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Complete Eligibility Requirements
for FLEX Abroad

Applicants who meet the following eligibility criteria are welcome to apply here for the 2023 - 2024 program:

  • U.S. citizen

  • 15-18.5 years of age at start of program 

  • Enrolled in high school at the time of application

  • Do not have any immediate family members who work at the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, or public or private organizations that are under contract or grant agreement with the U.S. Department of State on U.S. Department of State exchange programs

  • Have not previously participated in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad, National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Youth Leadership Program (participants who traveled overseas only), or Youth Ambassadors Program. Specifically, current or past participants in these programs are not eligible to participate if the two programs will take place in the same calendar year or if the individual is currently participating, or has already participated, in an academic year program. (Current or past participants in a short-duration program of eight weeks or less are not eligible for another short-duration program but are eligible for an academic year program.)

Participation in a virtual program does not make the applicant ineligible for programs of any length. An individual may not participate in more than two of the above-listed programs, unless one of the programs was conducted entirely in a virtual setting.

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Strong selection preference is given to those who have not previously participated in one of the aforementioned exchange programs, or lived abroad for six months or more during the past five years.
 

The U.S. Department of State seeks to represent the diversity of America in these youth exchange programs and ensures a fair and equitable process for all applicants. FLEX Abroad welcomes applications from all U.S. citizens regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of grade point average or academic performance.

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