Frequently asked questions

Official Registration Week will run from December 1 – December 5, 2025, with priority given by age, oldest to youngest. After this, we will continue to run the lottery until all of our trip spots fill up. 2026 locations are not live yet but will be updated before registration! For details about our registration process, click here

Starting on December 1st, and each consecutive day after, a different age group is allowed to register. The order will go as follows: Monday (Parent Builders, 19-year-olds), Tuesday (18-year-olds), Wednesday (17-year-olds), Thursday (16-year-olds), Friday (15- and 14-year-olds). For 2026 Registration information and calendar, click here.

Your age group day is based on the age you will be on September 1, 2026.

During registration, we will run the lottery every night at 8 PM MST. By 12 PM MST the next day, you'll get an email notifying you that you have been placed on a trip. You can log into your Builder Portal to see which location you've been assigned to! If all of your preferences were full, you'll receive an email notifying you that you've been placed on the waitlist, with tips for getting off the waitlist and on to a trip. To access your builder portal, click here.

If you're between 14 and 16 years old, you can sign up for a domestic trip. If you're between 16 and 19 years old, you can sign up for an international trip. This is consistent for all of our trip types (Build, Teach, Preserve, Love, and Refuge).

These age limits are based on what age you will be on the first day of your trip, so as long as you are within the range above by then, you are good to go! Age for official HXP Registration Week (the day you can register) will be calculated based on your age on September 1, 2026.

Short answer? There's not really a wrong choice! Start by picking a factor that's most important to you (sightseeing, service, region, date range, etc.), then whittle your list down from there. All our programs use the tried and true HXP structure, so at the core, every trip will be similar. We encourage everyone to look at the options, pray for guidance, and see what you connect with. For more tips on picking a trip, click here.

If you already have a Builder with a portal and you want to add an additional one, click the down arrow underneath "Selecting for:" and click the "Add another Builder (Teen)." Enter the information for the additional Builder.

HXP trips are all about building relationships, which is why we encourage every Builder to come alone and meet other people who are also seeking growth opportunities and adventure. Because of this, HXP's registration system is strategically designed to make it very difficult to get on the same trip as someone that you know.

To read about the Smith and White families, and why they suggest signing up solo for your HXP trip, click here.

Domestic Trips (14-16 year olds): 16 people (12 Youth Builders, 2 Parent Builders, 2 Trip Leaders)

International Trips (16-19 year olds): 23 people (19 Youth Builders, 2 Parent Builders, 2 Trip Leaders)

For more information on domestic vs. international trips, click here.

We would love to have you come on a trip as a Parent Builder! For more information about your role and how to sign up, click here.

Yes! All participants regardless of home state or country are responsible for round trip transportation to and from the meetup departure airport in the U.S. Because the majority of our participants live in the U.S., we make travel, visa, and immunization plans with them in mind. Be aware that there may be additional charges and immunization requirements for participants from countries outside the U.S. or Canada.

Of course! We would love to have you. We just require that you commit to and sign the code of conduct and follow principles and standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The group will also participate in daily scripture study and Sunday church services. For the code of conduct aka our "Deal Breakers," click here.

Even if your first choice is full, there are probably still some awesome trips that have openings! If you're looking for a trip that's similar to what you had your heart set on, try looking at other trips in the same region. Each trip comes from a similar structure, so you'll have a great experience wherever you end up. At the end of the day, the trip you're placed on is yours to make great! Your mindset and preparation for it will make all the difference. For more tips on how to pick a trip, click here. For tips on how to prepare, click here.

After official Registration Week, we'll run the lottery each weekday at 9 AM MST. This will try to place you on one of your 20 trip preferences. If all of those trips are full, you'll be placed on the waitlist.

As long as you remain on the waitlist, you can request a refund for the $500 deposit up until August 31st, 2026. For more information about the waitlist, click here.

No, a participant is either registered on a trip or on the waitlist, it isn't possible to be on both. If a participant is registered on a trip and applies for the waiting list, they will lose the spot on the trip. For more information on the waitlist, click here.

You don't need your passport to register, however you will need it soon after. It is very important that you start applying for a passport soon if you don't yet have one. You will need to upload a photo of it to your portal in January.

