Voluntary Service in Germany Explained: FSJ, FÖJ and BFD
How the German voluntary services work: age, duration, allowance, seminar days, fields in the social sector and the way to a place. Written for international readers, parents and professionals who guide volunteers.
Germany has three state-regulated voluntary services. The Voluntary Social Year (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr, FSJ) and the Voluntary Ecological Year (Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr, FÖJ) are open to people under 27 under the Youth Voluntary Services Act (JFDG). The Federal Voluntary Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst, BFD) is open to people of any age under its own act (BFDG). They usually last twelve months (at least six, at most 18, exceptionally 24), are done full time or for more than 20 hours a week, and come with educational support: at least 25 seminar days over twelve months. Volunteers do not receive a salary, only an allowance of at most 8 % of the pension contribution ceiling, which works out at up to €676 a month in 2026, plus the social insurance required by law. About 90,000 people do a voluntary service every year (BMBFSFJ, n.d.-a).
Scope: this guide describes German law and applies to Germany. It gives general information and is not legal advice, immigration advice or advice on individual cases. We state the legal status so that you can see how current each fact is. Rules, amounts and procedures change; always check the official sources named below. German-language version: Freiwilligendienste FSJ, FÖJ und BFD erklärt.
Contents
- Three services, one common framework
- FSJ, FÖJ or BFD: how they differ
- Who can take part?
- How long does a voluntary service last?
- Allowance, insurance and other benefits
- Seminars and education days
- Fields of work in the social sector
- Finding a place and who is who
- Coming from abroad: general information only
- After the service: confirmation and reference
- Key German terms
- Frequently asked questions
- Offer from GermanSocialLab
- Further reading
- References
Three services, one common framework
If you want to do something useful after school, or between two phases of life, and get to know a field of work, you will meet three abbreviations in Germany: FSJ, FÖJ and BFD. The Voluntary Social Year and the Voluntary Ecological Year are the two youth voluntary services (Jugendfreiwilligendienste) under the Youth Voluntary Services Act (§ 1(2) JFDG). The Federal Voluntary Service is regulated by its own act. All three are voluntary and serve the common good. Volunteers mainly do practical support work that is tied to learning goals (§ 3(1) JFDG; § 3(1) BFDG; Bundesministerium der Justiz, n.d.-a, n.d.-b). Figure 1 gives the overview.
The focus differs. The FSJ takes place in institutions that serve the common good, in particular welfare services, child and youth services, health care, culture and monument preservation or sport (§ 3(1) JFDG). The FÖJ takes place in organisations for nature and environmental protection (§ 4(1) JFDG). The BFD covers social, ecological and cultural work, plus sport, integration and civil and disaster protection (§ 1 BFDG). It has existed since 2011 and was created in response to the suspension of conscription (BAFzA, n.d.-a). This guide concentrates on the social sector.
- What: Three cards: FSJ, FÖJ and BFD, each with age group, focus and the law behind it.
- Context: FSJ and FÖJ together are the youth voluntary services under the JFDG. The BFD has its own law and its own authority, but works in a very similar way day to day.
- In practice: Pick the focus first (social, ecological or broad), then check the age rule.
Chart as text
- FSJ: social year, under 27, JFDG (§ 3)
- FÖJ: ecological year, under 27, JFDG (§ 4)
- BFD: Federal Voluntary Service, any age after full-time schooling, BFDG
FSJ, FÖJ or BFD: how they differ
In substance the services are very similar. The differences lie in age and procedure. For the FSJ and FÖJ, volunteers sign the agreement with an approved provider (Träger) (§ 11(1) JFDG). Providers include, for example, the welfare associations, religious communities with public-law status and public authorities; the competent state authority can approve further providers (§ 10(1) and (2) JFDG). For the BFD, the agreement is made with the federal government, on the joint proposal of the volunteer and the placement organisation (Einsatzstelle) (§ 8(1) BFDG). The responsible body is the Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions, BAFzA for short (§ 14 BFDG).
- What: Two columns with the same five rows: age, duration, working time, seminar days, contract partner.
- Context: Almost everything is regulated in the same way. The BFD has no upper age limit and the agreement is made with the federal government; for FSJ/FÖJ a provider is the contract partner.
- In practice: Anyone aged 27 or older can only choose the BFD.
