Apply for the YSEALI Professional Exchange Program (YSEALI PE) 2027 - a fully funded 5 - 6 week U.S. placement for emerging leaders from Southeast Asia.

Applications are officially open for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Exchange (YSEALI PE), a fully funded exchange of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implemented by American Councils for International Education. The programme places emerging leaders aged 25 - 35 from the 11 YSEALI countries in U.S. public, private, and nonprofit offices for a five- to six-week professional fellowship, plus virtual learning, leadership development, and alumni engagement.

Applicants choose a preferred cohort - Fall 2027 (U.S. placement typically October - November 2027) or Spring 2028 - and rank themes such as civic engagement; innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment; society and governance; and sustainability and the environment. Applications close on 10 December 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Quick Facts - YSEALI Professional Exchange (YSEALI PE) 2027

Detail	Information
Funder	U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Implementer	American Councils for International Education
Host Landmark	United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. 🇺🇸
Duration	5 - 6 weeks in the United States, plus virtual learning and alumni follow-on
Cohorts	Fall 2027 (U.S. placement Oct - Nov 2027) or Spring 2028
Funding	Fully funded - international travel, visa support, and living costs in the United States
Eligible Age	25 - 35 at the start of the programme
Eligible Countries	Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam
Experience	Currently employed with at least 2 years of relevant professional experience
Application Deadline	10 December 2026, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Official Gateway	YSEALI PE How to Apply · AIS Forms Portal

About YSEALI PE

YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature leadership initiative for Southeast Asia. The Professional Exchange (also listed in some State Department materials as the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program) is a two-way exchange: Southeast Asian fellows complete an intensive U.S. placement, and selected American professionals later travel to Southeast Asia for reciprocal visits with alumni.

During the six-week U.S. exchange, participants work alongside host organisations, explore practical approaches to complex issues, and build networks for long-term collaboration. The programme also includes leadership activities and sustained alumni engagement.

Programme Themes

At the start of the application you rank themes in order of preference. Typical YSEALI PE / PFP themes include:

Civic engagement
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment
Society and governance
Sustainability and the environment

Exact theme descriptions and cohort dates appear inside the AIS application form.

What Is Funded

International travel to and from the United States
J-1 exchange visa support (participants typically must return home for two years afterwards under J-1 rules)
Living costs during the U.S. placement
Professional placement with a U.S. nonprofit, public, or private-sector host
Leadership programming, closing forum, and alumni network access

Eligibility Criteria

According to the U.S. Department of State and American Councils, applicants must:

Be a citizen and current resident of one of the 11 YSEALI countries listed above. Applicants living or working outside those countries on a long-term programme are not eligible.
Be an emerging leader in government, civil society, or the private sector with expertise in the theme they rank first.
Be 25 - 35 years old at the start of the programme, currently employed, and have two or more years of relevant professional experience.
Show leadership, collaboration, and the ability to work in a cross-cultural setting.
Identify a follow-on project or objective they will implement in their workplace or community after returning home.
Have demonstrated proficiency in written and spoken English.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are not eligible. Past YSEALI U.S. exchange participants and people who have applied for U.S. permanent residency in the past three years are typically excluded - confirm the current exclusions on the official site.

Required Application Materials

Confirmation of eligibility
Education history and comprehensive work experience
Resume or CV in English
Three written essays (motivation, skills to develop, and follow-on community project - exact prompts are in the form)
One video essay on leadership (prompt in the form)
One professional reference
Signed Participant Terms and Conditions Agreement
Signed American Councils Informed Consent Agreement

Selection is merit-based and may include an in-person interview. Finalists are chosen in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Read the official pages: YSEALI PE site, How to Apply, and the State Department programme page.
Open the AIS portal: Create or log in at the American Councils AIS Forms system.
Rank themes and pick a cohort: Fall 2027 or Spring 2028 - dates are listed in the form.
Upload essays, video, CV, and reference: You may save and return; the application does not have to be finished in one sitting.
Press Submit: If you do not click Submit on the last page, the application is incomplete. No edits are allowed after submission.
Deadline: 10 December 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Questions: Email ysealipe@americancouncils.org early - replies can be slow near the deadline because of time-zone differences.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 10 December 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. You must press Submit on the last page of the AIS form.

Is the programme fully funded?

Yes. Travel, visa support, and living costs in the United States are covered by the U.S. Department of State.

Who can apply?

Emerging leaders aged 25 - 35 who are citizens and residents of the 11 YSEALI countries, currently employed, with at least two years of relevant experience and strong English. Africans and other non-YSEALI nationalities are not eligible (the closest U.S. programme for young African leaders is the Mandela Washington Fellowship).

How long is the U.S. placement?

Five to six weeks, plus virtual learning and alumni follow-on. You choose Fall 2027 or Spring 2028 in the application.

Results for “Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative”

Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Exchange Program (YSEALI PE) 2027 (Funded)