When you register, you'll need to provide Youth Builder and parent full name, email address, phone number, and address. You will not need your passport to register, but you will upload that. At this time, you'll also agree to several HXP policies. To view these policies, click here.

For full details about Registration Week logistics, tips, and tricks, including a video walk through, click here.

Yes! Your $500 deposit is the final step of the registration process, and is the trigger for our system to run you through the lottery and place you on a trip. For more information about 2026 Registration, click here.

Yes! Create an account through the "Login" button in the top right corner. To see our waitlist and refund policies, click here.

After you create your HXP account, you will receive an account confirmation email from us. This email may take a few minutes to arrive. If you can't remember your password, you are able to reset it.

If these tips don't work, please email us at info@hxp.org or call us at (801) 900 – 4111.

Your trip cost covers every aspect of your experience from the meetup airport to the end of the trip when you return to that airport (food, lodging, sightseeing, etc.). It is your job to cover the cost of domestic transportation to and from the meetup location and bring spending money for any extras you want to buy on your trip (souvenirs, extra snacks, etc.). If your specific trip has additional preparatory costs such as required visa/vaccinations and/or baggage cost, it will be specified in your Builder Portal. For a trip cost breakdown, click here.

We suggest bringing anywhere from $50 – $200 for spending money, based on what kind of spender you are. If you plan on buying a lot of treats and souvenirs, pack accordingly! Builders bring cash to exchange or a card to pull out local currency once they arrive in country, but we'd suggest also bringing a card in case you run out of money. The best way to exchange money and average spending differs from trip to trip, so ask your Trip Leaders what they'd suggest! For more packing tips, click here.

Upon registration, you must pay a $500 deposit to finish your sign-up process. These funds become non-refundable once you are placed on a trip.

If you register during Registration Week, you can cancel with a full refund until January 16. After that, the deposit becomes non-refundable 48 hours after you are booked on a trip. To review our Refund Policy, click here.

If you are never booked on a trip, you can request a refund for the $500 deposit up until August 31st, 2026. To review our waitlist policies, click here.

Your $500 deposit is due at registration, halfway payment is due January 23, 2026 ($1,500 for international Builders, $500 for domestic Builders), and the remaining trip balance is due February 20, 2026.

Click here to view what is included in trip costs.

Regardless of your financial situation, we strongly encourage Builders to earn a portion of their trip cost. This is a great way to get invested in your trip before you leave.

For some pointers about how most Builders pay for their trips and other fundraising ideas, click here

Your donation may be tax deductible! For more helpful information about making a donation in behalf of an HXP Builder, click here.

During weekdays, you'll spend most of your day at your project worksite; on the weekend, you'll do sightseeing activities; and on Sundays, you'll attend church. Your trip will be about 10 days long. For a general idea of what the day in the life of a HXP Builder looks like, click here.

As a Builder, you are on your trip to do just that: build up your project, build up your friends, and build up your testimony. Show up with a positive attitude, excited to try new things and develop strong relationships, and you will have an incredible experience. Follow the rules, support your Trip Leaders, be smart so you stay safe, and don't forget to have fun! For more tips about preparing for your trip, click here.

While HXP does not require you to use the unaccompanied minor services, it is mandatory for some major airlines, depending on the age of your Builder. If you do end up using this service, you are responsible for the associated costs. You will also need your Trip Leader's contact information because they will be the person meeting you upon arrival. These details are linked in your Builder Portal under the "Travel Info" tab.

For more tips about flying as an unaccompanied minor, click here.

We'll collect health information as part of your Builder Checklist after you've been placed on your trip, then let your trip leaders and our in-country food providers know about any restrictions. Sometimes food options are limited or unlabeled, so it's your job to monitor what you eat during your trip. Most of the time, local food providers are able to accommodate those with food allergies or restrictions, but bring snacks that you can eat in case you are unable to eat a certain meal.

For Diabetes, if you use a phone app to monitor blood sugar or administer insulin, you must find an alternative during the trip because of our Digital Detox.

If you have any more concerns or questions about health restrictions, email us at info@hxp.org.

Packing lists are trip specific and can be found in your Builder Portal as soon as you are placed on your trip. For packing tips, click here.

You can download your Notarized Authorization Form from your Builder Portal and bring it to a notary. For common questions about Notarized Authorization and a step-by-step tutorial about uploading documents, click here.

