This article examines the negotiation processes that enabled faith-based organizations to establish Humanitarian Corridors in Italy and Belgium between 2015 and 2017, arguing that their success rested on mutually beneficial arrangements with governments. Drawing on qualitative interviews, it shows that proposals were designed to align with existing legal frameworks, impose no financial cost on the state, and leverage established relationships to address political concerns. By balancing legal feasibility, operational collaboration, and political pragmatism, the initiatives demonstrate how non-state actors can effectively open new pathways to protection within existing state systems.