Provisional authorization to stay (APS) for volunteers in France

Verified 01 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are a foreigner and you want to make a Volunteer mission in France with a foundation or an association recognized as being of public utility? You can then apply for a provisional residence permit (PSA). Your mission must meet certain conditions (social or humanitarian purpose, general interest, etc.). The APS is issued to you for a period equal to that of your mission.

Step-by-step approach

You are concerned if you are foreigner (except European). A European volunteer does not need a residence permit.

Conditions to be fulfilled

The volunteer mission you wish to carry out must be done in a foundation or an association recognized as being of public utility.

You can consult the list of foundations and the list of associations recognized as being of public utility.

All of the following conditions must be met:

  • Mission has a social or humanitarian character
  • Detention of a long-stay visa
  • Signing of a Volunteer Contract before your entry into France
  • Commitment to leave France at the end of your mission
  • Certificate of assumption by the association or foundation
  • Approval of the association or foundation to call on volunteers.

Characteristics of the volunteer mission

Your mission as a volunteer must be of general interest. She must aim one of the following actions :

  • Promote autonomy and protection of people, strengthen social cohesion and prevent exclusion
  • To carry out solidarity actions in favor of disadvantaged or affected persons residing in France.

You must prepare the following documents:

  • Long-stay visa
  • Full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • Or consular certificate with photo
    • Or photo ID
    • Or consular card with photo
    • Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
  • Volunteer contract
  • Copy of the accreditation decision of the association or foundation with which you volunteer
  • Letter by which you agree to leave the territory at the end of your contract

You must submit your DPA application at the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home.

Check the prefecture's website for information on the procedures for submitting your file (by appointment, by mail, or on another website).

You must apply for a PSA, within 1 month of your arrival in France.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.

The APS is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) where you submitted your application.

Please note

If the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) has not responded to you in a 4 months delay, your PSA request is denied.

The PSA is issued for a period equal to the one entered in your volunteer contract.

You will have to pay €100 by tax stamps.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public

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      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.

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