The Digital Detox is an irreplaceable part of HXP trips. The complete separation from technology combined with full exposure to a new culture provides an extremely unique opportunity for Builders to build their relationships, testimonies, and perspective. To learn more about the Digital Detox, click here.

As soon as you arrive to your meetup spot, your Trip Leaders will give you a secure pouch to lock your phone. The phone pouch will stay in your bag during the trip and we trust you to be responsible and keep it safe. Your Trip Leaders will open it up again at the end of your trip. If the phone pouch is damaged, you will pay to replace it. This may seem like a long time to go without communicating with the outside world, but we promise you're going to love it!

Our goal is to make these experiences as mission-like as possible, so don't expect to call home during the time you are away. As soon as your group has arrived safely, we'll send your parents an email. Then, they can follow along with your trip via your location Instagram page (@hxp.tripname). You will have the opportunity to write a letter home half way through your trip, which your Trip Leaders will email to them. If your parent needs to get in touch with you during your trip, they'll contact the HXP office and we'll get in touch with the Trip Leaders to relay the message. For more information about parent communication during your trip, click here.

While international Builders have a laundry day halfway through their trip, you will not. Because your trip is only 10 days long, we feel confident that you can make it through without washing clothes! To make sure you pack as efficiently as possible, check out our packing tips blog post, click here.

With the well-being of Builders as our top priority, HXP purchases travel insurance for Builders for what happens during the trip, including medical insurance and evacuation, security evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, trip delay, and trip interruption. We recommend purchasing a Cancel for Any Reason Policy to protect your investment in the event that YOU need to cancel from your trip from any reason.

Regarding health insurance, HXP's travel insurance covers short-term medical emergencies, but you'll need your own medical insurance just in case you have a problem that requires continued treatment. HXP's insurance will only cover after claims have been filed through your primary insurance. For more information, click here.

During weekdays, you'll spend most of your day at your project worksite; on the weekend, you'll do sightseeing activities; and on Sundays, you'll attend church. Your trip will be about 17 days long. For a general idea of what the day in the life of a HXP Builder looks like, click here.

As a Builder, you are on your trip to do just that: build up your project, build up your friends, and build up your testimony. Show up with a positive attitude, excited to try new things and develop strong relationships, and you will have an incredible experience. Follow the rules, support your Trip Leaders, be smart so you stay safe, and don't forget to have fun! For more tips for preparing for your trip, click here.

We'll collect health information as part of your Builder Checklist after you've been placed on your trip, then let your trip leaders and our in-country food providers know about any restrictions. Sometimes food options are limited or unlabeled, so it's your job to monitor what you eat during your trip. Most of the time, local food providers are able to accommodate those with food allergies or restrictions, but bring snacks that you can eat in case you are unable to eat a certain meal.

For Diabetes, if you use a phone app to monitor blood sugar or administer insulin, you must find an alternative during the trip because of our Digital Detox.

If you have any more concerns or questions about health restrictions, email us at info@hxp.org.

Unless you are going on a domestic trip, you'll need a passport for your international trip. If you don't have a valid passport through March 2027 (six months after you return home from your trip), you won't be able to participate in your trip. For more passport tips, click here.

Unless your trip page and Builder Portal indicate that you need a visa, you will not need to apply for a visa prior to your trip. The visa application process is time sensitive and unique to each location, so make sure to follow the instructions in your Builder Portal closely when they go live. This process will not take place until a few weeks before your trip and we will notify you when it's time to start the process.

Packing lists are trip specific and can be found in your Builder Portal as soon as you are placed on your trip. For packing tips, click here.

You can download your Notarized Authorization Form from your Builder Portal and bring it to a notary. For common questions about Notarized Authorization and a step-by-step tutorial about uploading documents, click here.

The Digital Detox is an irreplaceable part of HXP trips. The complete separation from technology combined with full exposure to a new culture provides an extremely unique opportunity for Builders to build their relationships, testimonies, and perspective. To learn more about the Digital Detox, click here.

Right before you leave on your international flight, your Trip Leaders will give you a secure pouch to lock your phone. The phone pouch will stay in your bag during the trip and we trust you to be responsible and keep it safe. Your Trip Leaders will open it up again at the end of your trip. If the phone pouch is damaged, you will pay to replace it. This may seem like a long time to go without communicating with the outside world, but we promise you're going to love it!

