Frequently Asked Questions

Registration is open for youth ages 18-35 with a proven track record of leadership experience, school, or community involvement and are interested in global affairs, sustainable development, and youth issues. Applicants must be able to secure any required visa, and travel to the United States of America, if registering for the February program, or to Switzerland, if registering for the August program.

In 2027, we will have two sessions of the AFS Youth Assembly:

• The 32nd AFS Youth Assembly will be held on February 24 – 25, 2027 in New York City, USA.
• The 33rd AFS Youth Assembly will be held on August 11 – 13, 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Both of them will be in-person events. If the organizer cancels the in-person event due to circumstances beyond its control, the organizer may, at its discretion, hold the event virtually. 

AFS Intercultural Programs Inc. spearheads every session of The Youth Assembly in 2027 with the support and partnership of notable organizations and companies. Friendship Ambassadors Foundation organized the event until 2020. 

According to the UN, the definition of youth is “more fluid than other fixed age-groups.” Various organizations have their own definition of youth. At the AFS Youth Assembly, we do not have a strict definition of youth, but have defined a certain age range for who is considered a “Delegate” for our program planning purposes. A Delegate should be between the ages of 18-35 at the time of application. 

However, you can apply as an Observer if you are over 35. In this case, please make a regular registration in our Portal and indicate clearly  your motivation for attending on your application for review. Once the system marks you as ineligible, please email our team requesting to be reviewed as an observer. Due to limited space we will only be able to accept a small number of Observers to attend the AFS Youth Assembly.

The Applicant Questionnaire will be used to evaluate your application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be evaluated based on the applicant’s work or involvement, achievements, and interest in sustainable development.

Here is how to create a great Youth Assembly application.

Your application is only considered ready to be reviewed after all required to-do items are completed, including payment of the application fee. In case your application does not meet the requirements to be accepted to join the event, a full refund will be issued. However, once your registration is accepted and you decide to withdraw, you will be subjected to the cancellation policy described in our Terms and Conditions.

Upon submission of the application form, you will receive an auto-response email. Submission of the registration form does not automatically guarantee acceptance. Our team will review your information within 7 business days. A refund will be issued to registrants who did not meet our eligibility requirements. 

Generally, delegates apply for a Schengen visa (Type C) for short-term stays in Switzerland. Please note that international applicants who are based outside Switzerland are responsible for obtaining their own visa to travel to the country. Contact the nearest Swiss Embassy or Consulate for detailed instructions on how to apply.
Acceptance to The Youth Assembly does not guarantee the issuance of a visa or admission into Switzerland. Visa issuance is entirely at the discretion of Swiss Embassies and Consulates. Entry into Switzerland is subject to the final decision of the Swiss Border and Migration Authorities at the point of entry.

Please also note that the organizers (AFS Intercultural Programs) are only responsible for providing an official invitation letter to support your visa application. AFS cannot make personal phone calls or requests on your behalf to specific Embassies or Consulates. Intervention by a host organization in diplomatic or consular matters is not possible, and reliance on such actions may delay your application or reduce your chances of obtaining a visa.

Due to varying administrative and seasonal factors, some countries may experience longer wait times for visa appointments at Swiss embassies or consulates. We recommend checking the estimated visa processing and appointment times before applying to The Youth Assembly:

👉 Swiss Visa Information – Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

We suggest applicants check local organizations and associations, such as the Lions or Rotary clubs in their area, for sponsorship opportunities. Former delegates have found that a search through the internet, academic scholarships, and local and national sources can also be a source of subsidy and support.

Here is how to fundraise your way to the AFS Youth Assembly.

All events at the AFS Youth Assembly are carried out in English. Interpretation services (including sign languages) may be arranged with an external agency at a cost to the participant. For inquiries, please contact us at [email protected].

Yes, in case you have a companion / chaperone / legal guardian, they will also need to register and pay for the event. 

Unfortunately, failure to complete the payment by the indicated deadline will result in your application and registration being withdrawn. If you need more time, you may request an extension. However, extension requests will only be approved on a case-to-case basis and with possible increased/late fee.

In an effort to promote diversity in all its forms, AFS is pleased to introduce a Delegation Program for the AFS Youth Assembly. Interested organizations are required to fill out the Delegation Program Application Form.  Qualifying groups will receive an email with instructions on how to complete registration of its delegates. Please note that a Delegation must have 5 or more members.

