I had originally hoped to retire in Germany (with a little work on the side), but it turns out the German requirement that I buy my own health insurance (which I’d get for free as a retirement benefit as a US federal employee) precludes that. So I was wondering whether I could use my 90-day tourist visa to do something like volunteer in an animal shelter. I want to feel like a part of German society in some way, but any kind of long-term residence seems out of the question based on the insurance requirement.

I found this answer from a German online in which he said “yeah, it’s technically illegal but no one is going to arrest you for it.” Which it would certainly seem absurd to do for me helping stray dogs in Germany.

[https://www.quora.com/As-an-American-what-visa-do-I-need-to-volunteer-for-a-month-in-Germany](https://www.quora.com/As-an-American-what-visa-do-I-need-to-volunteer-for-a-month-in-Germany)

Does anyone know whether German organizations such as animal shelters would look the other way and let me volunteer there or are they sticklers for the rules as well?

6 comments

  1. It probably depends a bit on the organisation you volunteer for. Keep in mind that on a tourist visa, you can only stay for 90 days. Helping out somewhere should be no problem, everywhere where you need to first be trained to do something would probably be a waste of time though. My advice would be to ask around and not take it hard if they say no. They will have their reasons.

  2. German authorities are notorious sticklers for rules. Check with German Embassy in US first to see if work visa is required for unpaid volunteer work. Some countries require work visa for volunteer work.

  3. I mena in theory there is not really a way somebody would even find out about this since you don’t have to be registered in any way as a worker.

  4. ” I want to feel like a part of German society in some way”

    – Germans like their rules and regulations, maybe you don’t want to base your stay on visa violations?

    “Which it would certainly seem absurd to do for me helping stray dogs in Germany.”

    – It is not about the dogs, it is about the visa violation no matter what form that takes.

  5. So most animal shelters are state funded, which is probably not the best place to ask to work illegally. There are some private animal rescue organizations, but volunteering usually means going for walks or fostering dogs. Going for walks won’t integrate you and they won’t just give you a dog to foster as a tourist. Honestly maybe just buy/rent a flat here and spend half a year in the country while joining a local club or something.

  6. It is also illegal to volunteer in the US as a tourist in a lot of instances. I am there on a work visa and even I have to ask for permission before I volunteer anywhere. It depends on the cause and this is pretty much standard in most Western countries and you might think it is absurd but is also meant to protect foreigners from exploitation.

    You might be okay with a shelter but you should clarify with an official.

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