International Mission Trips

International Mission Trips

What are international mission trips?

International mission trips send teams or individuals to serve alongside local churches and ministries outside the United States. Experience Mission (EM) hosts international group mission trips of 7 to 12 days in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean for youth, college, family, church, and adult teams of 6 or more. Young adults ages 18 to 30 can also join IMMERSION programs lasting 1 to 9 months.

Sometimes called overseas mission trips or foreign mission trips, each EM international mission trip comes alongside a church or ministry actively serving their neighbors year-round. For the full list of communities, open weeks, and prices, visit the group mission trips page, or read the broader answer to what a mission trip is.

Can individuals go on a longer international trip?

Yes! IMMERSION is EM's cross-cultural missions program for individuals ages 18 to 30 who want to serve, learn, and grow for more than a week. Participants live in one or more host communities and serve alongside local partners for 1 to 9 months. Programs run in Africa, Costa Rica, Peru, and Indonesia, and some combine regions in a unique Christian Gap Year program. Age ranges vary by program.

Explore longer international trips:

IMMERSION programs - 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month programs with dates, details, typical schedules, and info about daily life in each community
Christian gap year programs - 6-month and 9-month programs that pair two regions, as well as EM's 4-community Missions & Discipleship Gap Year for ages 18-20

If your group wants a shorter trip, the communities below host teams for 7-12 days.

Which EM communities host international mission trips?

EM hosts international group mission trips in 7 communities across three regions. Each region has its own page with more detail on dates, partners, and what teams do. Grade ranges run from 6th grade and up to 9th grade and up. See the lists below for age ranges, trip length, and per-person trip costs.

Your group's youngest participant sets the starting point. Then compare communities based on budget, travel time, and the kind of service you hope to do.

Where can a group serve in Africa?

Africa mission trips run 12 days, the longest of EM's group trips, and all three communities welcome teams throughout fall, winter, and spring as well as summer. Local EM Africa staff lead groups through work and ministry in each place. Read more about mission trips to Africa. Three communities host teams:

Cape Town, South Africa - 9th grade and up, $1,495 per person. Teams serve alongside Shiloh and the Jubilee Excellence School and with Logos Christian Church.
Pretoria, South Africa - 9th grade and up, $1,395 per person. Teams serve alongside Kairos, PEN, and in nearby Vastfontein.
Swakopmund, Namibia - 6th grade and up, $1,595 per person. Teams serve alongside Shofar Christian Church, Feeding Namibia, Clothing Namibia, and the Ubuntu pre-primary school.

Cape Town and Pretoria accept teams of 3 or more, and Namibia accepts teams of 5 or more.

Where can a group serve in Latin America?

Two communities in Central America host group mission trips, and both place teams alongside local churches. Costa Rica runs in summer, and Belize runs year-round. The mission trips to Latin America page compares both in more detail:

Belmopan, Belize - 6th grade and up, $855 per person for 7 days. Teams join Pastor Nelzon Guillen and the Family of God Church network on construction projects, outreach, and Kids Club. Belize asks for teams of 10 or more.
Shiroles, Costa Rica - 6th grade and up, $995 per person for 8 days. Teams join Victor and Sara Mayorga-Molina and the local church on work projects and Kids Club, and have a chance to practice their Spanish every day. 2027 dates upon request.

Each community sets how large a team it can host, so check the trip page for the current minimum and available weeks.

Where can a group serve in the Caribbean?

Two Caribbean communities host group trips for 7 days, year-round. See the Caribbean mission trips page for more info on both:

Jamaica Hurricane Recovery - 9th grade and up, $855 per person. Teams work with Christian Fellowship Church and Pastor Leroy Gordon in Catadupa and Cambridge, repairing homes, helping with community projects, and leading Kids Club.
Cuba - 9th grade and up, $895 per person. Teams join local churches for work projects, visits with families, Kids Club, and time learning how the church in Cuba serves its neighbors.

Cuba also requires a visa that each team member buys before travel. EM also hosts mission trip teams in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, where U.S. citizens are not required to have a passport there. Find it alongside other United States mission trips.

What about Asia and the Holy Land?

EM has local partners in Sentani, Indonesia, and Israel-Palestine, but no group trips are currently scheduled in these communities. Submit an interest form to hear when weeks open, or look at IMMERSION, which includes a 1-month Indonesia program.

EM's Holy Land trips are paused and are unlikely to resume in 2027.

How are international mission trips different from U.S. trips?

International mission trips require a bit more lead time and a larger budget, and they give a team more time away from home. Compare the two on these points:

Passports - Every international team member needs a valid passport
Length - International trips run 7 to 12 days, while U.S. trips are all 6 days
Cost - International trips start at $855 per person, and U.S. trips run $475 - $599
Travel - Most teams need to fly to serve internationally, with EM field staff handling in-country transportation, lodging, and meals

One type of mission trip isn't better than another! The best fit simply depends on your group's ages, budget, calendar, and desire to serve in specific communities or cross-cultural settings. Learn more about mission trips in the United States.

