Aufenthaltserlaubnis zum Zweck der Erwerbstätigkeit Erteilung zur Teilnahme am Bundesfreiwilligendienst

If you want to do a federal voluntary service in Germany, you can obtain a residence permit.

The Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) is a voluntary commitment in which you can work in non-profit organizations in Germany. It offers you the opportunity to get involved in social, cultural, ecological or other areas, for example in kindergartens, schools, care facilities or sports clubs. If you are a person of foreign origin and want to do a Federal Voluntary Service in Germany, you can apply for a residence permit for this purpose.

• Recognized and valid identity document (e.g. passport or passport substitute)
• For recent entry: Visa if required for entry
• If you have previously stayed in Germany: Current residence permit
• Current biometric photo
  • From May 1, 2025, you must submit your passport photo electronically. You can have the photo taken on-site or bring a QR code, which the photo studio will give you when the photo is taken.
• Proof of intended participation in the Federal Voluntary Service (e.g. agreement with the Federal Voluntary Service provider or the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Affairs)
• Proof of securing your livelihood (e.g., equity, proof of income, blocked account, pension certificate, proof of receipt of benefits such as parental or child benefit, maintenance payments, declaration of commitment)
• For minors: Declaration of consent of the legal guardian to participate in the Federal Voluntary Service

• You are not a national of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area.
• You can secure your livelihood (including health insurance coverage) for the entire duration of the Federal Voluntary Service without having to rely on public benefits. The federal government's subsidy for the Federal Voluntary Service ("pocket money") is not an obstacle to the granting of a residence permit.
• There are no reasons of public safety and order that prevent you from staying in Germany.
• There is no interest in deporting you.
• In case of minors: the consent of the persons authorized to care for the person concerned to the planned stay has been obtained.

• 100.00 euros for adult applicants
• 50.00 euros for underage applicants

• Before entering Germany, you must generally apply for a national visa for Germany in your home country. Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not require a visa.
• You use the online service to apply for a residence permit and upload the required documents.
• The responsible office will then send you an appointment for an interview.
• Please bring all necessary documents, preferably in original, to the appointment.
• The responsible authority will check your identity and documents.
• The competent authority shall involve other authorities where necessary.
• If your application is approved, your fingerprints and signature will be taken and a biometric photo will be taken to produce the electronic residence permit (eAT).
• The responsible authority commissions an external agency, the Federal Printing Office, to produce your eAT.
• As soon as the eAT is ready, you will receive a notification and can pick it up in person from the responsible office. The responsible office will schedule an appointment for you.
• If the application is rejected, you will receive a rejection notice with the reasons for the rejection.

Processing will begin immediately at the appointment if all documents are complete. The Federal Employment Agency's involvement takes up to two weeks. The subsequent delivery time for the electronic residence permit from the Federal Printing Office is typically two to four weeks.

You must apply for a residence permit before your visa, visa-free stay, or current residence permit expires. The residence permit should be applied for no later than 10 weeks before the expiration of your visa, visa-free stay, or current residence permit – but in any case, well in advance of the start of your volunteer service.

The residence permit is issued for the duration of the Federal Voluntary Service, which can last between six and 18 months.

• Persons of foreign origin who wish to perform federal voluntary service in Germany can apply for a residence permit for this purpose.
• The Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) offers the opportunity to get involved in social, cultural, ecological or other areas, for example in kindergartens, schools, care facilities or sports clubs.