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US opens 2027 YLAI entrepreneurship fellowship to Sint Maarten applicants
Sint Maarten entrepreneurs aged 25 to 35 can apply for the US State Department's 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative fellowship, which includes a four-week placement with a US business. Applications close November 8, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (12:59 AM AST, November 9).
By SXM Daily ·
Entrepreneurs in Sint Maarten can apply for the 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship, a US government exchange for young business owners. Applications close November 8, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (12:59 AM AST, November 9), and the programme says late applications are not accepted.
Illustrative: the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., where the fellowship ends with a closing forum. Photo: Architect of the Capitol / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
According to the programme's website, the fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and run by IREX. It brings about 250 entrepreneurs aged 25 to 35 from Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States. Fellows take online training, then complete a four-week placement with a US business in one of 18 cities.
More places for the Dutch Caribbean
In a release published by Curaçao Chronicle on October 16, the U.S. Consulate General Curaçao said fellowships for the Dutch Caribbean are rising from four to seven this year. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba can apply for the first time, alongside Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, the consulate said.
What it means for residents
Who can apply. The State Department lists St. Maarten among the participating countries. According to the programme, applicants must:
- be between 25 and 35 by January 1, 2027;
- live in Sint Maarten and hold citizenship; for residents of Sint Maarten and the other Dutch Caribbean islands, Dutch citizenship is accepted;
- be eligible for a US J-1 visa;
- have grown their own for-profit business or venture for at least two years;
- not be a US citizen or permanent resident, or a US government employee or a relative of one;
- read, write, speak and understand English at a professional level.
The consulate adds that applicants should be available to travel to the United States in June and July 2027.
Cost. There is no application fee. The programme says it covers all costs for those selected, including J-1 visa support, round-trip travel, a housing and meal stipend and a limited accident and sickness plan.
How to apply. Apply online through the YLAI fellowship page. The programme says applications sent by email, mail or fax are not accepted. The form has eight parts, must be completed in English and takes about two to three hours, it says. Questions go to apply.ylaifellowship@irex.org.
After the deadline. According to the programme, semifinalists will be contacted for an interview in late 2026 or early 2027 and told their final result by late February 2027.
Deadline. November 8, 2026, 11:59 PM EST (12:59 AM AST, November 9). Late applications are not accepted.
Sources
- https://ylai.state.gov/fellowship/
- https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/unknown/us-consulate-general-curacao-opens-2027-ylai-fellowship-applications-to-all-six-dutch-caribbean-islands