Different　from　conventional　mode-order　converters,　the　mode　exchangers　(EXCij),　enabling　flexible　data　exchanging　between　i-th-mode　and　j-th-mode,　are　essential　building　blocks　for　passive　signal　switching,　signal　routing,　and　high-capacity　mode　division　multiplexing　(MDM)　networks.　However,　mode　changers　are　limited　by　the　strong　polarization-dependence,　especially　on　the　220-nm-thick　silicon-on-insulator　(SOI)　platform.　In　this　paper,　an　ultracompact　and　polarization-independent　EXC01　and　EXC02　are　proposed　to　overcome　this　limitation　by　using　MZI-like　models.　Here,　subwavelength　grating　(SWG)　metamaterials　are　introduced　to　the　input/output　Y-branches　for　mode　splitting/combining　and　one　arm　for　phase　shifting.　As　such,　a　π　phase　difference　is　formed　by　the　SWG-manipulated　phase　shifter　and　then　the　modes　guided　in　branches　are　combined　into　the　required　output　modes.　The　characterizations　show　low　insertion　losses　(＜1.6　dB)　and　crosstalk　(＜−15　dB)　over　bandwidths　of　31　nm　and　49　nm,　for　EXC01　and　EXC02,　respectively.　For　footprints,　EXC01/EXC02　has　ultracompact　size　of　13.42　×　1.704/2.044　×　8.434　μm2.　For　the　first　time,　a　polarization-independent　mode　change　between　0-th-mode　(0-th-mode)　and　1-th-mode　(2-th-mode)　are　achieved　and　can　be　applied　in　in　flexible　MDM　systems,　signal　routing,　passive　signal　switching　and　beyond.　©　1983-2012　IEEE.