diff --git a/auth-api/src/auth_api/services/affiliation_invitation.py b/auth-api/src/auth_api/services/affiliation_invitation.py
index 9602f2f48..8330fa225 100644
--- a/auth-api/src/auth_api/services/affiliation_invitation.py
+++ b/auth-api/src/auth_api/services/affiliation_invitation.py
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ def _validate_prerequisites(business_identifier, from_org_id, to_org_id, environ
             raise BusinessException(Error.INVALID_BUSINESS_EMAIL, None)
 
         # Validate that entity contact email exists
-        if contact and not contact.email:
+        if (contact and not contact.email) and \
+                affiliation_invitation_type != AffiliationInvitationType.REQUEST:
             raise BusinessException(Error.INVALID_BUSINESS_EMAIL, None)
 
         # Check if affiliation already exists