Federal Voluntary Service Provision of information

Since 1 July 2011, persons who have completed full-time compulsory schooling have been able to perform a federal voluntary service. The Federal Voluntary Service promotes lifelong learning and strengthens the common good.

Possible reasons for the Federal Voluntary Service are:

• You would like to make good use of idle time until the start of your studies,
• get to know possible fields of work,
• re-enter a profession as part of a voluntary commitment or
• engage socially, culturally or ecologically for other people.

If you are interested in a commitment in the social, cultural, ecological or other public welfare-oriented area within the framework of the Federal Voluntary Service, please first inform yourself about possible areas of employment and deployment sites. 

The following key points apply to the Federal Voluntary Service:

• The standard duration is 12 months, minimum 6, maximum 24 months.
• If you are older than 27 years, you can also complete the Federal Voluntary Service part-time (at least 20 hours per week).
• You will receive pocket money: The maximum amount is 372.00 euros per month.
• Your contributions to social security and statutory accident insurance are paid by the placement site.
• If you complete the 12-month Federal Voluntary Service, you are generally entitled to unemployment benefit.
• During the Federal Voluntary Service, you are entitled to child benefit.
• The basis of the assignment is  the conclusion of an individual agreement between you and the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA).

As part of the special program "Federal Voluntary Service with Refugee Reference", up to 10,000 new places will be made available annually in addition to the existing 35,000 BFD places. The occupancy of these places must be related to refugee aid, i.e. the assignment must take place in refugee aid or the service must be provided by refugees.  The special programme expires on 31.12.2018.