For over 100 years, AFSA has been the professional home, legal muscle, and collective voice of the U.S. Foreign Service. Your membership is how you protect your career, stand with your colleagues, and keep American diplomacy strong — just as AFSA has done since 1924.
On this page you can join AFSA, renew your membership, explore benefits, and access member services.
Active-Duty
The active-duty membership is for anyone currently employed by the United States Foreign Service.
Alumni
The alumni membership is for U.S. Foreign Service annuitants, spouses, and former USFS employees.
AFSA also offers an associate membership for anyone outside the active-duty or retired/former U.S. Foreign Service. Learn more about the associate membership.
Built by the Foreign Service. Run by the Foreign Service.
Founded in 1924, AFSA is the professional association and union for Foreign Service professionals, historically serving across six agencies: the State Department, USAID, the Foreign Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
We have represented this community through every administration for over a century — and we are governed entirely by the people we represent. Every two years, members elect their own Governing Board. When AFSA speaks, it's because the membership said so.
What Your Membership Does for You
From the day you join to long after you retire, AFSA has your back.
The only org that will go to court for your career. And win.
Legal counsel when your career is on the line.
$530,000 in college scholarships awarded in 2026 alone.
Your voice on Capitol Hill — with a track record.
The Foreign Service Journal: the publication of record for your profession.
A community that understands your life.
Think of it as the best insurance policy you'll ever buy. You may never need it. Until the day you do.
> View the full list of member benefits here.
Your Representation at AFSA: Who We Are
AFSA is governed by elected representatives who advocate for the interests of all members of the U.S. Foreign Service.
- Founded in 1924, AFSA proudly represents six foreign affairs agencies, with representatives from State, USAID, FCS, FAS, USAGM, and APHIS.
- The AFSA Governing Board is elected by the membership every two years and is composed of representatives from each AFSA constituency.
- AFSA serves as the exclusive representative in labor-management matters for members of the U.S. Foreign Service.
> Learn more about AFSA governance here.
“’Don't be a free rider.’ That's what one of my Foreign Service colleagues told me when I was a young FSO, wondering whether I could save a few bucks by canceling my membership. He reminded me of all the important ways that AFSA supports, represents, and defends our community collectively—and many of us individually.”
USAID Foreign Service Officer
“I've been an AFSA member for 18 years. I've never been prouder or more grateful for this union than I am right now.”
former Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security
“As members of the U.S. Foreign Service, we are committed to upholding the principles of our Constitution—including the essential concept of checks and balances. AFSA is the embodiment of that principle within our profession. At a time when the Foreign Service is facing unprecedented challenges, AFSA is the institutional safeguard—our collective check against overreach, injustice, and indifference.”
“I urge all members to do what I did: Switch your AFSA dues to direct payments. Now more than ever, we need to show our support in action. They’ve been there for us for over 100 years. Let’s be there for them.“
USAID Foreign Service Lateral
“Over the past few months, AFSA has provided critical information and support - including through the AFSA Legal Fund. I'm particularly grateful for our USAID reps' ongoing advocacy, outreach, and encouragement in these tough times. Switching my membership to direct payment was an easy decision - AFSA is doing good work and I want to be part of continuing to make it possible.”
Frequently Asked Questions
All active-duty members of the Foreign Service at the six foreign affairs agencies are welcome to join AFSA. This includes generalists and specialist Foreign Service employees at State, USAID, FCS, FAS, APHIS, and USAGM. Additionally, those who have retired from those agencies or left a Foreign Service career before becoming retirement-eligible can join AFSA as an Alumni member. We also welcome associate members.
Related Questions
- Do I have to be tenured to join AFSA?
No, AFSA welcomes all incoming Foreign Service personnel as regular, voting members of the association. - Can Consular Fellows join AFSA?
Yes, Consular Fellows are welcome to join AFSA as regular active-duty members. - Can EFMs join AFSA?
Eligible Family Members can join AFSA as associate members unless they are members of the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC), in which case they may join as regular active-duty members. - I left the Foreign Service before becoming pension-eligible. Can I still join AFSA?
Absolutely! Such individuals are welcome to join AFSA as non-annuitant alumni members.
AFSA membership is available to all Foreign Service members regardless of whether they are a part of our bargaining unit. An Executive Order in March 2025 revoked collective bargaining rights for State Department members. AFSA is challenging this is court.
Currently, AFSA is the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit, which encompasses all Foreign Service employees of FCS, FAS, APHIS and USAGM, as defined by the 1980 Foreign Service Act, with the following exceptions: Employees currently serving in positions designated as "management officials" or "confidential employees" are excluded from the bargaining unit, as are employees engaged in personnel work (in other than a purely clerical capacity) and those assigned to carry out functions of the Office of the Inspector General.
In practical terms, this means that those excluded are Foreign Service members serving as chief of mission, deputy chief of mission, management counselors or management officers, human resources officers, Regional Security Officers and Office Management Specialists who work in the front office or for a management counselor. Please bear in mind that non-bargaining unit employees can still be regular AFSA members. The professional association offers many benefits of membership.
