A challenging and rewarding career is waiting for you around the world. The opportunity to work and experience cultures, customs and people of different nations is truly a career unlike any other. The work you’ll do will have an impact on the world.
You will be asked to serve at one of any of the more than 270 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions in The Americas, Africa, Europe and Eurasia, East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.
If you're interested in working at the American Embassy in Egypt, or another embassy around the world, here's what you need to know.
While the Department of State is fully implementing the President’s July 7, 2025, Extension of Hiring Freeze, as of July 15, 2025, EFM positions in missions overseas have been exempted from the hiring freeze.
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Who Can Apply?
Vacancy announcements at overseas missions clearly identify what audiences may apply for a position (e.g. citizen Eligible Family Members (EFM), Members of Household (MOH), EFM students for the Overseas Seasonal Hire Program (OSHP), and for other federal agencies under which the Department of State has a memorandum to manage their hiring (e.g. DHS, DOJ, HHS).
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It is essential that all applicants understand and accurately describe their status on the application. Take the time to learn who is eligible to apply for an advertised position, and under what authority they may be hired.
Family members interested in applying for positions within an embassy or consulate at their post of assignment should contact the Community Liaison Office Coordinator (CLO) or the Human Resources Officer (HRO) at post. They can provide information on current and upcoming job vacancy announcements.
Let the CLO know you are interested in working.
Key Definitions:
- AEFM: Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFM) as defined in 3 FAM 7121.
- EFM: citizen spouses or domestic partners (as defined in 3 FAM 1610).
Types of Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities can differ significantly from post to post due to a variety of factors such as the profile of the mission, size, budget, etc. Most positions available to family members are in administrative support, with a small percentage of roles offering expanded responsibilities.
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Hiring Mechanisms:
The Department of State uses various hiring mechanisms:
- Family Member Appointment (FMA): This Department of State hiring mechanism is used to employ Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFM) as defined in 3 FAM 7121. FMA allows embassies and consulates to earn certain benefits including life and health insurance, retirement, and Thrift Savings Plan eligibility.
- Temporary Appointment (TEMP): This Department of State hiring mechanism is used for appointments not to exceed one year and can be renewed in increments not to exceed one year. A TEMP appointment is appropriate only when the job itself is not ongoing and is of short duration.
Note: The preceding information is a thumbnail sketch. Federal hiring mechanisms are complex and may have different implications depending on the employment history of the individual.
Programs and Resources
In addition to the positions advertised at post, the Department of State has three employment programs that have centrally-managed hiring in coordination with post.
- The CA-AEFM Program: Coordinated by the Bureaus of Personnel and Training (PERT) and Consular Affairs, provides opportunities for AEFMs to fill entry-level Consular positions at selected posts. Candidates must successfully pass the Board of Examiners (BEX) assessment process used to qualify for a Consular position.
- Professional Associates Program: Similar to EPAP, the Professional Associates Program provides employment opportunities with responsibilities comparable to Foreign Service mid-level positions. These positions are designated Hard-to-Fill (HTF) and are routinely opened to AEFMs and Department of State Civil Service employees.
- Overseas Seasonal Hire Program (OSHP): government employees assigned to an overseas post under Chief of Mission authority. OSHP employees perform clerical and administrative support duties during the transfer season and other times during the year as determined by post.
Additional Resources:
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- Global Employment Advisors (GEAs): provide free career coaching, resume assistance, networking support, and mock interview practice.
- Family Member Employment Report (FAMER): The FAMER provides a snapshot of family member employment at post and includes the number of family members employed both inside and outside the mission. The FAMER is published twice a year, as is The Worldwide Family Member Employment Overview, and serves as a research tool for the bidding season for family members interested in working.
Security Clearances:
Most, but not all, positions held by family members overseas require a security clearance. Family members often ask if they can obtain a Top Secret or Secret clearance in advance, but federal guidelines do not permit this. An investigation for a security clearance cannot be initiated until a conditional offer of employment for a position requiring a security clearance has been made.
Family members should also understand that there is no specific timeframe for obtaining a security clearance which will affect a candidate’s start date for employment. Factors such as initial investigations, significant foreign influence or preference, recent naturalization, and international travel and/or residency can all lead to longer investigation times.
Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE):
Once AEFMs have completed 52 weeks of creditable service, or 2,087 hours, in a FMA or TEMP Appointment overseas (although it does not have to be 52 consecutive weeks of employment), they may qualify for Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE).
Application Process
The Electronic Recruitment Application (ERA) system is used by Missions worldwide for vacancy announcements. Candidates are required to follow all submission guidelines and instructions carefully; failure to follow the guidelines and instructions may result in disqualification.
When applying for federal employment opportunities, education credentials from a foreign university will need to be verified for education equivalency.
Before You Go:
- Family members may enroll in employment classes at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center’s (NFATC) Transition Center (TC) before going overseas.
- Government direct hire spouse abroad should consider all their options before moving overseas.
Finding employment overseas in your chosen field can be challenging. Discuss this option with your current employer.
When preparing for your overseas assignment, there are steps that you can take to ensure you will maximize your options and be better prepared.
It is important to note that employment for family members depends on the post’s need and available budget.
Additional Agencies:
In addition to the Department of State, there may be other federal agencies co-located under the embassy or consulate. Department of Agriculture- Foreign Agricultural Service.
