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Civic Service Commitment
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Solidarity, culture, environment..., civic service allows you to carry out a mission of general interest of 6 months to 1 year in a public or private body. You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. You get compensation.
What applies to you ?
Major
What missions are involved?
These are missions of general interest carried out in one of the 10 priority areas for the Nation:
- Solidarity (elderly, disabled...)
- Health
- Education for All
- Culture and leisure
- Sport
- Environment
- Memory and Citizenship
- International Development and Humanitarian Action
- Emergency Response
- European citizenship
Please note
religious or political actions are excluded.
How long are the missions?
Civic service engagement takes place over a continuous period of 6 months to 1 year.
The weekly duration must be between 24 hours and 48 hours, spread over a maximum of 6 days.
The weekly duration shall be calculated on average over all the months of mission carried out. This allows a modulation of the number of hours worked per week.
As a volunteer, you can only do one civic service.
What are the host organisations?
The organisation that welcomes you must be approved by the Civic Service Agency. These may include:
- French non-profit organisation (for example, an association, a foundation)
- Public body (e.g. a town hall, a school)
- Organisation of low-rent housing
- International Organisation headquartered in France
Please note
civic engagement cannot be achieved in a cultural association, political, congregation or company foundation.
Age
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General case
You can commit to the day before your 26the anniversary.
Person recognised as disabled
You can commit yourself until the eve of your 31e anniversary.
You must have one of the following:
- Notification of the Departmental House of Disabled Persons (DDPH)
- Recognition of the status of disabled workers (RQTH)
- Education allowance for disabled children
- Allowance for disabled adults
- Personalised schooling project
- Notification of permanent incapacity rate or invalidity rate
- Inclusive Mobility Card invalidity
Nationality or residence in France
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French
The civil service is open to you if you are a French citizen.
European
Civic service is open to you if you are a citizen of a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Union and Switzerland.
Other
Condition of residence in France for more than 1 year
You can take part in civic service if you have been living in France for more than 1 year, provided that you have one of the following residence permits:
- Temporary residence card with the entry family life
- Residence card marked talent passport
- Residence card marked family talent passport
- Residence card marked beneficiary of stateless person status or family member of a beneficiary of stateless status
- Resident card marked long-term resident-EU
- Resident Card
Signing a civil service contract cannot extend the validity of your residence permit.
FYI
the length of residence requirement does not apply if you are from a country where french volunteers are on mission under volunteer exchange agreements.
Other situations
You can join the civil service provided you have one of the following residence permits:
- Temporary residence card with the entry student
- General multi-annual residence card issued after a first residence document
- Multi-annual residence card with beneficiary of subsidiary protection or family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection
- Refugee Status Foreign Resident Card
- Receipt of recognition of international protection issued byOfpra: titleContent or CNDA: titleContent
Signing a civil service contract cannot extend the validity of your residence permit.
Diploma
Civic service is open without qualification.
Can civic service be combined with other activities?
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Employee
You can fulfil your civic duty mission while being employee.
However, civic engagement is a sustained engagement that most often takes place full time.
If you live up to your civic commitment, you can perform another activity, no matter how long it lasts.
Student
You can fulfil your civic duty mission while being a student if you are able to reconcile your different time jobs.
You can interrupt your graduate studies to complete your civic service engagement as part of your withdrawal period.
Job Applicant
You can remain registered in Pôle emploi for the duration of your mission. You will be classified in Category 4 for unemployed and not immediately available.
Please note
if you sign a CDD: titleContent at least 6 months or one CDI: titleContent, you may terminate your civic service contract without notice. In all other cases, you must comply with one month's notice.
Intern
You cannot sign an internship agreement at the same time as you sign a civic engagement agreement with the same organisation.
You can ask your training organisation to validate this commitment period instead of an internship. The activities you undertake as part of your mission must be related to your training curriculum.
