International Volunteering in Administration (VIA)

Verified 02 December 2025 - 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: education, law, economics, medicine, computer science, hospitality and catering.

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 no later than the 29the Anniversary. Beyond that, no waiver is granted.
  • To be French or national of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
  • To be in good standing 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 related to 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 binational under 25 years of age, you must indicate your defense id number.

This number is communicated to you by the National Service Center at the time of 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 to 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 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 you are interested in, especially based on criteria following:

  • Occupation
  • Duration
  • Continents
  • Countries
  • 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 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 based on local living standards 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 placed 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.

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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