Foreign Service Reappointments

If you are a former career member of the Foreign Service, you could be eligible for reappointment. This would allow you to return in the same grade and career track that you left.

It is very important to understand that reappointments are not automatic. The Foreign Service Act of 1980 (as amended) authorizes the reappointment of former career members when the reappointment meets the needs of the Foreign Service. To meet this threshold, the Bureau of Global Talent Management’s longstanding policy requires 1) a deficit of employees in the grade and skill code of the position to be filled, 2) no active bidders to fill the position, and 3) the position to remain unassigned no less than 30 days after the opening of the stretch assignment season. This ensures that serving Foreign Service Officers have the opportunity to compete for positions before they are offered to those who have left the Service.

The reappointment process is similar to the process you went through when you first entered the Foreign Service. Should we accept your application package, it will go through review and evaluation stages to ensure you meet all requirements for reappointment. If it does, the Registrar’s team will notify you and initiate medical, security, and suitability clearances. When you have received these clearances, your name will be placed on a register of reappointment candidates in chronological order. Your name will remain on the register a minimum of 18 months or until the 5th anniversary (or 8th, as applicable: see below) of your separation from the Foreign Service, whichever is longest.

For information on application requirements, please review the Reappointment Fact Sheet.

We are currently accepting applications from former career members who are within five years of separation from the service (or within eight years in case of current Department of State Civil Service employees) in the following career tracks in deficit:

  • Construction Engineers
  • Consular Officers
  • Diplomatic Security Special Agents
  • Facility Managers
  • Financial Management Officers
  • General Services Officers
  • Human Resources Officers
  • Information Management Specialists
  • Information Technical Specialists – Radio
  • Information Technical Specialists – Unified Communications
  • Office Management Specialists
  • Regional English Language Officers
  • Regional Public Engagement Specialists
  • Security Engineering Officers
  • Security Technical Specialists