Chart as text
- FSJ/FÖJ: age: full-time schooling completed, not yet 27; duration 6 to 18 months; full time or more than 20 hours; at least 25 seminar days; agreement with a provider
- BFD: age: full-time schooling completed, no upper limit; duration 6 to 18 months; full time or more than 20 hours; at least 25 seminar days including 5 days of civic education; agreement with the federal government
Who can take part?
Both acts require that full-time compulsory schooling has been completed (§ 2(1) no. 1 JFDG; § 2 no. 1 BFDG). The BAFzA says this is usually the case at 16, in some states already at 15 (BAFzA, n.d.-c). An upper age limit exists only for FSJ and FÖJ: you cannot start one once you have turned 27. The BFD is open to people of any age; school-leaving qualification, gender and nationality generally do not matter (BAFzA, n.d.-a). Minors need the consent of their legal guardian (§ 8(1) no. 1 BFDG), and the Youth Employment Protection Act applies to them (§ 13 JFDG; § 13 BFDG).
The service must take place outside a vocational education programme and without the aim of earning an income. It must be comparable to full-time work or to part-time work of more than 20 hours a week (§ 2(1) no. 2 JFDG; § 2 no. 2 BFDG). There is no legal right to part-time work in the BFD; it needs the agreement of everyone involved (BAFzA, n.d.-c). People who live outside Germany should also read the section on coming from abroad below.
- FSJ and FÖJ are for people under 27; the BFD has no upper age limit.
- Duration, working time and seminar days are regulated in a very similar way in both acts.
- The contract partner is a provider for FSJ/FÖJ and the federal government for the BFD.
How long does a voluntary service last?
Twelve consecutive months is usual (§ 5(1) JFDG; § 3(2) BFDG). The minimum is six months. The BFD lasts at most 18 months (§ 3(2) BFDG); an FSJ or FÖJ with the same provider can be extended up to a total of 18 months (§ 5(1) JFDG). As an exception, 24 months are possible if a special pedagogical concept justifies it (§ 8 JFDG; § 3(2) BFDG). Within an overall pedagogical concept, a service can also be done in sections of at least three months. FSJ and FÖJ can also be done abroad (§ 6 JFDG).
- What: Four bars from 6 to 24 months: minimum, usual length, upper limit and exception.
- Context: Twelve months is the rule. 24 months is possible only with a special pedagogical concept, not on request alone.
- In practice: Agree the period early with the provider or placement, for example to match the start of vocational education or studies.
Chart as text
- At least 6 months
- Usual: 12 consecutive months
- Upper limit 18 months (extension with the same provider up to 18 in total)
- Exception: up to 24 months with a special pedagogical concept
If you plan several services in a row, watch the overall limits. An FSJ and an FÖJ can be done one after the other for up to 18 months in total, each lasting at least six months, and a BFD counts towards that limit (§ 5(3) JFDG). For the BFD, the total length of all services up to the age of 27 must not exceed the permitted length. After that, there must be a gap of five years between each period of service of the maximum permitted length; a youth voluntary service counts towards this (§ 3(2) BFDG).
Allowance, insurance and other benefits
Volunteers do not receive a salary. The law permits only a reasonable allowance (Taschengeld), free accommodation, meals and work clothing or a cash equivalent, and mobility supplements or equivalent benefits in kind (§ 2(1) no. 4 JFDG; § 2 no. 4 BFDG). An allowance is reasonable up to 8 % of the monthly contribution ceiling of the general pension insurance; it is reduced for part-time service. In 2026 that ceiling is €8,450 a month (Bundesministerium der Justiz, n.d.-c). 8 % of it is €676 (GSL calculation); the BAFzA names the same maximum for the BFD (BAFzA, n.d.-a).
- What: Three figures as a calculation: ceiling, share, result.
- Context: €676 is a ceiling, not an entitlement. The provider or placement agrees the actual amount with the volunteer, and it is reduced for part time.
- In practice: Check the type and amount of all cash and in-kind benefits in the agreement.
Chart as text
- Contribution ceiling 2026: €8,450 per month
- At most 8 percent of it as allowance
- Result: up to €676 a month (GSL calculation)
- Other permitted benefits: accommodation, meals, work clothing, mobility supplements
In the BFD the allowance must also match what youth volunteers in a comparable role at the same placement receive (§ 2 no. 4 BFDG). The provider or placement agrees the amount with you; €676 is a ceiling, not an entitlement.
