International Volunteering in Administration (VIA)

Verified 01 January 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You want to participate in France's action in the world? International Administrative Volunteering (VIA) is open, under certain conditions, to young people aged 18 to 28. The mission lasts between 6 and 24 months. It may be renewed once for a maximum of 2 years. The volunteer receives compensation.

International Volunteering in Administration (VIA) is a civic service performed for French State services abroad.

The VIA may be conducted in the following services:

  • Consulates
  • Embassies
  • French economic services and missions abroad
  • Cooperation and cultural action services

All professions are involved in these services. For example: education, law, economics, medicine, informatics, hotels and restaurants.

You can volunteer if you meet the following 6 conditions:

  • Have between 18 and 28 years on the date of registration. Departure from the mission shall take place no later than the 29the birthday. Beyond that, no derogation is granted.
  • Be French or a national of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Comply with national service obligations (defense and citizenship day)
  • Enjoy your civil rights and have a clean criminal record
  • Fulfill the physical fitness requirements for persons carrying out similar activities in the host organization
  • Accept obligations of discretion, convenience, and restraint related to the diplomatic nature of the mission

Warning  

if you are employed in the public or private sector, you are obliged to leave your position. International volunteering is incompatible with paid activity (public or private). Only the production of scientific, literary or artistic works and, subject to the agreement of the organization with which the VIA is carried out, teaching activities are authorized.

How do I register?

Before you sign up

Verify that you meet the requirements. Then prepare a resume.

If you are a French national or a French binational under the age of 28, you must provide your defense identifier number.

This number is provided to you by the National Service Center during your Defense and Citizenship Day (JDC).

FYI  

If you have lost your JDC certificate of participation, you can request a duplicate at the national service center where you made your call day.

If you have not completed your JDC, you must register with your City Hall and wait to be summoned by the National Service Center.

At the time of registration

You must register on My International Volunteering.

This mandatory prerequisite gives you access to the offers available on the site.

Online application for international volunteering in company (VIE) or administration (VIA)

At the end of your registration, you will be asked to create a login and password.

A number composed of a V followed by 9 digits is communicated. You have to keep it.

How do I search for a mission?

After registration, you can consult the offers of mission.

Search for an international volunteer mission in company (VIE)

What are the prior medical formalities?

Once selected, you must undergo a medical examination.

You also have to do the vaccinations necessary according to your country of assignment.

You're signing a contract.

It sets out the conditions under which you will carry out your mission.

When registering or signing the contract, the host organization must inform you of the possibility of carrying out a free health examination. This test is supported by the CPAM: titleContent.

The mission lasts between 6 and 24 months.

It can be renewed once for up to 2 years.

You must apply for renewal from the managing body 1 to 3 months before the end of your mission.

You receive a fixed allowance and an additional allowance depending on the country where you are working.

Fixed monthly allowance

You receive a fixed monthly allowance of €760.57.

This allowance shall be exempt from income tax.

It shall also be exempt from CSG: titleContent and CRDS: titleContent.

Additional compensation

You also receive a additional geographical allowance monthly depending on the country of the mission.

The amount varies every 3 months (depending on the exchange rate and the cost of living in the country of the mission).

She's exempt from income tax.

It shall also be exempt from CSG: titleContent and CRDS: titleContent.

You are placed under the authority of the French Embassy of the country in which you carry out your mission.

You are entitled to leave of 2.5 days per month of assignment (for example, 25 days of leave for 10 months).

You can benefit from exceptional holidays for family events (birth, marriage...).

Your health insurance coverage is covered for you and your rights-holders.

A private insurer replaces French social security throughout the period of voluntary service.

He pays for the reimbursement of medical expenses.

Yes, services performed as a volunteer are taken into account for the calculation of your pension.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region