A specific agreement (which is not an internship agreement) may be signed by the 3 parties:
- You
- Host Organisation
- Training organisation
To search for a civic engagement mission or to pre-register, you can use the dedicated online service.
You need to create your online service account.
Then you can apply directly to the organisations that offer missions.
Online application for civic engagement
You can also contact a local mission or the Youth Information Network.
After your registration, the Civic Service Agency will send you your volunteer card.
This card offers the following services:
- Justify your volunteer status with third parties
- Benefit from the same financial benefits as a student (e.g. reduced-fare tickets in museums)
This card shall include the following information:
- Validity period of the card (it corresponds to the duration of your commitment)
- Your first name
- Your signature
The menu is strictly personal.
If your civic service commitment is broken, you must hand the card to the organisation in which you perform your mission.
Your mission is the subject of a contract between the organisation and you.
Under certain conditions, your private or public registered host organisation may ask you to work with one or more non-registered organisations. This must be specified in your contract.
You cannot work in private organisations whose business is cult, political or trade union.
Your duties of general interest are complementary to the activities entrusted to employees or public officials. They cannot replace a job or an internship.
When registering or signing the contract, the host organisation must inform you of the possibility to carry out a free health examination. This review is supported by the CPAM: titleContent.
The mission is accomplished in France and/or abroad.
Training
Civic and civic training is mandatory for organisations hosting volunteers engaged in civic service.
This training must include first aid.
It also includes modules addressing issues related to citizenship, including the following:
- Combating discrimination
- Gender equality
- Democracy
- Sustainable development
The content and operation of these modules are defined by the host body, which may organise them internally or through an external body.
Please note
other types of non-mandatory training may be offered by the host organisations in addition to civic and citizen training.
Social coverage
During your engagement, you receive state-funded social protection covering the following risks:
- Disease
- Maternity
- Invalidity
- accident at work
Simply send a copy of the signed civil service contract to the social security fund on which you depend.
Students who have a civil service contract may be exempted from membership of the student social security scheme.
The duration of civic service must cover the academic year of the 1to October of year N to September 30 of year N+1 (e.g.to October 2021 to September 30, 2022).
Civic service does not open the door to mutual assistance. But you can benefit from complementary health if you meet the conditions.
FYI
civil service allows you to get basic pension rights. It doesn't give you rights to supplementary retirement.
Costs of transportation and accommodation abroad
If your mission is abroad, additional costs may be incurred, such as transportation and accommodation.
Some missions receive State or territorial assistance, on an exceptional basis.
In most cases, you may be responsible for a significant portion of the cost, even when the host organisation makes a contribution.
Before signing your contract, it is strongly recommended that you clarify the cost-sharing between the registered organisation and you, particularly for transportation and accommodation.
Leaves
You are entitled to 2 days off per month.
The status of the young volunteer is specific. You are not an employee, an intern or a volunteer.
You don't get a salary, but an allowance.
You have the following benefits:
- Minimum monthly allowance of €541.17 gross €489.59 net
- Provision of a minimum €111.35 net in kind or in cash corresponding to food or transport costs
In case of a difficult social or financial situation, an additional €123.18 gross €111.45 (net) can be paid if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Student beneficiary of a scholarship
- Entitlement to RSA
Accrual with other allowances
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Return-to-work assistance allowance
During the mission, your unemployment benefits are suspended, but you remain registered in Pôle emploi.
You change the classification of job seekers.
You are classified in category D.
It refers to the unemployed, who are not immediately available.
Think about update your situation with Pôle emploi before the start of the mission. You will avoid paying an overpayment to Pôle emploi.
At the end of the mission, you must update your situation within 5 days.
Your unemployment benefits resume when your mission is complete. It does not affect the amount or duration of the payment.
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find your unemployment insurance rights at the end of your commitment.
You can contact Pôle emploi by one of the following means:
- Online
- On site
- By phone
In case of a move, you must inform Pôle emploi of your new place of residence. The Agency will transfer the file.
