Apply for a volunteer card
In Lower Saxony, 3.2 million people work voluntarily for the common good. They make an important contribution to cohesion in our society and contribute to a Lower Saxony worth living in. All active citizens deserve thanks for this commitment. It is priceless and deserves public recognition.
The Lower Saxony Volunteer Card is an attractive award to recognize outstanding commitment. It gives something back to those who are particularly committed to helping others, enriching our lives together and promoting solidarity in our society.
With the volunteer card, you can enjoy discounts at public institutions and numerous providers. Whether sport, culture or leisure - the areas in which you can use the card are diverse.
Who should I contact?
The volunteer card is awarded and issued by the participating municipalities. Volunteers receive a personal card that is non-transferable. The application must be made in writing or digitally.
Requirements
- You carry out voluntary work for the common good without pay for at least five hours a week or 250 hours a year.
- At the time of applying for a volunteer card, you have been volunteering for at least two years (or since the organization was founded) and you want to continue your volunteer work in the future.
- If you hold a Juleica (Youth Leader Card) and are under 21 years of age, you must have been volunteering for at least one year.
- You are volunteering in Lower Saxony or live here and are volunteering outside Lower Saxony.
- Active members of volunteer fire departments who have completed Truppmannausbildung I and emergency services personnel who have completed basic training can apply for the Lower Saxony volunteer card without further proof - the proof of the duration of the commitment that is generally required no longer needs to be provided by this group of people.
Which documents are required?
You can create your individual application as a PDF file using an online form. You must print out this application on paper, sign it by hand, have it signed by the organization you work for and finally submit it on paper.
What are the fees?
none
Process flow
The volunteer card can now be applied for digitally on the FreiwilligenServer. Another fundamental innovation is the option for clubs and organizations to apply for the volunteer card digitally for their volunteers. The option of submitting an analog (postal) application by entering the data in the online form, printing it out and sending it by post is still available.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
The volunteer card is valid for three years. It can of course be extended if the requirements are still met.
Processing duration
The processing time varies depending on the different award modalities in the respective municipalities. On average, you can expect a processing time of four to six weeks.
