stable internet, quiet room. Technical failures on test day are a miserable way to waste an application.
4. Check your EPSO account and email (including spam) at least twice a week from September onwards.

Quick answers

What if I can't get a document in time?

Contact your issuing institution now, not in September. For degrees, an official certificate of completion generally serves while the diploma is in production. If a genuine problem persists, contact EPSO through your account well before the deadline, documented, in writing.

Do I need certified translations?

Check the competition notice for accepted languages for documents. When in doubt, prepare the original plus a translation, over-preparing costs an hour; under-preparing can cost the competition.

Can I change my assigned test date?

Your invitation states your assigned slot and the letter explains the procedure for exceptional cases. Assume your date is fixed and plan around it.

Previous update: EPSO AD5 2026 in August: Where You Stand & What to Do Now