Related Questions
- Can AFSA still provide guidance if I’m not in the bargaining unit?
Yes, AFSA frequently provides guidance to senior executive officers, members in the Office of the Inspector General’s office, confidential employees and employees engaged in personnel work. - What is the difference between the professional association and the union?
The four agencies still recognized as being represented by AFSA have the added benefits of collective bargaining and negotiations with the agencies on precepts, regulations, and impact and implementation. The professional association offers all other benefits of membership, including individual counseling on issues such as grievances, security clearances, etc.
The annual and quarterly dues rates can be found by clicking here.
If you joined with your incoming class during orientation, then all your AFSA member benefits begin immediately. You will regularly receive AFSA emails including our daily media digest, invitations to events, advocacy updates, and notices from the AFSA President. You will also receive The Foreign Service Journal on or around the first week of the month. You can contact AFSA’s Office of the General Counsel with any questions or guidance. (Please note, if you joined AFSA after your orientation period, there is a 6-month waiting period to access OGC legal guidance).
Yes. In order to ensure that we can provide you with top legal guidance, personal assistance with travel vouchers, medical clearances and disciplinary actions, we rely on the full support of all members. Additionally, AFSA advocates for all its members collectively on assignments, promotions, travel regulations and other conditions of employment. Membership dues are collected to ensure that we can provide the services you expect, in the event that you need us.
Membership dues can be paid online with a credit card or through direct debit from your bank account (ACH). Dues can be paid annually or quarterly with these payment methods. Quarterly installments will auto-renew each quarter year-over-year until a change is requested. You can also elect annual auto-renewal which automatically renews your membership each year.
Annual dues payments can also be paid by check made payable to AFSA and mailed to: AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037. To pay by phone please call (202) 719-9701 during business hours (9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST, Monday – Friday).
When you are joining or renewing your membership online, you will have the option to select quarterly installment payments on the payment page. You will find the option to pay by installments just above where you enter your credit card information.
In selecting to pay by installments, you will be charged 25% of your dues immediately, and then another 25% every three months for a year, with automatic renewal each year on your anniversary date. On your anniversary date, your membership will be updated to the current year dues rate for each quarterly payment.
In selecting to pay by installments, you authorize AFSA to charge your credit card every three months for your quarterly dues payment until you request the payments stop. Requests to change or stop installment payments must be sent by email to member@afsa.org no later than 5 business days before your next scheduled payment.
Note that installments are not an option if paying by check.
Yes, all AFSA members have an online account. To log in to your account, use the primary email address (where you receive AFSA email correspondence) as the username. If you need to reset your password, use the Forgot Password option on the login page.
From your Account page can see whether your membership is active, the expiration date if paying annually, and have link to update your contact information. Your Account page also offers a navigation menu which allows you to manage your membership, saved payments, enroll/unenroll in annual auto-renewal, and more.
Members who pay their dues annually via check or credit card and do not renew within 30 days of their expiration date are considered a lapsed member. This may have happened if you missed a renewal notice due to travel or other obligations. Please make sure your address and email are updated on your account.
Not to worry – re-joining is easy and can be done online. To avoid a lapse in membership in the future, consider paying by installments or opting in for annual auto-renewal. Additionally, membership dues can be paid up to 90 days before your expiration date maintaining the same term of membership.
We hate to see you go. To cancel your membership, please send an email to us at member@afsa.org. If you are an active-duty member of the Foreign Service at FCS, FAS, APHIS, or USAGM and are paying via payroll deduction, you will have to fill out the required form SF1188 so that we can submit it to your agency. This process may take up to two pay periods to be completed at your agency.
Any requests for cancellation for automatic payments must be sent by email to member@afsa.org no later than 5 business days before your next scheduled payment. Otherwise, the requested change will take effect before the next scheduled payment.
AFSA only provides refunds in case of an error on our part or if a member requests a refund of an annual payment within 2 weeks of the payment date. If you are anticipating a change to your employment status, we recommend selecting the quarterly installment option as that provides more flexibility. Note that there is not a refund option if you are paying via installments.
AFSA membership dues are tax-deductible as a business expense for active-duty employees, subject to the usual 2-percent threshold of Adjusted Gross Income for itemized deductions.
AFSA stores member information in a highly secure, third-party customer relationship management (CRM) system. AFSA has a very strict policy of never selling, sharing, or giving out member information.
Your membership number can be found on the mailing label of The Foreign Service Journal, above your name. Alternatively, you will find it on the My Account page when you log into your account on the AFSA website.
The lifetime membership option was suspended in 2011 and is not currently available.
Contact Us!
Our team stands ready to assist you with any questions about your membership. You can reach us anytime at member@afsa.org.
- Christine Miele, Director of Membership and Programs
- Mouna Koubaa, Membership Operations Coordinator, (202) 719-9701