Volunteers are covered by the social insurance required by law, and the provider or placement pays the contributions for health, long-term care, unemployment, pension and accident insurance (BMBFSFJ, n.d.-b; BAFzA, n.d.-a). Parents can receive child benefit or tax allowances until the child turns 25 (BAFzA, n.d.-a). In the BFD, adult volunteers working a five-day week for twelve months are entitled to at least 20 working days of holiday (BAFzA, n.d.-b). For FSJ and FÖJ the agreement must state the number of holiday days (§ 11(1) no. 7 JFDG). According to the BAFzA, receiving Bürgergeld (basic income support) does not rule out a BFD; the job centre decides how the allowance is counted (BAFzA, n.d.-b).
- The allowance is a ceiling of €676 (2026); the actual amount is agreed.
- The provider or placement pays the social insurance contributions.
- Child benefit is possible until the 25th birthday; the family benefits office decides each case.
Seminars and education days
Education is part of the legal purpose: youth voluntary services promote young people’s ability to learn, and the BFD promotes lifelong learning (§ 1(1) JFDG; § 1 BFDG). Educational support consists of expert guidance at the placement, individual care and seminar work (§ 5(2) JFDG; § 4 BFDG). In an FSJ or FÖJ there is an introductory, a mid-term and a final seminar of at least five days each. Over twelve months that adds up to at least 25 seminar days, with at least one more day for each further month. Taking part is compulsory, seminar time counts as service time, and volunteers help to shape the content and delivery (§ 5(2) JFDG).
In the BFD the same minimum of 25 days applies over twelve months. It includes a five-day seminar on civic education, which must not be limited to presenting a one-sided view (§ 4(3) and (4) BFDG). For a shorter service the number falls by two days for each month; volunteers aged 27 or over take part to a reasonable extent. For BFD volunteers the seminars are free of charge (BAFzA, n.d.-a).
- What: One bar of 25 days, split into three compulsory seminars and the remainder, with three key figures below.
- Context: The seminars are part of the service: the time counts as service time and volunteers help to shape them. For the BFD the BAFzA states that seminars are free of charge.
- In practice: When comparing offers, ask where and when the seminars take place.
Chart as text
- Introductory, mid-term and final seminar: at least 5 days each (FSJ/FÖJ)
- At least 25 seminar days in total over 12 months
- At least one extra day for each additional month
- BFD: includes a five-day seminar on civic education; 2 days fewer per month for a shorter service
Fields of work in the social sector
The social sector is a central field of the voluntary services. The law names for the FSJ welfare services, child and youth services including youth education and youth work, and health care (§ 3(1) JFDG). The BFD adds care for older people, support for people with disabilities and integration (§ 3(1) BFDG). The BAFzA gives as examples the Kita (day-care centre), the care home for older people, facilities for people with disabilities, rescue services, help for homeless people, hospitals, homework support and all-day schools. It also names integration projects and refugee support (BAFzA, n.d.-a). The tasks are mainly practical support work. The BFD must not affect the labour market (the law calls this arbeitsmarktneutral): it is not meant to replace skilled staff (§ 3(1) BFDG).
- What: Six cards with the field and examples. The first five belong to the social sector.
- Context: The law asks for mainly practical support work with learning goals. The BFD must not affect the labour market: it does not replace skilled staff.
- In practice: Choose a field that suits your own questions and ask for insight into everyday work there.
Chart as text
- Child and youth services, education: Kita, youth work, homework support, open all-day school
- Care and health: care home, hospital, rescue service
- Support for people with disabilities: facilities for people with disabilities
- Integration: integration projects, refugee support
- Welfare: help for homeless people
- Other fields: culture, sport, environment, civil and disaster protection
Finding a place and who is who
For the BFD you apply directly to a recognised placement. There is no central application office and there are no uniform deadlines (BAFzA, n.d.-a). The BAFzA describes four steps: look for a place, contact placements, have an introductory conversation and sign if it fits (BAFzA, n.d.-c). Help comes from the placement search, regional advisers and the BAFzA service line (+49 221 3673-0) (BAFzA, n.d.-a). For FSJ and FÖJ the route is via approved providers (§ 10 JFDG); the BMBFSFJ publishes a list of addresses and contact points (BMBFSFJ, n.d.-b). The agreement is signed in writing before the service begins. It states, among other things, the period, the rules on early termination, the type and amount of benefits and the holiday days (§ 11(1) JFDG; § 8(1) BFDG).
- What: Four cards in the order in which you proceed.
