How do you get a temporary authorisation to stay (autorisation provisoire de séjour, APS) as a volunteer in France?
You can request a temporary authorisation to stay (APS) to volunteer in France if your mission takes place in a foundation or an association recognised as being of public utility. The APS is issued for a duration equal to the duration written in your volunteering contract. You must submit your APS application at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your home. You must apply for the APS within 1 month of your date of arrival in France.
Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04How do you apply for a temporary authorisation to stay (APS) as a volunteer in France?
- To apply for the APS as a volunteer, check that you are a foreigner and not European, because a European volunteer does not need a residence permit (titre de séjour).Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, your volunteering mission must take place in a foundation or an association recognised as being of public utility. For the APS as a volunteer, your volunteering mission must have a social or humanitarian character.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, you must hold a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour). For the APS as a volunteer, you must sign a volunteering contract before your entry into France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, you must provide an attestation de prise en charge from the association or foundation. For the APS as a volunteer, the association or foundation must be approved to call on volunteers. For the APS as a volunteer, you must commit to leaving France at the end of your mission.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, your mission must be of general interest. For the APS as a volunteer, your mission must aim at one of the following actions: promote autonomy and protection of people, strengthen social cohesion and prevent exclusion, or carry out solidarity actions for disadvantaged or disaster-affected people living in France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, prepare the documents needed for your APS application.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, you must submit your APS application at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your home. For the APS as a volunteer, you must submit your APS application within 1 month from your date of arrival in France. For the APS as a volunteer, find out on the préfecture website the filing procedures for your file: by appointment, by post or on another website.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
Which documents do you provide for a temporary authorisation to stay (APS) as a volunteer in France?
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How long is the temporary authorisation to stay (autorisation provisoire de séjour, APS) for a volunteer in France?
- The temporary authorisation to stay (autorisation provisoire de séjour, APS) for a volunteer is issued for a duration equal to that written in your volunteering contract.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, you must apply within 1 month of your arrival in France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- For the APS as a volunteer, you pay 100 € in timbre fiscal tax stamps.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- If the préfecture or sous-préfecture does not reply within 4 months, your APS application as a volunteer is refused.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
- To get the APS as a volunteer, you must hold a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour).Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04