Volunteering in Vaud
To verify This page has 2 items that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check them yourself before relying on them:
Volunteering (bénévolat) is a good way to meet people, practise French and learn how things work locally. The canton and communes support it, and the State backs a cantonal resource centre that helps you find a place. This page explains where to start and what the federal migration rules say for international students.
Key facts
- State-backed centre: the State of Vaud supports organisations that promote volunteering, "en particulier Bénévolat-Vaud" (vd.ch).
- Permit rules: under Swiss migration law, volunteering can count as gainful work, but foreign nationals may volunteer without a permit or notification if it serves a non-profit, social, charitable or environmental purpose, is unpaid, and averages no more than 6 hours a week over a year (SEM, Directives LEI 4.7.17).
- Bénévolat Vaud's guideline: about 4 to 6 hours a week, expenses covered by the organisation.
1. Where to find a place
- Bénévolat-Vaud (Bénévolat Vaud, centre de compétences pour la vie associative) is an association that the State of Vaud supports (vd.ch). It advises volunteers, links people with associations and runs training. Walk-in and phone desk Monday to Thursday, 9:00 to 12:30, Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 1, 1003 Lausanne, 021 313 24 00 (Bénévolat Vaud).
- Canton and communes: volunteering is written into the Vaud Constitution (art. 70). The canton and communes may support recognised associations and delegate tasks to them (vd.ch). Lausanne points newcomers to Bénévolat Vaud (free information desk, Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 1) and runs its own sports-event volunteer network (Ville de Lausanne, Permanences bénévolat; Volontaires du Sport Lausannois). To verify: similar pages for Ecublens or Renens.
- Red Cross Vaud (Croix-Rouge vaudoise): hundreds of volunteers help older, disabled, isolated, ill or vulnerable people in the canton, regularly or for one-off actions (Croix-Rouge vaudoise). The State also funds volunteer training run by Caritas Vaud, the Croix-Rouge vaudoise and Pro Senectute Vaud (vd.ch).
- EPFL student associations: see the EPFL associations directory.
- Repair cafés and reuse projects: see Second-hand and reuse.
2. Is volunteering "work" for my permit?
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) gives the federal answer in its directives (version updated 30 Jun 2026):
- Migration law treats volunteering (volontariat, travail bénévole) as salaried activity in principle, because a gainful activity counts "même si elle est exercée gratuitement" (LEI art. 11; SEM, Directives LEI 4.1.1).
- But foreign nationals may volunteer without authorisation or notification when all of these apply (SEM, Directives LEI 4.7.17):
- the activity has an idealistic, social, charitable or environmental purpose;
- it is unpaid;
- it does not exceed 6 hours a week on average over a year.
- Examples given by the SEM: a sports club, cultural association, social or charitable organisation, religious institution, interest group, public service, political party or public institution.
- Volunteering that does not meet these conditions, or people who come from abroad for that purpose, need authorisation.
- To verify: whether the Vaud migration office (SPOP) adds any rule for student permits. For paid side jobs, the 15-hour limit and the 6-month wait for non-EU students, see Working while studying.
3. Civil protection
Civil protection (protection civile, PCi) accepts volunteers. The federal office lists "les étrangers établis en Suisse, dès leurs 18 ans" among people who may join voluntarily. You send a written request to your canton, which decides (OFPP; LPPCi art. 33). "Établis" refers to holders of a settlement permit (autorisation d'établissement, C permit, LEI art. 34); B permit holders are not in the list.