Cancellations and refunds are processed according to the timeline described in our terms and conditions.

No. Participants who sign up for the Conference-Only option are responsible for their own travel arrangements, including accommodation, meals, flight, airport transfers, and visa application fees.

Delegates may request an upgrade to one of the Youth Assembly Program Academies, which include accommodation, special certificates, exclusive side events and networking opportunities, and much more.

Cancellations and refunds are processed according to the timeline described in our terms and conditions

Cancellations and refunds are processed according to the timeline described in our terms and conditions.

Upon pre-application acceptance, you will receive an eligibility confirmation email including the payment link for completing your registration. Upon payment submission, your registration will be fully processed by the team and a formal admission email will be sent to you, including your Registration ID number, which you will need to present to the AFS Youth Assembly Representative during the event check-in (before the conference formally starts). Please expect to receive updates from time to time regarding the check-in information and conference agenda, as well as many exciting opportunities for the participants. In case you are not getting any updates, please check your spam box and/or reach out to us at [email protected].

If you have applied for a visa, please notify us about its status by 4 weeks before your selected program starts. You will receive your official delegate guide once you have confirmed your visa status.

All events at the AFS Youth Assembly are carried out in English. Additionally, all applications must be submitted in English.

To be considered eligible for a Youth Assembly scholarship, applicants must be between 18 – 35 years old at the time of the program start date.

No! If you are applying for a scholarship, you only need to apply using the scholarship application form. We advise you to not create a regular individual application on our portal so you are not added to our regular applicants list and start receiving communications that are not meant for you, which may cause confusion.

Scholarships for the AFS Youth Assembly Academies cover the program registration fees, which gives you access to everything listed as included in the program, plus a travel stipend in the form of a reimbursement for your transportation costs.

If you are selected for a scholarship, AFS will provide you with an official scholarship offer letter, which includes the necessary details to support your visa application. However, please note that AFS cannot provide additional assistance in the visa acquisition process, as we have no influence over visa issuance.

Acceptance to the AFS Youth Assembly does not guarantee the issuance of a visa or entry into the United States or to Switzerland. Participants are fully responsible for making their own travel arrangements, including obtaining a visa if required.

Check our scholarship page for more information once they become available.

Check our scholarship page for more information once they become available.

Check our scholarship page for more information once they become available.

Scholarships for the AFS Youth Assembly Academies cover the program registration fees, which gives you access to everything listed as included in the program, plus a travel stipend in the form of a reimbursement for your transportation costs.

Scholarship opportunities, when available, are listed on this page.

In case you are not selected for a Youth Assembly scholarship, you may benefit from a discounted rate when joining a delegation group such as the one organized by our official Ambassadors. Other than that, you might find value in our Fundraising Webinar Series.

Upon submitting your scholarship application, you will receive an automated confirmation message on the final page of the Typeform.

Unfortunately not. No late applications are accepted for the scholarship opportunities.

No. In case you are a scholarship winner but cannot attend the AFS Youth Assembly session you have applied for, your spot cannot be guaranteed for the following year, but you are welcome to apply again in the future.

Transportation is provided only between the academies program venues. No airport transfers are available, and you are responsible for arriving at the check-in location at the day and time indicated in your admission letter.

Before your Academy reservation is fully paid, your Youth Assembly invitation is confirmed for the Conference dates only. Once your Academy fee is fully submitted, we will confirm your reservation and issue you a full admission letter, including your program dates and accommodation details.

2027 information coming soon.

2027 information coming soon.

Youth Assembly Academies (former Packages) are enriching program tracks that offer a comprehensive theme-based experience beyond the flagship conference with a series of seminars, organization site visits and exclusive special events to facilitate learning, connection, engagement and action.

No, you can choose to register for the Conference-only.

2027 information coming soon.

The following items are not included in any of the Youth Assembly Academies fees:

• Round-trip flight arrangement
• Airport transfers
• Visa application and fees (if applicable)
• Travel/healthcare insurance
• Personal incidentals and expenses
• Transportation outside the programs

The AFS Youth Assembly Program Academies cannot be purchased without the hotel portion. Even if you are a local, or resident, or have family/friends in the program area, you are still subjected to the same registration fee as international delegates. Staying at the same place provides delegates with more opportunities to engage and network with each other, which benefits the overall experience.

Please read the cancelation policy here.