- Context: According to the BAFzA, the BFD has no central application office and no uniform deadlines: you apply directly to a recognised placement.
- In practice: Ask early and approach several placements.
Chart as text
- Step 1: choose a field and a period
- Step 2: look for a place (BFD: placement search; FSJ/FÖJ: provider)
- Step 3: introductory conversation
- Step 4: written agreement before the service starts
Figure 8 shows who is involved. In the BFD every placement belongs to one of 22 central bodies (Zentralstellen) that support it in running the service (BAFzA, n.d.-a); placements are recognised by the federal office (§ 6 BFDG). In an FSJ or FÖJ the provider ensures the educational support (§ 3(2) JFDG). When you have a question, first work out whether it concerns the provider, the placement or the federal authority.
- What: Five boxes from top to bottom, from the federal level to the volunteers.
- Context: Responsibility is shared: the federal level sets the framework, providers or central bodies organise, and the placement guides the volunteer. In the BFD the federal authority recognises the placements.
- In practice: For questions, first work out whether they concern the provider, the placement or the federal authority.
Chart as text
- Federal level: BMBFSFJ sets the framework, the BAFzA runs the BFD
- Federal states: admit further providers for FSJ/FÖJ
- Providers and central bodies: agreement in FSJ/FÖJ; 22 central bodies in the BFD
- Placement: guidance and tasks
- Volunteers: service, seminars, confirmation of service and reference
Coming from abroad: general information only
If you live outside Germany, please read this first. The BAFzA says that the BFD is open to people from other countries, but residence law decides whether you can enter and stay, and that is outside the scope of this guide. The BAFzA publishes general statements on foreign volunteers for the BFD, summarised below. For FSJ and FÖJ, ask the provider you are applying to. Programmes such as the International Youth Voluntary Service (IJFD) are designed for a stay abroad (BMBFSFJ, n.d.-b); this guide does not cover them.
- According to the BAFzA, people from other countries can take part in the BFD if they have an agreement with a placement and a residence title that allows paid work.
- According to the BAFzA, citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland have freedom of movement.
Official starting points are the BAFzA questions and answers and Make it in Germany. For your own case, ask the German mission in your country or the local foreigners authority. We do not give immigration advice and make no promises about residence. Our self-study courses do not replace official advice.
- Check your own case with the German mission or the foreigners authority; this guide cannot decide it.
- The BAFzA says that volunteers from abroad in the BFD need a residence title that allows paid work; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have freedom of movement.
- For FSJ and FÖJ, ask the provider you want to apply to.
After the service: confirmation and reference
After an FSJ or FÖJ the provider issues a written confirmation of the service. On request there is also a written reference on the kind and length of the service, which on request covers performance and conduct and includes job-relevant qualities (§ 11(3) and (4) JFDG). In the BFD the placement issues the confirmation and the reference (§ 11 BFDG). Whether a service counts as a waiting period or an internship is for the universities and education bodies to decide; the BAFzA refers readers to the universities (BAFzA, n.d.-a). Ask the body where you want to study or train before you apply.
Key German terms
- FSJ (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr) – Voluntary Social Year, a youth voluntary service under the JFDG
- FÖJ (Freiwilliges Ökologisches Jahr) – Voluntary Ecological Year, a youth voluntary service under the JFDG
- BFD (Bundesfreiwilligendienst) – Federal Voluntary Service under the BFDG
- JFDG / BFDG – the two acts that regulate the services
- Träger – approved organisation that runs a youth voluntary service (§ 10 JFDG)
- Einsatzstelle – placement organisation where the service takes place, such as a Kita or a care home
- Zentralstelle – central body linking providers and placements in the BFD (§ 7 BFDG)
- BAFzA – Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions, the federal authority for the BFD
- Taschengeld – allowance of at most 8 % of the pension contribution ceiling
- Pädagogische Begleitung – educational support: guidance, individual care and seminars
- Vereinbarung – written agreement signed before the service starts (§ 11 JFDG; § 8 BFDG)
- Arbeitsmarktneutral – the BFD is not to replace regular jobs (§ 3(1) BFDG)
Frequently asked questions
Is a voluntary service paid like a job?
No. Volunteers serve without the aim of earning an income and may receive only a reasonable allowance, free accommodation, meals and work clothing (or a cash equivalent) and mobility supplements (§ 2 JFDG; § 2 BFDG). The allowance may be at most 8 % of the monthly pension contribution ceiling, which works out at up to €676 a month in 2026 (BAFzA, n.d.-a). The actual amount is agreed case by case.