By phone
39,49
- To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day - Free service + call price
- To be contacted by an advisor to sign up, please inform yourself, change an appointment: service accessible at the times set by each Pôle emploi agency - Free service + call price
From the foreigner: + 33 1 77 86 39 49
By Email
Access via contact form
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find your unemployment insurance rights or your RSA rights at the end of your engagement.
Active Solidarity Income
Payments of the SSA or the activity premium shall be suspended for the duration of the mission and shall resume at the end of the mission. You must report changes to the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
If you dependent on your parents within the meaning of family benefits, the volunteer allowance you receive is not taken into account in calculating your parents' entitlement to social assistance.
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find RSA rights at the end of your engagement.
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find your unemployment insurance rights or your RSA rights at the end of your engagement.
Allowance for disabled adults
The Allowance and Allowance for Adult Persons with Disabilities (AAH) are cumulative. The allowance is not included in the calculation of the HAA.
Student scholarship
Civic service has no impact on the conditions for awarding a student scholarship, nor on its amount.
The Civic Service Allowance is not included in the calculation of your award.
You must have an end-of-mission statement prepared by your host organisation.
This assessment shall describe the following:
- Activities
- Skills acquired
You receive a certificate of civic service.
Minor
A young person 16 years of age or older can perform a civic service engagement.
What missions are involved?
These are missions of general interest carried out in one of the 10 priority areas for the Nation:
- Solidarity (elderly, disabled...)
- Health
- Education for All
- Culture and leisure
- Sport
- Environment
- Memory and Citizenship
- International Development and Humanitarian Action
- Emergency Response
- European citizenship
Please note
religious or political actions are excluded.
The missions entrusted to you and the conditions of your support must be adapted to your age. The dangerous or painful work prohibited for young workers you are forbidden.
Parental permission is required.
You need to have more tutoring.
Civic service is open without qualification.
How long are the missions?
Civic service engagement takes place over a continuous period of 6 months to 1 year. The weekly duration must be between 24 hours and 35 hours, spread over a maximum of 5 days.
The weekly duration shall be calculated on average over all the months of mission carried out. This allows a modulation of the number of hours worked per week.
If you are a minor, you cannot work at night (between 10:00pm and 6:00am) or on public holidays.
As a volunteer, you can only do one civic service.
What are the host organisations?
The organisation that welcomes you must be approved by the Civic Service Agency. These may include:
- French non-profit organisation (for example, an association, a foundation)
- Public body (e.g. a town hall, a school)
- Organisation of low-rent housing
- International Organisation headquartered in France
Please note
civic engagement cannot be achieved in a cultural association, political, congregation or company foundation.
Age
You can sign a civic duty mission if you are at least 16 years old.
Parental permission is required unless you are a emancipated minor.
Nationality or residence in France
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
French
The civil service is open to you if you are a French citizen.
European
Civic service is open to you if you are a citizen of a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Union and Switzerland.
Other
You can engage in civic service if you meet the following 2 conditions:
- Resident in France for more than 1 year
- Possess one of the required residence permits
In some cases, access is open even without a stay of more than one year in France.
Stay in France for more than 1 year
You can become involved in civic service if you have been living in France for more than 1 year and have one of the following residence permits:
- Temporary residence card with the entry family life
- Multi-annual residence card with talent passport
- Multi-annual residence card with talent passport family
- Multi-annual residence card with beneficiary of stateless person status or family member of a beneficiary of stateless status
- Resident card marked long-term resident-EU
- Resident Card
Signing a civil service contract cannot extend the validity of your residence permit.
Other situations
If you come from a country where French volunteers are on a mission as part of an exchange of volunteers agreement, you can engage in civic service without any condition of your stay in France.
