Residence permit - Voluntary service

Course description

Different requirements apply to individual voluntary services.

Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) and Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ)

• Age limit: minimum age 16 and maximum age 26
• Possible areas: Public welfare and social work (FSJ) and nature and environmental protection or environmental education (FÖJ)
• Duration of voluntary service: at least 6 months, usually 1 year and a maximum of 18 months (in special exceptional cases up to 24 months)
• Full-time compulsory schooling must be completed for this full-time service.

Federal Voluntary Service (BFD)

• The BFD is an opportunity for people of all ages to volunteer for the common good outside of work and school.
• Possible areas: social, ecological and cultural areas as well as in the areas of sport, integration and civil defence and disaster control
• Duration of voluntary service: at least 6, usually 12, and at most 24 months.
• Full-time compulsory schooling must be completed for this full-time service.

European Voluntary Service (EVS)

• EVS is part of the Youth in Action programme and thus of the EU Erasmus+ programme
• Age limit: minimum age 17 and maximum age 30
• Possible areas: social, youth, environment and culture
• Duration of voluntary service: up to 1 year
• Nationality of a partner country of the Erasmus+ programme

The approval of the Federal Employment Agency is not required.

Voluntary service is also possible following an au pair placement.

For minors under the age of 18, the consent of their legal guardians (parents) is required.

Notes on the procedure

Visa:
Before entering Germany, you must apply for a visa at the relevant German diplomatic mission.
Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the USA and the United Kingdom can also enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit to take up work.

After entering the country:

You must first register your residence at the Citizens Office.

Application for a residence permit:

Before your visa/residence permit expires, you must apply for a residence permit. If you can enter the country without a visa for this purpose, you must submit the application within 90 days of entering the country.

To apply, please send us your application form and the required documents online(please also select "Federal Volunteer Service" for the EVS under "Type of employment") or by post. After we have checked your application, you will receive an appointment from us.

Prerequisites

• Registration of main residence in Munich
• Agreement to carry out the voluntary service
• Securing your livelihood (such as pocket money, benefits in kind and cost allowances)
• Sufficient health insurance cover
• Compliance with the age limit:
  FSJ and FÖJ: minimum age 16 and maximum age 26
  BFD: any age possible
  EVS: at least 17 and at most 30 years old

Required documents

• Fully completed application form
• Valid national passport or passport substitute
• A recent biometric passport photo
• Valid visa to enter the country for the purpose of volunteering (if required)
• Agreement with an organisation on the implementation of the voluntary service
  (with a description of the activities as well as conditions and information on duration, periods of service, supervision, remuneration and any educational measures included)
• Proof of health insurance (insurance card or confirmation)
• Proof of residence
• In the case of minors under the age of 18, the consent of the person with custody (parents) is required.

Please note:
Further documents may be required in individual cases.

Legal basis

Federal Voluntary Service Act, Youth Voluntary Service Act,
§ Section 19c (1) AufenthG in conjunction with Section 14 (1) no. 1 BeschV
§ Section 19e AufenthG