Apply for residence permit for participation in a voluntary service

How do you get a residence permit for a voluntary service?

You would like to perform a voluntary service in Germany? Then you can apply for a residence permit for it. Whether you receive it depends on your voluntary service and the requirements. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis.

There are three types of voluntary services. The Youth Voluntary Service (Jugendfreiwilligendienst, JFD) includes the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) and the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ). It is possible for young people under 27. Participation lasts at least 6 months and in exceptional cases up to 24 months. The Federal Voluntary Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst, BFD) has no age limit. It lasts between 6 and 18 months. The European Voluntary Service (EFD) is part of the Erasmus+ program. It is aimed at people aged between 17 and 30 from an Erasmus+ partner country. You only need a residence permit if your participation in the EFD lasts longer than 90 days. The residence permit is normally valid for 12 months.

Common requirements apply to all three services. You must already be legally residing in Germany, for example with a national D-visa or a residence permit. Alternatively, you may also have entered without a visa. You also need a written agreement with the provider of the voluntary service or the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions. Your living expenses must be secured for the entire period. This is the case if your pocket money corresponds to the standard rate under SGB II/XII. The provider of your placement can also issue a declaration of commitment for this. You also need adequate health insurance. The compulsory schooling of your country of origin must be fulfilled. You must have your primary residence in Berlin. There must be no indications that you endanger public security or order. Note: Even fines can prevent the issuance. During an ongoing investigation, the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung, LEA) may not process your application.

With this residence permit, you may not carry out any other employment. Self-employed activity is also prohibited. You must in principle perform the voluntary service full-time.

This is how the procedure works: First submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment". Upload all documents as PDF, JPG, JPEG, or PNG. A single file may be a maximum of 7 MB. In total, your files may not exceed 100 MB. Before submitting, you must pay the processing fee. This is possible by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or by PayPal. You then receive a PDF confirmation. With it, your current residence title remains valid beyond its expiration date. However, this does not apply if you have a Schengen visa (C-visa) or your residence title has already expired on the day of the application. Be sure to save and print the confirmation. The LEA then reviews your application and contacts you as soon as possible. If the result is positive, you receive an appointment at the LEA. Bring all required documents in original to the appointment.