Kennedy-Lugar YES Program Pakistan 2027

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange, established by Congress in October 2002. It sends high school students from Pakistan to live with an American host family and attend a U.S. high school. In Pakistan it is run by the Society for International Education (SIE) and iEARN Pakistan.

YES Program Pakistan at a Glance

How to Apply: By Post or Courier Only

This is where most applications go wrong, so follow the U.S. Embassy's instructions exactly.

1. Open yesprogram.pk, check the eligibility criteria and use the "Apply Now" button to get the application form. It is a fillable PDF, so type your answers on a computer.
2. Print it in black and white. Colour printing is not required.
3. Check every page for missing or wrong information.
4. Sign by hand where indicated, and fill in anything else that must be handwritten, using only a black ballpoint pen. Blue or coloured ink, pencils and other pens are not accepted.
5. Attach the documents listed below.
6. Send it by post or courier to: YES Program: Spring Semester 2027 Application, Society for International Education, 88-H, P.E.C.H.S. Block-6, Karachi. Tel: 0333-2929960.

Documents to attach

• Photocopies of your last three years' mark sheets, each school attested (stamped and signed by a school official): the final mark sheets for 2025–26, 2024–25 and 2023–24
• Cambridge (CAIE) students must send their final mock results for all the core subjects in the criteria, not their CAIE results
• A photocopy of one identity document: NADRA B-Form, Smart Card, Family Registration Certificate (FRC) or birth certificate

Photocopies must be clear, readable and complete. Blurred or dark copies, and incomplete copies of mark sheets, will not be considered.

Who Can Apply

The U.S. Embassy lists these requirements. You must meet every one.

Age and date of birth

You must be 15 to 17 by the start of the programme, 1 January 2027, and born between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2012. The official site has an age calculator if you are close to either end.

Your class

• Enrolled in a secondary school in Pakistan, in 8th, 9th or 10th grade or O Levels when you apply
• Only O Level grade 9 or grade 10 students may apply. O Level 11th graders are not eligible
• Anyone who has completed or graduated from secondary school before the programme starts is not eligible

Marks

• A total of at least 60% in each academic year
• At least 60% in all major subjects: English, Mathematics and Sciences
• No failing grades in the past three years (2025–26, 2024–25 and 2023–24)
• Students with a gap year or a repeated year are not eligible

English

You must be able to communicate in English. The criteria do not ask for an IELTS or TOEFL score. Shortlisted applicants take an English proficiency exam as part of selection.

Citizenship and visa

• A citizen of Pakistan, living in Pakistan
• Dual nationals of any country will not be considered
• You must meet U.S. J-1 visa eligibility requirements
• You must not have travelled to the United States

Family exclusions

• Siblings and children of YES Program alumni are not eligible
• Siblings and children of Society for International Education and iEARN Pakistan project staff are not eligible

What the Programme Provides

According to the official site, YES provides:

• Round-trip airfare from Pakistan to the United States
• The cost of a pre-departure orientation
• Placement with a U.S. host family
• A modest monthly stipend
• Health insurance
• The cost of programme activities and materials

What It Does Not Provide

You will also see the package valued at "$25,000 to $30,000" on posters. No official page publishes a cash value for a YES place, and the official site does not give the stipend as a figure either — it says "a modest monthly stipend". Treat amounts quoted elsewhere as other people's estimates.

How the Selection Works

The official site describes multiple rounds. Shortlisted applicants are required to:

1. Take an English proficiency exam
2. Write a proctored essay — under supervision, not at home
3. Complete a YES program application
4. Take part in an interview

All finalists are selected on merit. The official site also warns that false or forged documents or information, or any discrepancy found at any stage, will count against the applicant, so make sure every mark sheet and date matches exactly.

Avoiding Fake Pages

Official Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for the YES Program Pakistan online?

No. You fill in the PDF form from yesprogram.pk, print it, sign it by hand in black ballpoint pen and send it with your documents by post or courier to the Society for International Education in Karachi. The U.S. Embassy says applications are only accepted through courier or postal services.

When is the YES Program Pakistan deadline?

15 September 2026 is the last date for receiving applications for the Spring 2027 semester, so the envelope has to reach Karachi by then.

Is the YES Program one year or one semester?

The round open now is the Spring 2027 semester: students travel to the United States in January 2027 and return home in June 2027.

Who is eligible for the YES Program in Pakistan?

Pakistani citizens living in Pakistan, aged 15 to 17 by 1 January 2027 and born between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2012, in 8th, 9th or 10th grade or O Level grade 9 or 10, with 60% in each academic year and in English, Mathematics and Sciences, and no failing grades in the past three years.

What documents do I send with the YES application?

School-attested photocopies of your final mark sheets for 2025–26, 2024–25 and 2023–24 (Cambridge students send final mock results for the core subjects), and a photocopy of your B-Form, Smart Card, FRC or birth certificate.

Is the YES Program really free?

It provides round-trip airfare, a pre-departure orientation, host family placement, a modest monthly stipend, health insurance and programme activities. It does not provide the cost of a passport, required medical examinations and immunizations, or extra pocket money.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for the YES Program?

No score is required. You must be able to communicate in English, and shortlisted applicants take an English proficiency exam and write a proctored essay.

Who cannot apply for the YES Program?

Dual nationals, anyone who has travelled to the United States, students with a gap year or repeated year, O Level 11th graders, anyone who has finished secondary school, and siblings and children of YES alumni or of SIE and iEARN Pakistan project staff.

Other Fully Funded Options

If you are older than the YES age window, these guides cover funded study abroad at university level:

• University of Sydney RTP International Scholarship — a funded research degree in Australia.
• Monash University RTP Scholarship — stipend and tuition for PhD study.
• University of Pavia Scholarships — fee waivers and grants in Italy.
• Yale University Scholarship — need-based aid for international undergraduates in the United States.

Sajad Digital Services is not part of the U.S. Department of State, the Society for International Education or iEARN Pakistan. This guide was checked against the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan announcement and yesprogram.pk on 14 September 2026. Confirm the details on yesprogram.pk before you apply.