Eligibility
You are eligible for a free Birthright Global trip, if you meet all of the following requirements:
- Are of Italian descent.
- Are between the ages of 18-26.
- Are studying at an accredited 4-year university, or will have graduated within three months of the trip. (High school seniors, who will have graduated by the start of the trip, are also eligible to apply.)
- Are an American citizen with a valid U.S. passport.
- Have not spent more than 1 continuous month in Italy after turning 13.
- Have not been on a previous cultural immersion trip.
“ARE OF ITALIAN DESCENT”
For the purpose of our trip, we define “Italian” as anyone who has at least one grandparent who is/was predominantly descended from the native people of Italy. In other words, if one of your grandparents considered themselves Italian (or mostly Italian), we consider you Italian.
“ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-26”
The minimum age for joining one of our trips is 18. If you are currently 17, but will be 18 by the first day of the trip (the day we board the plane), you are eligible.
The upper age limit is 26. Meaning if you are 26 on the first day of the trip, you are eligible to apply, even if you will be turning 27 during the trip.
“ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING AT AN ACCREDITED 4-YEAR UNIVERSITY OR WILL HAVE GRADUATED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE TRIP.”
You must be a currently registered student at an accredited 4-year university. This includes both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates, who will have graduated within three (3) months of the first day of the trip.
You are also eligible if you are currently a high school senior, but will be starting at a 4-year university the semester after returning from the trip.
“ARE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WITH A VALID U.S. PASSPORT”
If you have American citizenship, whether via birth or naturalization, you are eligible. However, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for at least six (6) months after the trip’s return date. If you need to renew your passport, it is better to do it sooner rather than later.
“HAVE NOT SPENT MORE THAN 1 CONTINUOUS MONTH IN ITALY AFTER TURNING 13”
This means you CAN have spent more than 1 continuous month in Italy when you were 12, but CANNOT have spent more than 1 continuous month in Italy after you turned 13.
For example:
- If you took a 2-week trip to Italy when you were 15, you ARE eligible. (In Italy after turning 13, but for less than 1 month.)
- If you and your parents took a 2-month trip to Italy when you were 10, you ARE eligible. (In Italy for longer than 1 month, but younger than 13.)
- If you took a 6-week trip to Italy with your parents when you were 12, and you turned 13 in Italy with a week left on your trip, you ARE eligible. (In Italy for longer than 1 month, but for less than 1 month after turning 13.)
- If you took a semester off college and lived in Italy for 3 months when you were 19, you are NOT eligible. (In Italy for longer than 1 continuous month after turning 13.)
“HAVE NOT BEEN ON A PREVIOUS CULTURAL IMMERSION TRIP”
If you have visited Italy or any other country on a similar cultural immersion trip, either with Birthright Global or another organization, you are not eligible.
If you still have questions, you can check out our Frequently Asked Questions page, or feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].