Our goal is to make these experiences as mission-like as possible, so don't expect to call home during the time you are away. As soon as your group has arrived safely, we'll send your parents an email. Then, they can follow along with your trip via your country Instagram page (@hxp.tripname). You will have the opportunity to write a letter home half way through your trip, which your Trip Leaders will email to them. If your parent needs to get in touch with you during your trip, they'll contact the HXP office and we'll get in touch with the Trip Leaders to relay the message. For more information about parent communication during your trip, click here.

You will exchange money once you arrive in country, no need to worry about doing so beforehand.

Yes, you will have an opportunity to do laundry once about halfway through your trip. HXP will cover the cost of this expense. Try to pack as efficiently as possible so you don't have to wash a lot of stuff. For more packing tips, click here.

Nope! There are no language requirements to go on a HXP trip, and your group will have a translator with you to help you communicate with local people. You will learn a handful of phrases in the local language while on your trip, so if you want to do a little preparing before, you'll have a head start when you arrive. To check out Sage's story about learning Arabic to prepare for her trip to Jordan, click here.

With the well-being of Builders as our top priority, HXP purchases travel insurance for Builders for what happens during the trip, including medical insurance and evacuation, security evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, trip delay, and trip interruption. We recommend purchasing a Cancel for Any Reason Policy to protect your investment in the event that YOU need to cancel from your trip from any reason.

Regarding health insurance, HXP's travel insurance covers short-term medical emergencies, but you'll need your own medical insurance just in case you have a problem that requires continued treatment. HXP's insurance will only cover after claims have been filed through your primary insurance. For more information, click here.

Parent builders ensure the safety of the trip, exemplify spiritual leadership, and commit to loving the builders and Trip Leaders.

We expect Parent Builders to:

• Pray about how you can personally impact each builder
• Support and encourage the Trip Leaders
• Honor the rules, set an example and stay with the group
• Attend and review your mandatory pre-training
• Seek to stretch and grow beyond your comfort zone

We love our Parent Builders! For more information about being a Parent Builder, click here.

HXP trips are not designed to be family trips. It is best for the male and female Parent Builders to be from different families.

In special circumstances, with HXP approval, the opportunity is also available for married couples and other trusted adults who may not have builders on the trip. For more information, please reach out to our Parent Builder Team, at info@hxp.org.

To read more, click here.

Parent Builders are required to attend a 3-hour training meeting and read through our comprehensive training manual. Here they learn the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of being a Parent Builder. They're briefed on how to support Trip Leaders and Builders as well as how to react in emergency situations.

Parent Builders register in the same process as Builders. Once assigned a trip, we require a background check, references, and additional trainings before going out on their trips.

Every year, our best Parent Builders are examples of Christlike love. They have positive attitudes, trust the Trip Leaders, work hard on the worksite, and are great listeners. They observe the needs of the Builders and Trip Leaders and look to serve and uplift.

Over the years we have seen these trips become an opportunity for parents to have an incredible experience with their child, but parents of registered Youth Builders aren't the only people that are able to sign up as a Parent Builder. This opportunity is also available to aunts/uncles, grandparents, cousins, and family friends (35 age minimum). You'll become a mentor, friend, confidant, and support system to the most amazing youth. If you're interested or have questions in coming as a "Solo Parent Builder," reach out to our Parent Builder team, at info@hxp.org.

The final application deadline is January 21st, 2026. Acceptances will be sent on a rolling basis, trip dates will be communicated on February 27th, and trip locations will be announced on March 6th.

For the application, click here.

We ask that Trip Leaders have an availability of 3-5 weeks to be able to lead an HXP trip!

No, as a first-year Trip Leader, you will not get to choose where you'd like to serve; we will assign you a location based on a variety of factors, including how your personality type will match up with your co-leader, your language ability, and lots and lots of prayer. More about this process, click here.

No. The 19 youth builders that we trust you with are your number one priority from the first moment you meet to the last moment at your connecting airport. It is extremely crucial that you are there with them to make sure they get to their domestic flights properly.

No, the Trip Leader Position is a volunteer position you will apply for. All your travel costs on the trip are covered.

