Fill Out Optional Form 306 (OF-306) Online
Declaration for Federal Employment
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Collects background and eligibility information from applicants selected for federal employment.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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Fill it out in the editor. Click anywhere to type, add checkmarks and place your signature.
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Optional Form 306 (OF-306), the Declaration for Federal Employment, is the questionnaire federal agencies use to collect background and eligibility information from people selected for federal jobs. It covers topics like military service, criminal history, and delinquent federal debt, and it is signed under penalty of perjury.
You can fill out the OF-306 in the Universal PDF editor, answer each numbered question carefully, and download the completed PDF to return to the requesting agency's human resources office.
What is OF-306 used for
Agencies use the OF-306 to determine an applicant's acceptability for federal employment and their eligibility for status as a federal employee. It also collects information used to enroll new hires in benefits and to initiate background investigations.
Despite the word Optional in the name, completing it is a standard, required step once an agency asks for it, typically after a tentative job offer. Answers are certified as true, and false statements can be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.
Who files OF-306
The form is completed by the applicant, usually at two points in the hiring process:
- As an applicant, when the agency requests it after selection, signing the applicant certification.
- As an appointee, signing again at appointment to confirm the answers are still accurate.
How to fill out OF-306
The form asks for identifying information followed by a series of yes-or-no questions about US military service, convictions and imprisonment within the timeframes stated on the form, terminations from prior employment, and delinquency on federal debt such as loans or taxes. Selective Service registration is also covered for male applicants born after December 31, 1959.
Answer every question, and use the continuation space to explain any yes answers with dates and details. A yes answer does not automatically disqualify you; leaving questions blank or answering falsely is far more damaging. When in doubt about how to characterize a past event, consider getting professional advice before signing.
Frequently asked questions
The name refers to the form series, not to whether you can skip it. When an agency requests the OF-306 as part of hiring, completing it is required to move forward.
Usually after an agency selects you for a position, and again at appointment when you certify that your answers are still accurate.
Not automatically. Agencies weigh the nature, recency, and circumstances of the conduct. Answering truthfully with an explanation is always better than omitting it, since false statements are themselves disqualifying.
The hiring agency's human resources and security personnel use it for suitability decisions and to initiate background checks. It becomes part of your official personnel records if you are hired.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must generally be registered with the Selective Service System to be eligible for federal executive agency employment, and the form asks you to confirm registration or explain.
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