How much do international mission trips cost?

Per-person costs for EM's international group trips run $855 to $1,595.

The trip cost covers food, lodging, in-country transportation, work project materials, local partner support, and EM field staff or local partners to run your trip. Budget separately for airfare, passports, and the entry or exit fees some countries charge, which usually run $25 to $45 per person. Adults must also complete background checks to participate on EM trips.

Teams often share the cost of going through church-wide giving and fundraisers. EM's Mission Trip Fundraising Guide offers our best fundraising ideas for groups. Read EM's registration and payment policy for deposit and payment due dates.

See a sample international mission trip budget, with airfare, entry fees and a worked out example budget.

When do international mission trips take place?

Open weeks vary by community. Belize, Jamaica, Cuba, and Africa communities host teams year-round, including spring break. Costa Rica hosts teams in the summer only.

Open weeks change as teams register, so check each trip page for current dates or submit an interest form to learn more about a trip before registering.

Do we need passports for an international mission trip?

Yes. Every team member needs a valid passport, and most countries require it to be valid for at least six months after the trip. Passports can take several weeks to process, so apply early. Travelers under 18 also need an original notarized parental consent letter, and EM provides a sample. Check travel.state.gov for all current rules.

Which international trip fits my group?

Start with your group's age range, then compare communities on cost and travel. Each group type has its own EM page with more information and details:

Middle school - Belize, Costa Rica, and Namibia welcome 6th grade and up. See middle school mission trips.
High school - All other international communities welcome 9th grade and up. See high school mission trips.
Mixed-age youth groups - Welcome in most communities. Check out youth mission trips.
Families - Compare communities and learn more on the family mission trips page.
College teams - See college mission trips for options for college students.
Churches and adults - View church mission trips and adult mission trips for everything you need to know.

If your group spans several ages, choose the community that welcomes your youngest participant and fits your budget, then let the type of service decide between the rest.

Are international mission trips safe?

Yes! Safety planning starts before a team lands and continues all week, with EM field staff and local partners on site. Every international trip includes these layers of safety:

Leadership - Each team brings a leader age 21 or older who stays responsible for the group, with adult leaders keeping a 7:1 ratio for high schoolers, and 5:1 ratio for middle schoolers and younger
Screening - All participants age 18 and older complete a background check before the trip under EM's background check policy
On-site support - EM field staff coordinate daily plans with local partners, making sure teams know how and where to go in order to stay safe in the community
Trip page guidance - Each community page describes lodging, water, security, and health guidance before you register

Read the Health & Safety Plan to see how EM and team leaders share responsibility for team members in an emergency.

How does a group plan an international mission trip?

A group leader registers the team, and EM support staff help along the way. Allow several months to recruit your team and leaders, raise support together, and obtain necessary passports. The path looks like this:

Pick a community - Match your youngest participant's grade, your dates, and your budget
Submit an interest form - Share your group's size and dates through the interest form to connect with EM before registering online
Book flights - Reserve early, since airfare is not included
Prepare leaders and team - Name a leader age 21 or older, finish background checks and passports, and work through EM's cross-cultural missions training for groups

For details on each stage, read EM's how to plan a mission trip guide.

What is EM's approach to an international mission trip?

Crossing into a new culture can tempt volunteers to see themselves as the experts. But EM's 7 Healthy Service Principles ask each team to approach their mission trip differently: arrive as guests and learners, not as tourists or experts.

Local pastors, teachers, and neighbors carry this work all year. On EM's short-term mission trips, visiting teams are encouraged to ask questions, listen to their ministry hosts, and notice what each community already does well. EM strongly recommends cross-cultural training before the trip, so teams prepare to learn as well as serve in a healthy way.

Explore EM's approach to missions.

International Mission Trip FAQs

Are overseas, foreign, and international mission trips the same thing?

Yes! People use these terms for trips that take a team outside the United States, and EM uses "international" to describe all of them. While international missions can be longer term, EM trips range from 1 week to 9 months.

Can I go on an international mission trip without a group?

Group trips run on teams of 6 or more, and EM cannot place an individual on another group's team. Individuals ages 18 to 30 can apply to join an IMMERSION team or Gap Year program for 1-9 months.

How many people does a team need?

Most international communities require 6 or more people, including a leader age 21 or older. Belize asks for a minimum of 10, Namibia accepts 5, and Cape Town and Pretoria accept teams as small as 3 people. Each trip page lists its current required minimum.

Can a church, youth group, or college team go?

Yes! Churches, youth groups, college teams, families, and adult groups all serve on international trips. Use the audience links above for guidance by age group.

Find an international mission trip for your group!

Explore 2027 international mission trips and choose a community that matches your group's dates, grade range, and budget. Browse group mission trips to see every community (including domestic trips) and its per-person cost, or start with IMMERSION if you are an individual looking for a longer missions experience.

Written and reviewed by Experience Mission Staff - Updated: October 2026