NATO Internship Programme 2027 (Paid): 6-Month Internship in Brussels for Students & Graduates
Key Details
- Programme: NATO Internship Programme 2027
- Location: Brussels
- Duration: 6 months
- Start Dates: March or September 2027
- Deadline: 30 April 2026
- Funding: Paid (Approx. EUR 1,335/month)
- Eligibility: Students (3rd year+) or recent graduates
- Application Mode: Online (TALEO system)
If you would like to gain experience working for a political and military alliance that promotes freedom and security , then the NATO Internship Programme might be for you!
NATO offers six-month internships to applicants in the third year of their university studies, or recent graduates of a bachelor or master’s programme. Internships apply to a broad range of expertise and skillsets, providing opportunities in areas like political affairs, defence and security, innovation, operations, communications, business support and human resources, finance, science and technology, and infrastructure and facilities.
Internships take place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium – an exciting city that serves as a meeting point for many European and other international organisations, and a hub of activity and networking for young professionals.
The NATO Internship Programme offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from the NATO community while gaining six months of valuable work experience and a greater knowledge of the inner workings of the Alliance!
Main objectives of the NATO Internship Programme
- To provide interns with the opportunity to learn from the NATO community and get a better understanding and a more balanced view of the Organization.
- To improve NATO’s access to theoretical and technical knowledge that the intern can apply through practical work assignments.
- To contribute to creating a more diverse workforce.
- To expand knowledge and understanding of NATO in member countries.
The NATO Internship Programme offers internship positions within the NATO International Staff, the International Military Staff and some of the NATO agencies and bodies at NATO Headquarters.
What we offer
- Internship stipend:
If you are selected for the NATO-funded internship programme, you will receive a monthly stipend (EUR 1,335 in 2026). This amount changes by year in line with inflation and NATO salary adjustments. - Travel:
Once the Internship Office has confirmed your start date, you will be provided with a prepaid flight/train ticket from your place of origin at a return economy rate, and for an amount of up to EUR 1,200. If you are traveling to Brussels by car, these costs will be reimbursed. - Leave:
You will be entitled to 15 days of paid leave during the six-month internship period. - In-house training:
During the internship, you will take part in an induction programme and monthly briefings to provide you with an overview of NATO’s activities and structure. The briefings present unique opportunities to meet experienced staff and officials from across the Alliance, to discuss topics of interest with them and with other interns. Visits to other institutions, like the European Parliament, will also be organised.
NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives to provide equal access to career opportunities regardless of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religious belief, cultural background, sexual orientation or disability. NATO welcomes applicants from all member countries and strongly encourages women to apply.
As an employer, NATO values integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector.
Eligibility criteria
To apply for a NATO internship, you must fulfil the following criteria on the closing date for applications:
- Age: 21+
- Nationality: a citizen of a NATO member country
- Educational status: at least two years of university completed and enrolled in a third year OR having obtained your highest degree less than a year prior
- Languages: proficiency in one of the two official NATO languages: English or French. A working knowledge of the second is considered an asset. Knowledge of other languages may also be considered an asset for certain positions.
If you are a national of a NATO partner country, you can contact your mission at NATO Headquarters or embassy in Brussels directly for information about potential internships within the mission or embassy.
NATO Member Countries (Eligibility Requirement)
Applicants must hold citizenship in one of the following NATO member countries:
- Albania
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Türkiye
- United Kingdom
- United States
If you are from a NATO partner country, you may explore internship opportunities through your national mission or embassy in Brussels.
Application process
We invite you to use the e-recruitment system, TALEO, to submit your application. We are unable to accept spontaneous applications, or applications sent by mail or email.
To apply for a NATO internship, you must submit your application during the open call, which begins around April or May every year.
We encourage you to apply well in advance of the deadline! It may take us up to three working days to address any requests for support (including for technical issues). Therefore, if you contact us on the final day of the application period, we may not be able to respond before the portal is closed.
You do not have to fill in the entire application form in a single session. You can save your information as a draft and log in later to amend and/or finalise it until the closing date. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.
In your application, please provide as many relevant details as possible for the position you are interested in. We advise you to read the requirements of each internship position carefully, and to apply only if you meet those requirements. You may apply to a maximum of three positions.
The selection process
What happens once you have submitted your application through NATO’s e-recruitment portal?
- Application review
The screening and evaluation of applications are conducted in the month following the deadline. You will receive an invitation to complete an online assessment on a platform called HireVue. The assessment will consist of a series of interactive business games, as well as a recorded video interview. Once you receive the invitation, you will have two weeks to complete the online assessments. Your application will also be reviewed by the Internship Programme Office to ensure that you meet the required qualifications of the position(s) for which you applied before being referred to hiring managers. If your application is not successful at this stage, you will be informed.
- Selection
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted around June or July and invited for an interview. Final selections will be made sometime between July and September. Successful candidates will be invited to begin their internships in March or September of the following year. If selected, the start date of your internship will be determined based on the needs of the NATO body and your availability.
- Offer and security clearance
If selected for an internship, you will receive a conditional offer letter via your TALEO account stating the period of the internship, the internship placement you have been selected for, and documents you must complete in order for NATO to launch your security clearance procedure. Unsuccessful candidates will be informed.
The security clearance procedure varies from one country to another, but takes on average six to eight months to complete. You will be responsible for following your progress via your national delegation to NATO. Contact information for your delegation will be provided in your conditional offer letter. You must gain a security clearance prior to the start of your internship. In the event that the security clearance procedure takes longer than expected, it may be possible to postpone the start date of your internship.
Additional requirements before your start date
Upon the start of your internship, you must prove that you have obtained health insurance for the duration of your internship. You will be required to fill out a request form for a special identity card and submit it to NATO’s Privileges and Immunities Office, which will liaise with the Belgian authorities. This special identity card will serve as a residence permit during your stay in Belgium. You are exempt from this procedure if you hold Belgian citizenship.
Employment after completion of your internship
Internship placements do not guarantee further employment by NATO. In order to gain employment by NATO at any point following your internship, you must participate in the standard recruitment process.
Timeline
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Due to a high number of applications, dates may vary slightly each year. |
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|---|---|
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Online application opens |
April – May |
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Preselection |
June – July |
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Final selection |
July – September |
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On-boarding period |
Main intakes take place in March and September of the year following the application, depending on the security clearance procedure. For example, if your application in April 2026 is successful, your starting date will be 1 March or 1 September 2027. The security clearance procedure varies from one country to another, but takes on average six to eight months to complete. |
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