You can also engage in civic service if you have one of the following residence permits:
- Temporary residence card with the entry student
- General multi-annual residence card issued after a first residence document
- Multi-annual residence card with beneficiary of subsidiary protection or family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection
- Refugee Status Foreign Resident Card
- Receipt of recognition of international protection issued byOfpra: titleContent or CNDA: titleContent
Signing a civil service contract cannot extend the validity of your residence permit.
Can civic service be combined with other activities?
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Employee
You can fulfil your civic duty mission while being employee.
However, civic engagement is a sustained engagement that most often takes place full time.
If you live up to your civic commitment, you can perform another activity, no matter how long it lasts.
Student
You can fulfil your civic duty mission while being a student if you are able to reconcile your different time jobs.
You can interrupt your graduate studies to complete your civic service engagement as part of your withdrawal period.
Job Applicant
You can remain registered in Pôle emploi for the duration of your mission. You will be classified in Category 4 for unemployed and not immediately available.
Please note
if you sign a CDD: titleContent at least 6 months or one CDI: titleContent, you may terminate your civic service contract without notice. In all other cases, you must comply with one month's notice.
Intern
You cannot sign an internship agreement at the same time as you sign a civic engagement agreement with the same organisation.
You can ask your training organisation to validate this commitment period instead of an internship. The activities you undertake as part of your mission must be related to your training curriculum.
A specific agreement (which is not an internship agreement) may be signed by the 3 parties:
- You
- Host Organisation
- Training organisation
To search for a civic engagement mission or to pre-register, you can use the dedicated online service.
You need to create your online service account.
Then you can apply directly to the organisations that offer missions.
Online application for civic engagement
You can also contact a local mission or the Youth Information Network.
After your registration, the Civic Service Agency will send you your volunteer card.
This card offers the following services:
- Justify your volunteer status with third parties
- Benefit from the same financial benefits as a student (e.g. reduced-fare tickets in museums)
This card shall include the following information:
- Validity period of the card (it corresponds to the duration of your commitment)
- Your first name
- Your signature
The menu is strictly personal.
If your civic service commitment is broken, you must hand the card to the organisation in which you perform your mission.
Your mission is the subject of a contract between the organisation and you.
Under certain conditions, your private or public registered host organisation may ask you to work with one or more non-registered organisations. This must be specified in your contract.
You cannot work in private organisations whose business is cult, political or trade union.
Your duties of general interest are complementary to the activities entrusted to employees or public officials. They cannot replace a job or an internship.
When registering or signing the contract, the host organisation must inform you of the possibility to carry out a free health examination. This review is supported by the CPAM: titleContent.
The mission is accomplished in France and/or abroad.
Training
Civic and civic training is mandatory for organisations hosting volunteers engaged in civic service.
This training must include first aid.
It also includes modules addressing issues related to citizenship, including the following:
- Combating discrimination
- Gender equality
- Democracy
- Sustainable development
The content and operation of these modules are defined by the host body, which may organise them internally or through an external body.
Please note
other types of non-mandatory training may be offered by the host organisations in addition to civic and citizen training.
Social coverage
During your engagement, you receive state-funded social protection covering the following risks:
- Disease
- Maternity
- Invalidity
- accident at work
Simply send a copy of the signed civil service contract to the social security fund on which you depend.
Students who have a civil service contract may be exempted from membership of the student social security scheme.
The duration of civic service must cover the academic year of the 1to October of year N to September 30 of year N+1 (e.g.to October 2021 to September 30, 2022).
Civic service does not open the door to mutual assistance. But you can benefit from complementary health if you meet the conditions.
FYI
civil service allows you to get basic pension rights. It doesn't give you rights to supplementary retirement.
Costs of transportation and accommodation abroad
If your mission is abroad, additional costs may be incurred, such as transportation and accommodation.
Some missions receive State or territorial assistance, on an exceptional basis.
In most cases, you may be responsible for a significant portion of the cost, even when the host organisation makes a contribution.
Before signing your contract, it is strongly recommended that you clarify the cost-sharing between the registered organisation and you, particularly for transportation and accommodation.
