International Volunteering in Administration (VIA)

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

Do you want to participate in France's action in the world? The VIA is open, under certain conditions, to young people between the ages of 18 and 28. The mission lasts between 6 and 24 months. It can be renewed once for a maximum of 2 years. The volunteer receives compensation. We tell you what you need to know.

A VIA mission is a civic service performed for French State services abroad.

The mission can take place in the following departments:

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

All trades are involved in these services.

For example: teaching, law, economics, medicine, computer science, hotel and restaurant industry.

Conditions to be fulfilled

You can be a volunteer if you fill in the 6 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.
  • To be French or national of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • To be in accordance with national service obligations (defense and citizenship day)
  • Enjoying your civil rights and have a clean criminal record
  • Fill in the physical fitness conditions required for persons carrying out similar activities in the host organization
  • Accept the obligations of discretion, propriety and reserve the diplomatic nature of the mission.

Incompatibilities

The VIA mission is incompatible with a paid activity (public or private).

If you are employed in the public or private sector, you are obliged to leave your position to carry out a VIA mission.

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

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.

You sign a contract.

It sets the conditions under which you will accomplish your mission.

Please note

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

The VIA mission lasts between 6 and 24 months.

It can be renewed once, without exceeding the maximum of 2 years.

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

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

Fixed monthly allowance

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

This allowance is exempt from income tax.

It is also exempt from CSG: titleContent and CRDS: titleContent.

Additional allowance

You also perceive a additional geographical allowance the amount of which 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 varies every 3 months (depending on exchange rate and cost of living developments in the mission country).

If your host organization takes over all or part of your accommodation, the allowance is reduced by 20%.

She is exempt from income tax.

It is also exempt from CSG: titleContent and 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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