How old can I be to take part?
FSJ and FÖJ are open to people who have completed full-time compulsory schooling and have not yet turned 27 (§ 2(1) no. 1 JFDG). For the BFD there is no upper age limit after full-time schooling (BAFzA, n.d.-c). From the age of 27, there must be a gap of five years between BFD services of the maximum permitted length (§ 3(2) BFDG).
How long does a service last, and can I stop early?
It usually lasts twelve months; the minimum is six, the upper limit is 18 and 24 months is possible as an exception (§§ 5 and 8 JFDG; § 3(2) BFDG). What happens on early termination must be set out in the written agreement (§ 11(1) no. 3 JFDG; § 8(1) no. 3 BFDG). Read that clause before you sign.
Can people from other countries do a voluntary service in Germany?
The BAFzA says yes for the BFD, provided the person has an agreement with a placement and a residence title that allows paid work in Germany (BAFzA, n.d.-b). Whether this works in your own case depends on your nationality and situation. We cannot advise on individual cases; ask the German mission in your country or the local foreigners authority, and read the official information.
Where do I apply?
For the BFD, you apply directly to a recognised placement; there is no central application office and no uniform deadline (BAFzA, n.d.-a). The BAFzA placement search shows suitable places. For FSJ and FÖJ the route is via an approved provider (§ 10 JFDG); the BMBFSFJ publishes a list of contact points (BMBFSFJ, n.d.-b).
- The FSJ/FÖJ is tied to an age under 27; the BFD is not.
- Seminars, guidance and a reference are part of the service.
- Rights and duties are in the written agreement: read it before you sign.
Our self-study courses on the topic
Learn at your own pace, with voluntary self-reflection (not graded). When you have marked all modules of a course as done, you can download a confirmation of participation. These courses are paid and part of the 12-month access to our whole self-study library.
- Voluntary Service Year in Germany (FSJ/BFD) – Starting Well Prepared
- Social Work Placement in Germany: Preparing for the Practice Semester
- Closeness and Distance in German Social Work, Care and Education
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Team access & free trial →Further reading
Bundesministerium der Justiz. (n.d.-a). Gesetz zur Förderung von Jugendfreiwilligendiensten (Jugendfreiwilligendienstegesetz – JFDG) [Act on the promotion of youth voluntary services], §§ 1 to 13. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/jfdg/
Bundesministerium der Justiz. (n.d.-b). Gesetz über den Bundesfreiwilligendienst (Bundesfreiwilligendienstgesetz – BFDG) [Federal Voluntary Service Act], §§ 1 to 17. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bfdg/
Bundesministerium der Justiz. (n.d.-c). Verordnung über maßgebende Rechengrößen der Sozialversicherung für 2026 (Sozialversicherungsrechengrößen-Verordnung 2026) [Social Insurance Ceilings Ordinance 2026], § 4. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/svbezgrv_2026/__4.html
Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben [Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions, BAFzA]. (n.d.-a). Fragen & Antworten [Questions and answers; Bundesfreiwilligendienst.de]. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/bundesfreiwilligendienst/fragen-antworten
Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben. (n.d.-b). BFD von A bis Z [BFD from A to Z; Bundesfreiwilligendienst.de]. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/bundesfreiwilligendienst/a-bis-z
Bundesamt für Familie und zivilgesellschaftliche Aufgaben. (n.d.-c). Über den BFD [About the BFD; Bundesfreiwilligendienst.de]. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/bundesfreiwilligendienst/ueber-den-bfd
Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend [Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, BMBFSFJ]. (n.d.-a). Freiwilligendienste [Voluntary services]. Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.bmbfsfj.bund.de/bmbfsfj/themen/engagement-und-gesellschaft/freiwilligendienste
Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend. (n.d.-b). Die Jugendfreiwilligendienste [The youth voluntary services] (background information of 29 May 2024). Retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://www.bmbfsfj.bund.de/bmbfsfj/themen/engagement-und-gesellschaft/freiwilligendienste/jugendfreiwilligendienste/die-jugendfreiwilligendienste-75896
Updated: November 2026. Legal status: wording of the norms and the authority pages read on 12 November 2026; figures and amounts change, and the contribution ceiling changes every year. We correct errors openly and with a date. This guide describes the situation in Germany in general terms; it provides general information and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed by GermanSocialLab. Editorial principles (German)