2026-2027 U.S. Department of State Eligibility Policy for U.S. Youth Programs Applicants

Eligibility: The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) offers international exchange opportunities open to all American youth. ECA is committed to ensuring a merit-based, fair, and transparent selection process. Opportunities include the following:

• Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Outbound
• Future Leaders Exchange Abroad Program (FLEX Abroad)
• Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad)
• National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
• Youth Ambassadors and Youth Leadership Programs

Students who have not previously participated in an in-person exchange program are encouraged to apply. Programs are predominantly designed for students who have not lived abroad for six months or longer during the last five years.

To be eligible, an individual must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be enrolled in grades 9-12 (high school, including home school) at the time of application
• Meet age, GPA, and other requirements specific to the program
• Not be subject to the employment-related ineligibility categories described below currently or for a period of one year following the termination of such employment, association, or service:
  • Employees of the U.S. Department of State. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, interns, fellows and personal services contractors).
  • Immediate family members (e.g. dependent children) of employees of the U.S. Department of State. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, interns, fellows and personal services contractors). Self-supporting children who live apart from their parents are qualified to participate
  • Employees (and their immediate family members) of private and public organizations under contract or cooperative agreement/grant with the U.S. Department of State who perform services on behalf of ECA Youth exchange programs. This provision includes all employees, paid or unpaid (including part-time or temporary employees, consultants, externs, interns, fellows and personal services contractors).

Eligibility for More than One Program:

• Individuals may not participate in two of the above-listed programs in the same calendar year.
• Individuals may not participate in more than two of the above-listed programs, unless one of the programs was virtual.
• Current or past participants of a short-duration in-person program of up to 8 weeks are not eligible for another short-duration program but are eligible for an academic year program.
• Current or past participants of an academic year program are not eligible for another program, listed above.
• Current or past participants in a virtual program are eligible to participate in a sort duration or academic year program.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State strives to ensure that its efforts reflect the diversity of U.S. society and societies abroad. The Bureau seeks and encourages the involvement of people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all its grants, programs and other activities and in its workforce and workplace. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Bureau is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion.