All candidates accepting the Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant are required to submit the following program eligibility documents to IIE via the IIE Participant Portal. View the IIE Participant Portal Guide for instructions on how to use the system.
Grantees will need to determine if there is a Fulbright Commission in the host country because the steps and requirements for countries that have a Fulbright Commission differ from those that do not (Post countries).
Important Note: Grantees may be required to complete additional documents specific to their host country and should be in touch with their Fulbright Commission contacts for country-specific guidance.
Successful completion of a Fulbright grant depends on your physical and mental well-being. Therefore, medical clearance is a prerequisite for all Fulbright U.S. Scholars. It is important that grantees complete the Medical History and Examination Form as fully and accurately as possible, and that a new form be submitted if health statuses change. The information provided by grantees and physician(s) is considered private. However, it may be responsibly shared within the program.
The medical form must be completed and signed by a qualified licensed physician or nurse practitioner. The medical forms and supporting documents must be submitted through the IIE Participant Portal so that it can be reviewed by the U.S. Department of State’s program physician for medical clearance.
A Fulbright grant is contingent on receiving a satisfactory medical clearance.
Submission instructions and deadline: The Medical History and Examination Form should be completed and submitted within 2-6 months of the grant start date.
What types of digital signatures can we currently accept?
What types of digital signatures do we NOT accept?
Changes to medical status after medical clearance: If medical statuses or medical needs change after receiving medical clearance, prior to departure or at any time during a Fulbright grant, grantees are required to notify IIE and/or the Commission. Certain changes, especially prior to departure, may require an updated medical form.
Important Notes About Submission:
After Submission: The medical clearance process typically takes 2-3 weeks. If there are any questions about the Medical History and Examination Form or if additional information is required by the State Department-appointed doctor, IIE will contact the selectee. The appointed doctor may be in touch with your physician who completed the form for further clarification if necessary. This may extend the clearance process. IIE will send a confirmation email when the medical clearance has been approved. Selectees who wish to view a medical form after it has been submitted can access it via the IIE Participant Portal.
Note: Dependents do not require Department of State medical clearance. However, we recommend accompanying dependents have a complete medical examination prior to departure. Grantees should also obtain appropriate health and accident insurance for any accompanying dependents, including emergency evacuation and repatriation benefits.
*Please note that medical clearance is not required for participants in the Fulbright International Education Administrators (IEA) Program.
The universal program terms and conditions outline important policies related to your grant. You will be required to e-sign this document. You will receive an email prompting your initials and signature. Although an e-signature is required, you may preview the document at the link above.
Submission instructions: Scan and upload an image of the biographical pages of your U.S. passport (containing your photo, name, signature, date of birth, place of birth, place of issue, etc.) into the IIE Participant Portal. Note: Birth certificates and other documents will not be accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship.
Submission deadline: Proof of citizenship is due no later than two weeks before the start of the grant. Grantees who do not have a U.S. passport should apply for one and complete this requirement as soon as possible. A U.S. passport that has expired within the last five years will be accepted as proof of citizenship.
The Commission will send the Grant Authorization Document that stipulates the financial terms, dates, and affiliation details of the award. This is the document grantees will sign and date to formally accept or decline the Fulbright award offer.
Submission instructions: Sign and date the document and indicate if are accepting or declining the Fulbright award offer. Grantees must upload the document as a PDF into the IIE Participant Portal using the “Non-IIE Grant Document” category AND return a copy to the Fulbright Commission as instructed by the Commission contact.
Submission deadline: The Fulbright Grant Authorization Document must be uploaded to the IIE Participant Portal within two weeks of the date that the document is sent by the Commission.
What types of digital signatures can we currently accept?
What types of digital signatures do we NOT accept?
For grantees to Commission countries, the Commission will determine grant benefits and payments.
1. Booking Travel
Please communicate with the Commission ahead of booking travel to determine if your itinerary needs to be Fly America compliant. Foreign air carrier service may be allowed when the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government, international agency, Commission or other organization.
2. Return Travel
Grantees preparing to return to the United States should keep in mind that travel itineraries must be on file with the Commission for each grantee. Should changes be made, grantees are required to notify IIE and the Commission. If changes to the return travel itinerary affect the grant duration, grantees should also notify their host institution.
Please communicate with the Commission ahead of booking your return travel to determine if your itinerary needs to be Fly America compliant. Foreign air carrier service may be allowed when the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government, international agency, Commission or other organization.
Grantees are responsible for all associated costs of accompanying dependents. This includes passports, visas, airfare and other travel expenses, living expenses, educational costs, medical insurance and any uncovered medical bills. In some countries, grant allowances may include round-trip international travel for up to two dependents, if the grant is four months or more in length and the dependent stays in the host country for at least 80 percent of the grant period. Likewise, some grant terms and conditions include a modest dependent allowance to help offset cost-of-living expenses.
Reach out to Commission contacts as early as possible to discuss dependents and any necessary documentation required to facilitate their entry or residency in the host country.
Dependent education: If accompanied by K-12 aged children, it is important to research local schools prior to arrival in the host country. Grantees are responsible for arranging any necessary childcare or educational enrollment. Grantees are encouraged to contact the Commission for guidance in selecting appropriate educational options for K-12 aged children. The Office of Overseas Schools has information about K-12 schools for dependents.