For summer 2026 Trip Leader Training will be three days long May 7-9, 2026. This is mandatory! If you cannot attend this training you will not be invited to be a Trip Leader with us for this coming year.

Another mandatory event is our infamous "sorting day" on March 6th, where you will find out your location and meet your tribe!

We also expect 45 hours of preparation, including 3 trainings in April for your specific location.

While it is unlikely you would go together your first year as a Trip Leader, Married individuals are encouraged to apply! Every year, many of our new and veteran Trip Leaders are married. The same rules always apply for married Trip Leaders as well as single Trip Leaders. For more information read the rules, click here.

We look for 21- 35 year olds that have a strong testimony of the restored gospel Church of Jesus Christ and a life that reflects that belief. Other qualifications include previous international travel, experience working with 14-19 year olds, and you must commit to 3-5 weeks for your trip in the coming summer. To read the rest of our qualifications, click here.

If you are accepted to be a Trip Leader, all the information you need will be on your Trip Leader Portal. Further information on this process will come in your acceptance email.

Because of HXP's Digital Detox, you and your builder won't have access to direct communication throughout their trip. For more information about the Digital Detox, click here.

We've set up three touch points (country page Instagram accounts, letters home, and HXP On-Call line) so you have the reassurance that they are having a great time away from home and most importantly, alive and well! For more information about communicating with your Builder while they're on their trip, click here.

In case of emergency, we have a 24-hour hotline during the summer. If there's an emergency at home or on your child's trip, HXP HQ will get you in touch quickly. This phone number will be emailed to you the week your Builder leaves on their trip. To learn more about communicating with your Builder while they're on their trip, click here.

Yes, there is not a separate login for parents. You will use the same username and password as your Builder.

While we cover international airfare, you are responsible for purchasing domestic flights to/from the "meet up" airport. You will also be responsible for any additional luggage you bring that is not covered in the luggage allotment, detailed in your travel information in your Builder Portal.

For more details about what is/isn't included in the cost of your HXP trip cost, click here.

Upon registration, your "meet up" airport will be listed under the trip information. Additional flight details will be sent to you 90 days before your trip departure date.

Your Trip Leaders will set a designated meeting area for your group, and send details of where in your trip's GroupMe. The meeting area is outside of security, you will be able to check into the international flight with the whole group! For more travel tips, click here.

For international trips you can bring 1 personal item, 1 standard sized carry-on item, and 1 standard sized checked bag.

For domestic trips you can bring 1 personal item and 1 additional suitcase.

No, HXP works closely with the airlines to secure the best prices for our Builders. However, this is contingent upon our purchasing the tickets as a group. We are therefore unable to permit the use of miles or flight vouchers in order to best serve all of our Builders.

No, HXP emphasizes the importance of group cohesion and safety during our humanitarian trips. Builders, including Parent Builders and Trip Leaders, are required to travel together with the group from the designated "meet-up" airport to the destination country, and they must return with the group to the same "meet-up" airport at the end of the trip. Independent travel to or from the destination country, or leaving the group early for personal travel, is not allowed.

HXP handles all international flight bookings. Flights are booked as a group ticket to keep groups together while traveling. Individual seat upgrades cannot be accommodated. If you have extenuating circumstances, please reach out to HXP.”

While HXP and EFY share many of the same beliefs, standards, goals, and objectives, HXP is an independent non-profit organization and is not affiliated with EFY, BYU, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. HXP programs are open to youth of any denomination that agrees to follow the code of conduct. Prayer, scripture study, and church attendance are an important part of each program.

While each trip offers world-class sightseeing, service is our mantra. Builders can expect to spend about 80 hours on the construction project work-site, with weekends are set aside for sightseeing. HXP believes in immersing youth in the communities and among the people of the countries they visit to help them understand the genuine joy that comes from serving others.

HXP trips are designed to change lives through service. However, they are not designed for teens experiencing serious emotional, moral, substance abuse, or discipline problems. While our Trip Leaders are outstanding individuals, they don't have professional training to deal with youth with significant challenges. If the Trip Leaders encounter teens with disruptive challenges that have difficulties following HXP rules, they are instructed to send them home early so that they can receive professional care.

No, currently none of the countries we travel to require a COVID-19 vaccine.