Useful information / Prepare your stay

Administrative formalities 

Ask about the formalities you need to complete before going to your volunteer workcamp and make sure to have the required documents: identity card, passport, residence permit, visa depending on the country. 

Depending on your country of residence, you may need a visa to stay in France. You can consult the website France-Visas to get more information and submit your application. Applying for a visa takes time (5 to 10 days) and money (between 60 and 99€ depending on the length of your stay). Before registering for a workcamp, find out how much a visa costs and how long it takes to obtain one.

Contact the consulate of France in your country to know the procedure to follow. You will need to provide several documents such as your plane tickets, your proof of insurance, etc. You will also need an invitation letter: REMPART will send it to you once you have filled in your passport information in the online registration form.

Health

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is essential if you live in a European Union member state and come to France. This card enables you to get emergency healthcare for free, or at a reduced cost. It covers you if you are on holiday, or on a short-term stay. Ask for it to your health insurance at least two weeks before your departure.

We recommend you to ask your doctor about the vaccinations needed to come to France. In any case, the tetanus vaccine is strongly recommended on all our workcamps: if you do not already have it you will have to do a first shot, plus a booster three weeks after. Plan it at least one month before departure.

All volunteers must be insured with world assistance insurance. You can use one that you already have or subscribe to one for €25 through REMPART.

Before leaving

When packing your bag, do not forget your pharmacy kit (ie. bandages, sunscreen) especially if you have allergies (wasps, hornets, mosquitoes, dust, pollen). You should bring comfortable work clothes (that you do not mind getting dirty), sturdy work shoes (safety shoes if you have), gardening gloves, as well as a sleeping bag and a bagpack.

We also recommend you to pack walking shoes, a small backpack, rain clothes, cap/hat, swimsuit, flashlight, gardening gloves, musical instruments and a large scarf that can be used for everything (pillow, headgear, beach towel, a large scarf for cool evenings …). . Keep in mind that bringing with you any valuable items is at your own risk and responsibility. 

Finally, it is always nice to bring something from home to share with the other volunteers (some candy, a bottle, or even a song!). That will contribute to the warm atmosphere of the stay.

Do not forget to give your relatives the contact details of the camp and to keep in touch with them throughout your stay. It can be very useful when the heritage site is located in a remote place.

Travelling to the workcamp

The journey from home to the place of the workcamp is at your own responsibility and costs. REMPART is not responsible for the organization or the responsibility. The instructions necessary to reach your workcamp are included in the info-sheet.

If you have any question about where and at what time you are expected to arrive, do not hesitate to contact the site manager. If you need a camp leader to pick you up, you should ask the site manager well in advance so he can arrange it. On request, REMPART can send you the list of volunteers registered on your workcamp so that you can contact them before leaving and make the trip together.

Note that many mobility discounts exist, especially if you are under 30 years old.

During the trip, stay extremely cautious! We recommend that you carefully check on your personal belongings when entering or leaving a train while waiting in the train station halls and on the platforms of metro stations, as well as in surrounding cafes and restaurants.