How to Apply

Before continuing with the application process, please confirm your understanding of the following:

Purpose
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide.

Cost
Participants pay to join a Global Village work team. International trips cost between US$1,200 and US$3,200 plus air fare. Trip cost includes: donation to the Habitat host program and HFHI; meals, accommodations, transport (excluding trip participant air fare), medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, and team coordination and orientation materials. The team leader’s trip cost and estimated air fare is included in the trip budget. The trip cost does not include trip participant air fare, R&R activities, and visa and exit fees (not applicable for all destinations).

Please note that Habitat for Humanity International will make every effort to honor the designation made by the donor; however, HFHI reserves the right to apply the funds to another purpose if, in the sole judgment of the board of directors of HFHI, the original designation becomes, in effect, unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community or the area served.

Payment policies
Read our payment policies before submitting an application.
Please note: You will need to have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view this PDF.

Minor policy
On international trips, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. For U.S./Canada trips, anyone 16 or older can participate unescorted. In every case the GV team leader will ultimately determine whether or not to invite an unaccompanied minor to join his/her team.

Selection process
The team leader selects team members from a pool of applicants. Selection is not on a first-come basis.

Health
Work assignments normally involve strenuous physical activity, sometimes at high altitudes. Team members must be in good physical health.

Safety
International travel always contains some degree of danger. Global Village team members participate at their own risk.

Passport
For international travel, you will need a current passport that is valid for six months beyond your travel dates.

Please note: Processing times from the U.S. Passport Service have increased significantly. This is causing much concern, and has actually caused some Global Village participants to postpone their trips, due to not receiving their passport by the time of departure. We recommend that applicants allow as much as 20 weeks for passport applications (both new and renewal). We also recommend that people consider asking for expedited service when applying for passports. Expedited service does have a higher cost. For more information regarding passport processing times, please visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/processing/processing_1740.html.

One application
You need only complete one application, regardless of the number of teams that interest you. Your choice of destination(s) and date(s) will be matched with available trips, and you will be notified accordingly. If you have previously submitted an application, you need not reapply unless your application is more than three years old. If your application is more than three years old, we ask that a new application be submitted at http://www.habitat.org/gv/how_to_apply.aspx. When you see a trip of interest on the Schedule and Trip Descriptions page, you may contact the team leader directly.

Becoming a team leader
Global Village team leaders must be selected by HFHI Global Village staff and meet various requirements. To learn more about team leader requirements and job descriptions, view Becoming a Team Leader.

For more information
The International Trips Fact Sheet provides details about the Global Village international program, and the USA/Canada Fact Sheet provides more information on the U.S./Canada program.