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Applying for CSS is not one application. It is two. You apply for the MPT screening test first, and only if you pass it can you apply for the written exam. Each stage has its own dates, its own fee and its own form. This guide covers both, step by step.
For CE-2027, the MPT has already been held (10 October 2026). The written exam applications open on 10 November 2026. If you passed the MPT, this is the guide you need now.
The Two Applications at a Glance#
| What | MPT application | Written exam application |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Any eligible graduate | Only MPT passers |
| Applications | 3 to 20 August 2026 (closed) | 10 to 25 November 2026 |
| Fee | Rs 250 (non-refundable) | Rs 2,200 for CE-2026 (CE-2027 fee confirmed in the 8 November advertisement) |
| Test date | 10 October 2026 | From 27 January 2027 (tentative) |
| Hard copy needed? | No | Yes, by 4 December 2026 |
Who Can Apply?#
The eligibility rules are the same for both stages. You need a Bachelor’s degree (second division), you must be 21 to 30 years old on 31 December 2026 for CE-2027, and you get a maximum of 3 attempts. The MPT does not count as an attempt. Our CSS age limit guide explains the exact cut-off dates and the 2-year relaxation (maximum age 32). Our CSS exam guide explains the five stages, the 12 papers and the passing marks.
What You Need Before You Apply#
Keep these ready before you open the portal. Entering them wrong can get your application rejected.
- CNIC number and date of birth, exactly as on your CNIC.
- Degree details from Matric onward, with marks and divisions.
- Mobile number and email that you actually use. FPSC sends the tracking number and the admission certificate information to them.
- A photograph under 30 KB, recent, with full face exposure.
- Your optional subjects decided. Your combination is locked in at application and cannot be changed later.
- Your domicile, for the provincial and regional quota.
How to Apply for the Written Exam: 5 Steps#
The written exam application runs on the FPSC online portal. You use the same login you used for the MPT.
Step 1: Open the portal. Go to fpsc.gov.pk and click “Apply Online“. Log in with your MPT login and password. If you have never applied for an FPSC post before, our FPSC online apply guide walks through the portal in detail.
Step 2: Complete your profile and select your subjects. Update your profile with every degree from Matric onward. Select your six optional papers from FPSC’s seven subject groups. They must total exactly 600 marks. Check the combination against the official FPSC syllabus before you go further, because it cannot be changed after you submit.
Step 3: Generate the PSID and pay the fee. The portal generates a 16-digit PSID (Payment Slip ID). Pay it through any 1Link channel: an ATM, a mobile banking app, Easypaisa, JazzCash, internet banking, or a 1Link member bank counter. Our PSID guide explains the payment in detail. The old TR-6 challan, cheques, bank drafts and pay orders are not accepted. The written exam fee was Rs 2,200 for CE-2026; the CE-2027 fee will be confirmed in the 8 November 2026 advertisement.
Step 4: Finish and submit the form. Log back into the portal and complete the remaining details. Review everything, then submit. Check the form shows under “Application History”. Paying the fee alone does not submit your application. FPSC’s 2026 notice says this in plain words, and it is the step people skip.
Step 5: Send the hard copy. Print the online application, sign it, and send it with attested copies of your degrees, CNIC and domicile, plus four photographs and the bank receipt, to FPSC Headquarters, Islamabad. The deadline is 4 December 2026. This is CSS-specific: for general FPSC recruitment no hard copy is needed. The 8 November advertisement will confirm the exact documents and address for CE-2027.
After You Apply#
Keep your tracking number safe. FPSC issues the admission certificate on its website before the exam. You print it with your CNIC and tracking ID. Nothing comes by post. The written exam starts from 27 January 2027 (tentative). Our CSS exam guide has the full CE-2027 dates and the passing criteria.
Mistakes to Avoid#
- Thinking the MPT pass registers you for the written exam. It does not. You must apply again, in the 10 to 25 November window, and pay the written exam fee.
- Paying the fee and stopping there. The fee is step three of five. Your application is not submitted until you finish the form and it shows under Application History.
- Skipping the hard copy. The online form alone is not enough for CSS. The signed hard copy with documents must reach FPSC by 4 December 2026.
- Choosing optional subjects at the last minute. The combination is locked in at application. A wrong combination wastes a whole attempt.
- Waiting until the last evening. The portal slows down on the final day. Apply in the first week of the window.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How to apply for CSS online?
Go to fpsc.gov.pk and click “Apply Online”. Log in with your MPT login, complete your profile, select your optional subjects, generate a 16-digit PSID, pay the fee through 1Link, finish and submit the form, then send the signed hard copy with documents to FPSC Headquarters by 4 December 2026.
What is the fee for the CSS exam?
There are two fees. The MPT fee is Rs 250. The written exam fee was Rs 2,200 for CE-2026. The CE-2027 written exam fee will be confirmed in the 8 November 2026 advertisement. Both fees are paid through a 16-digit PSID on the 1Link network.
Do I need to send a hard copy for CSS?
Yes, for the written exam. Print the online application, sign it, and send it with attested copies of your degrees, CNIC and domicile, plus four photographs and the bank receipt, to FPSC Headquarters, Islamabad, by 4 December 2026. The MPT application needs no hard copy, and general FPSC recruitment needs none either. CSS is the exception.
Can I apply for the CSS written exam without passing the MPT?
No. Only MPT passers can apply for the written exam. The MPT is a mandatory screening test. If you did not pass the CE-2027 MPT, you cannot apply for the CE-2027 written exam. You can try again in the next cycle.
When do CSS 2027 applications open?
The written exam advertisement is due on 8 November 2026, and online applications open from 10 to 25 November 2026. The MPT applications (3 to 20 August 2026) have already closed and the MPT was held on 10 October 2026. The written exam starts from 27 January 2027 (tentative).
