If you will be accompanied by a spouse or another dependent during the period of your Fulbright grant, you will undoubtedly have many questions about your grant agreement and the benefits that may or may not extend to your family.

A dependent is either (1) a spouse or (2) a qualified same-sex domestic partner, or (3) a relative (child, grandchild, parent, or sibling) who is financially dependent on the grantee. Accompanying dependents are those who spend at least 80% of the grant period with the grantee abroad. In order to qualify a domestic partner for purposes of obtaining dependent supplements, the grantee must submit an affidavit attesting to the relationship. Benefits may include transportation, school tuition, etc. As benefits differ by country and program, please consult the program staff responsible for your award, and examine your award authorization/grant document carefully to understand the benefits provided to you and your dependents.

We encourage grantees, as well as their spouses and dependents, to connect with Fulbright alumni of your host country. Please read the country guidelines or contact IIE or CIES for program and country-specific topics.

Additional Information and Tips

Local Language Classes for Dependents

Grantees should contact the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your host country to find out whether any local language classes are available. Language training for dependents is not funded by the Fulbright Program.

Employment for Spouses

In some countries, there may be binational agreements in place that allow for spouses of grantees to receive a work visa. Such agreements are country-specific and grantees should direct all questions to the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your host country. Spouses who are not allowed to receive a work visa can consider unpaid or volunteer projects in the community.

Dependents with Disabilities

If you are traveling with a dependent with a disability, visit the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE). NCDE maintains an extensive collection of resources for those interested in an international exchange experience, including preparing for departure, travel tips, and living abroad. You should also contact the Public Affairs Office at the U.S. Embassy or the Fulbright Commission in your host country.

Tips from a Fulbright Spouse Abroad

While every experience overseas will be different, careful preparation and flexibility can help make your stay in the host country more enjoyable and memorable. Based on his own experience in Tanzania, Keith MacDonald, husband of 2008-2009 Fulbright Alumna Angela Stone-MacDonald, offers a few helpful tips on how to make the best of your time abroad:

"The day that my wife found out that she was going to be a Fulbright Student, all kinds of plans were put in motion. We needed to find airfare and lodging and medication and technology – and oh so much more – to prepare for our stay. A month before we were ready to leave, everything seemed to be in order.

But then we discovered that being a dependent in Tanzania, our host country, required more than simply being a spouse, so I volunteered to teach some courses at a college close to where we were going to live.

And then, not long before we left America, we learned that our anticipated free housing would not be available to us and that our transportation options would be much more limited than expected – in a village 8 hours from the capital city.

And further, we learned that my own professional project to create a photo book of the town was not going to be possible due to local politics.

The best laid plans… but those were just minor complications. When our plans didn’t go as imagined, we turned to every adventurer’s good friends: flexibility and creativity.

Upon arrival, with the help of some connections we had made online before leaving America, we were able to find a house to rent. And when we could not share a ride with friends, we were able to use public transportation to see more of the country.

Instead of photography, I focused the majority of my time on helping college students improve their writing and communication skills. It was not how I originally expected to be spending my time, but it was definitely rewarding.

The important thing is that our #1 goal came to fruition: My wife had a wonderful time, completed her research, and has turned it into a great position at the beginning of an incredible career.

And when we tell people about our experience (and you will talk about it all the time), we tell people that we learned a few very important things:

1. The experience is first and foremost about the Fulbrighter. My job as the spouse was to make her life as easy as possible.

2. No matter how much planning you put in before embarking on your journey abroad, the reality will be different from what you could have imagined.

3. Sometimes there will be rocks in the rice—literally and figuratively. And that’s okay.

But most importantly:

4. This is an adventure. Enjoy it. Hiccups and all."

—Keith MacDonald, spouse of 2008-2009 Fulbright Student to Tanzania Angela Stone-MacDonald