Summary
VCAT: what is it?
Civil volunteering for technical assistance can be done with a State service, a local authority or a non-profit organization.
It lasts 12 months and is renewable only once.
Civil volunteering for technical aid replaces the military volunteering for technical aid (VAT) in force at the time of the former French national service.
The jobs offered are very diverse and most of them require a certain qualification. To see the list of activities concerned, click here.
Conditions of access to civil volunteering for technical assistance
To carry out a civil volunteeringit’s necessary :
- be French or a national of the European Union (or of another state that has signed agreements with the European Economic Area);
- be between 18 and 29 years old;
- hold at least a Bac +2 (with some exceptions in the French Southern and Antarctic Territories).
For applicants from the medical profession:
- general practitioners, veterinarians and dentists must be able to prove that they have obtained a thesis;
- specialist interns must be able to prove that they have obtained a thesis but also 2 validated semesters of internship in the same speciality;
- the volunteer must provide evidence of overseas medical aptitude and a qualification that meets local demand.
The volunteer must not carry out a paid activity at the same time: this is a full-time activity.
VCAT: the steps to take
Candidates for civil technical aid volunteering must get in touch with their prefecture, the high commission of the desired place of employment or the higher administration of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands or Wallis and Futuna.
It is advisable to contact several employers in the chosen destination before applying for technical assistance voluntary service.
VCAT and remuneration
Participation in the VCAT is rewarded by the payment of a non-taxable monthly compensatory allowance. The amount of this allowance is the same for all forms of volunteering.