International Volunteering in company (VIE)

Verified 05 June 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You want to carry out a VIE mission? This system allows you, under certain conditions, to carry out a mission (technical, commercial, support, etc.) abroad. You must be between 18 and 28 years old to register. You will be compensated. We present you the information to know.

A VIE mission is a civic service performed abroad.

The tasks entrusted concern in particular the following areas:

  • Technical
  • Commercial
  • Support (IT, human resources, communication, etc.).

You can perform a VIE mission with one of the following companies or organizations:

  • French company abroad
  • Foreign company linked to a French company by a partnership agreement.

You have to research your mission yourself.

Please note

You can extend your search to all French exporting companies.

Conditions to be fulfilled

You can be a volunteer if you fill in the 5 conditions following:

  • Credit Memo between 18 and 28 years old on the date of application. Departure on mission shall take place on the 29th at the lateste Anniversary. Beyond that, no derogation is granted.
  • Be French or a national of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Be in compliance with national service obligations (defense and citizenship day)
  • Enjoying civil rights and having criminal record blank
  • Fulfill the physical fitness requirements for persons carrying out activities of a similar nature in the host organization.

Please note

Specific skills may be required depending on the country of destination (e.g. language knowledge, professional experience, degree level).

Incompatibilities

The LIFE mission is not compatible with another activity (jobs, studies, company creation, etc.).

Only the production of scientific, literary or artistic works and teaching activities are authorized (subject to the agreement of the organization with which the VIE mission is carried out).

You can do an internship in VIE mission if it is a graduate internship.

You must meet the conditions to be a volunteer for a VIE mission.

Your university (or school) must agree.

The internship agreement must be adapted to the VIE system.

Documents to be prepared

You must prepare a RESUME.

If you are a French national or a French binational under 25, you must indicate your defense id number.

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

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.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

If you have not performed your JDC, you must have you enumerated at your town hall and wait to be summoned by the national service center.

Registration

You must create your account on the site My International Volunteering, official website of international volunteering in company (VIE) or administration (VIA):

Finding an international volunteer mission in company (VIE) or administration (VIA)

At the end of your registration, you must create a username and password.

You will receive a number (consisting of a V followed by 9 digits). Keep it, it will be useful for all your steps.

Search for a mission

You must log in to your account to view the assignment offers.

You can select the missions that interest you, especially according to the criteria following:

  • Occupation
  • Duration
  • Continents
  • Country
  • Level of education.

Medical formalities

Once selected, you must undergo a medical examination.

You must provide a medical certificate declaring you fit for the mission.

You must also make the vaccinations required depending on your country of assignment.

A hard LIFE mission between 6 and 24 months.

It must take place at least 183 days a year abroad.

You are compensated (we are talking aboutlump-sum maintenance allowances, IFE).

You will receive a fixed allowance and an additional geographical allowance depending on the country where you carry out your mission.

Fixed allowance

You receive a fixed monthly allowance in the amount of €772.87.

Your allowance is exempt from income tax.

No social security contributions are levied.

Your compensation is not subject to the CSG: titleContent and to the CRDS: titleContent.

Additional allowance

You also perceive a additional monthly allowance the amount depends on the country (and sometimes the city) of the mission.

It is calculated according to the local standard of living in order to cover your subsistence, equipment and housing needs.

The amount is adjusted every 3 months (based on exchange rate and cost of living developments in the mission country).

If your host company pays for all or part of your accommodation, the allowance is reduced by 20%.

Your allowance is exempt from income tax.

No social security contributions are levied.

Your compensation is not subject to the CSG: titleContent and to the CRDS: titleContent.

Crisis situation

If you have to return to France due to a crisis situation in the country of your mission, you continue to receive your allowances.

You receive them in full for the first 30 days.

Then, the additional allowance is reduced until the end of your mission.

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

Your return travel costs are covered.

This is also the case for your luggage (up to 150 kg).

Please note

If, for personal reasons, you wish to extend your stay at the end of your mission, you can benefit from a free return for a maximum of 3 months.

You are entitled to leave of absence for a period of 2.5 days per month of mission.

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

Your health insurance is support for you and your rights holders.

A private insurer replaces French social security for the duration of the voluntary service.

It covers the reimbursement of medical expenses.

Please note

You must be up to date with the necessary vaccinations, before and during your mission.

Special rules apply before the mission and at the end of your volunteering.

Before volunteering

You must tell your advisor France Travail the start date and duration of your volunteer work, before the start of the assignment.

You can use one of the following ways:

  • mobile Application
  • Mail
  • Telephone
  • Mail
  • Welcome of your agency.

You have no proof to be provided.

During the duration of your volunteer, the payment of your unemployment benefits is suspended, but you can remain registered with France Travail.

You change category in the classification of jobseekers.

You are classified as unemployed, not immediately available (category 4).

Who shall I contact

At the end of volunteering

You must also notify your advisor France Travail.

The payment of your unemployment benefits resumes when your volunteering is over.

However, your rights should not be too old. This is the case if you have exceeded the time limit for revocation of rights (which corresponds to the duration of the rights initially opened, extended by a period of 3 years).

Volunteer periods are not considered as professional activities.

They are therefore not taken into account to establish unemployment insurance rights.

Who shall I contact

Yes, services performed as a volunteer for a period of at least 6 months are taken into account for the calculation of your retirement.

One certificate of completion of your mission is delivered to you at the end of the volunteering.

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