Checked on October 20, 2026, against USAJOBS Announcement BPA DH 27-1 (open to the public from October 1 to 31, 2026, at GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11) and the previous Announcement BPA DH 26-10 (July 2026, closed). It sets the rules below; older CBP sources are named where they differ.
This guide explains how to become a Border Patrol Agent and lists the Border Patrol Agent requirements in the most recent announcement: U.S. citizenship, the age limit, residency, a driver license and the education or experience for the entry-level grades, GL-5 and GL-7, plus the experience rules for GL-9 and GS-11. Each announcement sets its own rules, so check the one you apply under. The steps after you apply are summed up at the end and explained in full in the hiring process guide.
Is a Border Patrol Agent job open now?
Yes, until October 31, 2026. Announcement BPA DH 27-1 is a Direct Hire announcement open to the public from October 1 to 31, 2026. It hires at GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11 (shown on USAJOBS as GL 5-11), with promotion potential to GS-12, and lists pay of $51,632 to $124,717 a year, where the top figure includes overtime, if worked. The previous announcement, BPA DH 26-10, was open in July 2026 at GL-5 to GL-7. CBP does not publish a schedule of future openings, so after October 31, check USAJOBS for the next one.
Citizenship
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
Border Patrol Agent age limit: referred before your 40th birthday
The announcement says: "Candidates must be referred for selection to this position before their 40th birthday." The rule does not apply if:
- you have prior federal civilian law enforcement service under 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or 8412(d), or
- you are eligible for veterans' preference.
If you are 40 or older and claim one of these exceptions, submit proof with your application. The rule is about the date you are referred for selection, not the date you are hired, so if you are close to 40, apply early in an open period. An undated OPM qualification standard still gives a maximum entry age of 37, but the current announcement governs.
Residency: 3 of the last 5 years in the United States
If you are not already a CBP employee, you must have physically lived in the United States or its protectorates for at least 3 of the last 5 years. The announcement lists exceptions for time abroad while you:
- worked for the U.S. government as a civilian or in the military, or were a dependent of someone who did
- worked for the U.S. government as a contractor, volunteer, intern or consultant
- studied abroad through a school affiliated with the United States
Driver license
You need a valid driver license. The announcement adds: "Any legal restrictions on a driver's license are not acceptable."
Entry-level grades: education or experience for GL-5 and GL-7
- GL-5: one year of general experience at the next lower grade, or a bachelor's degree in any field, or a combination of the two.
- GL-7: one year of specialized law enforcement or similar experience, or a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (a 3.0 GPA or higher, class standing or honor society membership), or one full year of graduate study related to law enforcement (or one year of law school), or a combination.
New in BPA DH 27-1: the same announcement also hires at GL-9 and GS-11. BPA DH 26-10 sent applicants with prior law enforcement experience to a separate announcement.
- GL-9: one year of specialized experience, such as searches, apprehensions, firearms use and reports.
- GS-11: one year of specialized experience in a job with law enforcement authority.
The announcement names applicants selected at GL-5 or GL-7 as the ones who must pass the entrance exam. Promotion potential runs to GS-12, at the agency's discretion. What each grade pays is in the Border Patrol Agent salary guide.
Do you need to speak Spanish?
Not to apply. The announcement says "Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish, as well as English," and Spanish is taught at the academy. All pre-employment steps are conducted in English, and the entrance exam has no Spanish test. CBP's recruiter FAQ (December 2023) adds that "Students cannot test out of Spanish," so everyone takes the academy course.
Firearms, conduct and tattoos
Border Patrol Agents must carry a firearm. Under federal firearms law, you cannot be hired if, among other things, you were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, are subject to a qualifying protection order or are an unlawful drug user. The announcement also bars tattoos and brandings on the head, face and throat, and obscene, derogatory or gang-related tattoos may not be visible.
The application questionnaire
BPA DH 27-1, like BPA DH 26-10, has four free-response questions of 200 words or fewer each. Applicants must certify that they wrote the answers themselves and did not use a consultant or AI.
Veterans
BPA DH 27-1 is a Direct Hire announcement, like BPA DH 26-10, so veterans' preference and traditional rating and ranking do not apply. Being eligible for veterans' preference still matters for the age limit, because it is one of the exceptions to the under-40 rule, and the announcement says certain veterans may get a polygraph waiver. CBP also posts veterans-only announcements (Veterans Recruitment Appointment), such as BPA VRA 25-5 in February 2025.
How to become a Border Patrol Agent: the steps in short
- Apply on USAJOBS while an announcement is open, with proof for any age exception.
- Pass the entrance exam: an Experience Record and a Logical Reasoning Test, at home or at a test center. See how the Border Patrol entrance exam works.
- Complete the other pre-employment steps: a polygraph, a medical exam, a fitness test, a structured interview, a background investigation and a drug test.
- Complete about 6 months of training at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.
- Serve a one-year probationary period.
Each step, with the fitness test numbers, is in the Border Patrol hiring process guide. To see what the work involves, read what a Border Patrol Agent does.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- You are a U.S. citizen.
- You will be referred for selection before your 40th birthday, or you can document an exception.
- You lived in the United States at least 3 of the last 5 years, or an exception applies.
- You have a valid driver license with no legal restrictions.
- You meet the experience or education rule for your grade (GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11).
- You have no tattoos on your head, face or throat.
Then start on the exam itself: the Border Patrol Agent Entrance Exam page has the free study guides in one place.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a Border Patrol Agent?
Apply on USAJOBS while an announcement is open, pass the entrance exam, then complete a polygraph, medical exam, fitness test, structured interview, background investigation and drug test, followed by about 6 months at the academy in Artesia, New Mexico.
What are the Border Patrol Agent requirements?
U.S. citizenship, referral for selection before your 40th birthday (with exceptions), at least 3 of the last 5 years living in the United States, a valid driver license with no legal restrictions and the experience or education for your grade.
What is the Border Patrol Agent age limit?
You must be referred for selection before your 40th birthday. The rule does not apply if you are eligible for veterans' preference or have qualifying prior federal civilian law enforcement service.
Do I need a college degree?
No. At GL-5, one year of general experience can take the place of a bachelor's degree. At GL-7, specialized experience can take the place of the degree or graduate study.
What is an entry-level Border Patrol Agent job?
Announcement BPA DH 27-1 hires at GL-5, GL-7, GL-9 or GS-11, with promotion potential to GS-12 at the agency's discretion. GL-5 and GL-7 are the entry-level grades, and applicants selected at those grades take the entrance exam.
Do I need to speak Spanish to apply?
No. The hiring steps are in English, and Spanish is taught at the academy. The job itself requires speaking and reading Spanish.
Can I have tattoos?
Not on the head, face or throat, under the most recent announcement. Obscene, derogatory or gang-related tattoos may not be visible.
Is a Border Patrol Agent job open now?
Announcement BPA DH 27-1 is open on USAJOBS from October 1 to 31, 2026. CBP does not publish a schedule of future openings.
Official sources
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA DH 27-1 (open October 1 to 31, 2026)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA DH 26-10 (closed 07/31/2026)
- USAJOBS: Border Patrol Agent, Announcement BPA VRA 25-5 (closed)
- CBP: Applicant Hiring Process FAQs (December 2023, PDF)
- OPM: Qualification Standard, Border Patrol Enforcement Series 1896 (undated, outdated in parts)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol or the Department of Homeland Security. Always confirm the rules in the current USAJOBS announcement and the current CBP preparation guide.
Last updated October 2026