Thai American National Internship Program – US-Asia Institute
THE PROGRAM
The Thai American National Internship Program (TANIP) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Thai-American students to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington DC, and to reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Thai relationship.
The US-Asia Institute, in consultation with The Royal Thai Embassy, initiated TANIP in 2015 to provide Thai-American students with the opportunity to intern/shadow in various offices of elected officials, public agencies, or private organizations at the national level. This opportunity provides a stronger understanding of how government operates by experiencing it from an insider’s perspective.
The program prepares young leaders to participate in the political/legislative arenas and is dedicated to developing the skills of individuals who are interested in public service and civic engagement. Not only is this an invaluable professional experience, but it also benefits the Thai-American community by increasing the interest of this American community in American politics, government, and public service in the future.
Understanding and participating in the political process and engaging with government at all levels is crucial to ensuring that a community’s needs and concerns are heard and addressed. The Thai community in the United States should be more civically engaged and represented at the municipal, state, and national levels.
You can download the one-pager detailing information about TANIP here or by visiting the Royal Thai Embassy website.
The 2026 program is organized to provide the opportunity for Thai-American students and young graduates to come to Washington D.C. from 1 June – 14 August, 2026 (11 weeks) to get hands-on experience in the policymaking process and spend 1-2 weeks at the Royal Thai Embassy, gaining hands-on experience on Thai-US relations.
To read statements from our past TANIP cohort, see our TANIP alumni webpage.
TIMELINE
January 16, 2026: Deadline for Application. Click the apply button above to begin your application process.
On a rolling basis: Candidates selected and contacted for interviews.
February 13, 2026: Acceptance of TANIP 2026 participants.
March - May 2026: The US-Asia Institute will place participants in internships at prominent organizations in DC and pair with mentors.
June 1 - June 5, 2026: Week-long orientation with fellow participants for a series of meetings with successful DC professionals, professional development workshops, international relations experts, etc.
June 8 – July 31, 2026: Internship at host organization.
August 3 - 14, 2026: One or two week Internship at the Royal Thai Embassy.
