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Civic engagement
Verified 01 January 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Solidarity, culture, the environment... civic service enables a mission to be carried out in a body (public or private) approved by the State. You must be between 16 and 25 years old. You don't get a salary, but an allowance.
What applies to you ?
Major Volunteer
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 is ongoing for 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.
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)
- Low-rent housing organisation
- International Organisation headquartered in France
Please note
civic engagement cannot be achieved in a cultural association, political, congregation or company foundation.
Age
General case
You can commit to the day before your 26e anniversary.
Person recognised as disabled
You can commit to the day before your 31e anniversary.
You must have one of the following:
- Notification of the departmental house of disabled persons (MDPH)
- Recognition of the status of disabled workers (RQTH)
- Education allowance for disabled children
- Allowance for disabled adults
- Personalised schooling project
- Notification of permanent incapacity or invalidity rate
- Inclusive Mobility Card invalidity
Nationality or residence in France
French
Civic service is open to young people of French nationality.
European
Civil service is open to citizens of the member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and European Union.
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 you have one of the following residence permits:
- Temporary residence card bearing the private and family life
- Residence card marked talent passport
- Residence card marked talent passport family
- Residence card marked stateless person 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 bearing the 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
- Full Resident Card to a Refugee foreigner
- Receipt of recognition of international protection issued by theOfpra: 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?
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 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 carry out in the course of your mission must be related to your training course, A specific agreement (which is not a training 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 must use the dedicated online service.
You need to create your online service account.
Then you can apply directly to the organisations that offer missions.
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 card is strictly personal and not transferrable.
If your civic service commitment is broken, you must hand the card to the organisation in which you perform your mission.
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 card is strictly personal and not transferrable.
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 perform a free health examination. This review is supported by the CPAM: titleContent.
The mission is accomplished in France and/or at the foreigner.
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:
- Combating discrimination
- Gender
- 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 shall cover the academic year of theto 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
every quarter of the year for civil service is taken into account for the right to retire.
Foreigner transportation and accommodation costs
If your mission is on-foreigner, additional costs may be incurred, such as transportation and on-site 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.
Leave
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 €522.87 gross €473.04 net
- Provision of a minimum amount of €107.59 net in kind or in cash corresponding to food or transport costs
In case of difficult social or financial situation, an additional €119.02 gross €107.68 net) can be paid if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Student beneficiary of scholarship
- Entitlement to RSA
Accrual with other allowances
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Return-to-work assistance allowance
Phone
Who shall I contact
Pôle emploi for jobseekers - 3949
Phone
39,49
- To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7/7, 24/7 - Free service + call price
- To be contacted by an advisor to sign up, enquire, 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
On site
In case of a move, it is necessary to inform Pôle emploi of his new place of residence. The Agency will be responsible for the transfer of the file.
Active Solidarity Income
Payments from the SSA or the Business Premium are suspended for the duration of the engagement and resume at the end of the engagement. You must report changes to the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
FYI
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.
Allowance for disabled adults
Allowance and Allowance for Adult Persons with Disabilities (AAH) are cumulative. Compensation is not included in the calculation of the HAA.
Student scholarship
Being on civic duty has no impact on the conditions for awarding a student scholarship or its amount. Compensation is not included in the calculation of the award.
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.
Minor Volunteer
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 nature of the tasks entrusted to the minor and the conditions of his or her supervision must be adapted to his or her age. The dangerous or painful work prohibited for young workers are forbidden to volunteer minors.
Parental permission is required.
The young person must benefit from a reinforced mentoring.
Civic service is open without qualification.
How long are the missions?
Civic service engagement is ongoing for 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.
The minor cannot work at night (between 10:00pm and 6:00am) or on public holidays.
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)
- Low-rent housing organisation
- 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
French
Civic service is open to young people of French nationality.
European
Civil service is open to young people of French nationality or citizens of the member countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and European Union.
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 bearing the private and family life
- Multi-annual residence card with talent passport
- Multi-annual residence card with talent passport family
- Multi-annual residence card with stateless person or family member of a beneficiary of stateless status
- Resident card marked long-term resident-EU
- Resident Card
Enrolment in the civil service contract may not 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 bearing the 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
- Full Resident Card to a Refugee foreigner
- Receipt of recognition of international protection issued by theOfpra: titleContent or CNDA: titleContent
Enrolment in the civil service contract may not 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 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 carry out in the course of your mission must be related to your training course, A specific agreement (which is not a training 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 must use the dedicated online service.
You can apply directly to organisations that offer missions after you have set up your online service account.
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 card is strictly personal and not transferrable.
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 perform a free health examination. This review is supported by the CPAM: titleContent.
The mission is accomplished in France and/or at the foreigner.
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:
- Combating discrimination
- Gender
- 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 shall cover the academic year of theto 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
every quarter of the year for civil service is taken into account for the right to retire.
Foreigner transportation and accommodation costs
If your mission is on-foreigner, additional costs may be incurred, such as transportation and on-site 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.
Leave
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 enjoy certain advantages.
You have the following benefits:
- Minimum monthly allowance of €522.87 gross €473.04 net
- Provision of a minimum amount of €107.59 net in kind or in cash corresponding to food or transport costs
In case of difficult social or financial situation, an additional €119.02 gross €107.68 net) can be paid if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Student beneficiary of scholarship
- Entitlement to RSA
FYI
the amounts paid exempt from income tax.
Accrual with other allowances
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Return-to-work assistance allowance
Phone
Who shall I contact
Pôle emploi for jobseekers - 3949
Phone
39,49
- To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7/7, 24/7 - Free service + call price
- To be contacted by an advisor to sign up, enquire, 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
On site
In case of a move, it is necessary to inform Pôle emploi of his new place of residence. The Agency will be responsible for the transfer of the file.
Active Solidarity Income
Payments from the SSA or the Business Premium are suspended for the duration of the engagement and resume at the end of the engagement. You must report changes to the Caf: titleContent or MSA: titleContent.
Family Allowance Fund (Caf) online
FYI
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.
Allowance for disabled adults
Allowance and Allowance for Adult Persons with Disabilities (AAH) are cumulative. Compensation is not included in the calculation of the HAA.
Student scholarship
Being on civic duty has no impact on the conditions for awarding a student scholarship or its amount. Compensation is not included in the calculation of the award.
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.
- National Service Code: Article L120-1Civil service provisions
- 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 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: items R121-10 to D121-21Content of the contract between the volunteer and the legal person
- National Service Code: items R121-22 to R121-32Calculation of compensation
- Social Security Code: Article D412-98-1Corporate social contribution
- Social Security Code: items 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 payment of the increase in the civil service commitment allowance
- Social Security Code: Articles L321-1 to L321-3Health Insurance
- National Service Code: items 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