Leaves
You are entitled to 3 days off per month.
The status of the young volunteer is specific. You are not an employee, an intern or a volunteer.
You don't get a salary, but an allowance. However, you can benefit from certain advantages.
You have the following benefits:
- Minimum monthly allowance of €541.17 gross €489.59 net
- Provision of a minimum €111.35 net in kind or in cash corresponding to food or transport costs
In case of a difficult social or financial situation, an additional €123.18 gross €111.45 (net) can be paid if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Student beneficiary of a scholarship
- Entitlement to RSA
FYI
the amounts paid shall exempt from income tax.
Accrual with other allowances
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Return-to-work assistance allowance
During the mission, your unemployment benefits are suspended, but you remain registered in Pôle emploi.
You change the classification of job seekers.
You are classified in category D.
It refers to the unemployed, who are not immediately available.
Think about update your situation with Pôle emploi before the start of the mission. You will avoid paying an overpayment to Pôle emploi.
At the end of the mission, you must update your situation within 5 days.
Your unemployment benefits resume when your mission is complete. It does not affect the amount or duration of the payment.
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find your unemployment insurance rights at the end of your commitment.
You can contact Pôle emploi by one of the following means:
- Online
- On site
- By phone
In case of a move, you must inform Pôle emploi of your new place of residence. The Agency will transfer the file.
By phone
39,49
- To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day - Free service + call price
- To be contacted by an advisor to sign up, please inform yourself, change an appointment: service accessible at the times set by each Pôle emploi agency - Free service + call price
From the foreigner: + 33 1 77 86 39 49
By Email
Access via contact form
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find your unemployment insurance rights or your RSA rights at the end of your engagement.
Active Solidarity Income
Payments of the SSA or the activity premium shall be suspended for the duration of the mission and shall resume at the end of the mission. You must report changes to the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
If you dependent on your parents within the meaning of family benefits, the volunteer allowance you receive is not taken into account in calculating your parents' entitlement to social assistance.
FYI
if you breach a contract to perform your civic service engagement, that breach is considered a legitimate resignation. You will find RSA rights at the end of your engagement.
Allowance for disabled adults
The Allowance and Allowance for Adult Persons with Disabilities (AAH) are cumulative. The allowance is not included in the calculation of the HAA.
Student scholarship
Civic service has no impact on the conditions for awarding a student scholarship, nor on its amount.
The Civic Service Allowance is not included in the calculation of your award.
You must have an end-of-mission statement prepared by your host organisation.
This assessment shall describe the following:
- Activities
- Skills acquired
You receive a certificate of civic service.
- National Service Code: Item L120-1Provisions on civil service
- National Service Code: Articles L120-4 to L120-6Conditions relating to the voluntary person
- National Service Code: Articles L120-7 to L120-17Relationship between the voluntary person and the authorised legal person
- National Service Code: Articles L120-18 to L120-24Allowance
- National Service Code: Articles L120-25 to L120-29Social protection
- National Service Code: Sections R121-10 to D121-21Content of the contract between the volunteer and the legal person
- National Service Code: Sections R121-22 to R121-32Calculation of compensation
- Social Security Code: Article D412-98-1Social contribution paid by legal person
- Social Security Code: Articles R321-2 to R321-6Obligation to provide information on the free health test (Article R321-6)
- Order of 13 September 2010 concerning the criteria for the payment of the increase in the civil service commitment allowance
- Social Security Code: Articles L321-1 to L321-3Health Insurance
- National Service Code: Sections R121-47 to R121-50Volunteer Card
- Ministerial Response of 19 November 2019 on Youth Guarantee and Civic Service
- Online application for civic engagement
Online service
FAQ
- VolunteeringService-Public.fr
- Pôle emploi Monthly UpdateService-Public.fr
- Income Tax - Report amounts collected by your childService-Public.fr