How to Volunteer Abroad

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  • Table of Contents

    • Step 1: Research Volunteer Programs Abroad
    • Step 2: Prepare For International travel
    • a: Passport
    • b: Medical preparation
    • c: Travel Insurance
    • d: Special considerations
    • e: Register with the state department
    • Step 3: Study up
    • a: Language
    • b: Culture
    • Step 4: Packing Considerations
    • Step 5: Heed any warnings
    • Resources: links

  • Volunteering abroad can be a life-changing experience that will provide you with special memories for years to come. Our how to volunteer abroad guide will provide several comprehensive steps to prepare you for your international volunteer experience.


    As companies search for ever more globally-conscious employees, college students seek alternatives to traditional study abroad programs, and more and more people want to give back, the opportunities to volunteer abroad continue to grow and appear more valuable than ever. It can be daunting, however, to figure out where to go, what to do, and how long to go. Should you work with elephants in Tanzania? Tutor kids in the Andes? Do relief work in an international disaster area? Our comprehensive guide will help you find an appropriate volunteer experience abroad and prepare for what could be a life-altering journey.

  • Step 1: Research Volunteer Programs Abroad

    • There are volunteer programs all over the globe, from the far reaches of the Himalayas to the Amazon Basin to some of the world's biggest cities.
    1. Take some time to think about where you want to go and what you want to do.
    2. You could focus your search on location: have you always wanted to go to South Africa? Were you in India a decade ago and dying to get back?
    3. Or, you can focus your search by service: do you want to work with kids? The environment? Developing communities? The impoverished?
    4. You'll also need to determine how long to volunteer in another country. Programs can run anywhere from one week to a full year, or even longer. Volunteer vacations are a way to get a taste of what it's like to volunteer abroad without committing to a long period of time.
    5. Once you have narrowed your objectives somewhat, use one or more of the resources below to learn about available programs:
    6. For an extended volunteer experience, check out the Peace Corps.
    7. If you have a particular skill to share, you might investigate more specific programs like Doctors Without Borders.

  • Step 2: Prepare for International Travel

    • Traveling internationally, particularly to a country that might require several vaccinations, is a bit more involved than your average domestic trip.

  • Passport

    It might be time for a new passport! (Creative commons photo by Chris Corwin)
    1. If you currently have a U.S. Passport, make sure it will still be valid on the dates you plan to travel.
    2. Some countries require a passport be valid for up to 6 months beyond the dates of your trip and/or have two to four blank visa/stamp pages. Check policies of your host country to make sure your passport will be accepted.
    • To Apply for a New Passport in Person
    1. You should apply for a passport in person if:
        • This is your first passport.
        • Your previous passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
        • Your previous passport was issued more than 15 years ago.
        • Your previous passport has expired and it was issued when you were under the age of 16.
        • You have changed your name and do not have a legal document formally acknowledging the name change.
    2. Determine the closest place to apply for a passport.
    3. You will need to present proof of U.S. citizenship with one of the following:
        • Previous U.S. passport (undamaged)
        • Original birth certificate (with raised seal)
        • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
        • Naturalization Certificate
        • Certificate of Citizenship
    4. If you are under the age of 17, you will need parental/legal guardian consent, and your parent or guardian may need to supply identification if you do not have any.
    5. Minors under the age of 14 will need consent from both parents/legal guardians.
    6. You will need to bring two passport-size photos for your application. Note this photo will be with you for up to 10 years (the expiration period of an adult U.S. Passport). This isn't the photo shoot, therefore, to break out any makeup, hairstyle, or other distracting fashion that might not match up with your day-to-day appearance.
    7. Once you receive your passport, make sure to fill out the emergency contact information, and don't forget to sign it.
    • To Renew a Passport
    1. You may renew a passport through the mail if you meet all of the following conditions:
        • You already have a passport, and it is undamaged.
        • You received it within the last 15 years.
        • You were at least 16 years old when it was issued.
        • You still have the same name as is on your old passport (or can legally document your name change).
    2. If your passport has been mutilated, damaged, or altered, you cannot apply by mail and must do so in person.
    3. If you can renew by mail, download the application, fill it out, and be sure to sign and date it.
    4. Enclose two identical passport size photos.
    5. Enclose the appropriate fee.
    6. If your name has changed since your last passport, include a certified copy of the legal document specifying your name change: marriage license, divorce decree, adoption decree, or court order. Name changes by any other means necessitate an application for renewal in person.
    7. If you are currently residing outside the U.S., you should apply for a passport at your nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate.
    8. Note that you may not be eligible for a passport if you are behind on child support payments.

  • Medical Preparation

    Shots are no fun. (Creative commons photo by Belinda Hankins Miller)
    • Many international destinations will require (or recommend) certain vaccinations.
    1. Check with your program to find out about required or recommended vaccinations.
    2. Review what the CDC has to say about vaccinations and other health suggestions.
    3. Also review the State Department's guidelines for vaccination info, disease updates, and insurance information.
    • You'll want to check in with your physician about your travel plans and request all necessary vaccinations.
    1. Make sure you have plenty of time to get all your vaccinations ahead of your trip, and note that some vaccinations require multiple injections over several months' time.
    2. Also be sure to find out about traveling with medications or filling prescriptions while abroad.
    3. The State Department notes that patients should carry a letter from their doctor validating any prescriptions and discussing the associated medical condition.
    4. If you have allergies, you might consider wearing a medical alert bracelet.
    5. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, review any special precautions with your doctor and a plan of action if anything should go awry.

  • Travel Insurance

    1. Double check what your medical insurance coverage will be overseas.
    2. Check with your program to see if they will provide any travel insurance for your trip and what any associated fees are. Also ask about proximity to medical care.
    3. When researching your travel insurance options, you will want to consider if your family is accompanying you, if you might have to cancel for a work obligation, or if you might need medical evacuation coverage.
    4. Two travel insurance companies recently recommended are AIG Travel Guard and Access America, both of which cover kids for free if they are related to an insured adult.

  • Special Considerations

    1. Students, seniors, or those with disabilities should see the State Department's special guidelines for travel abroad.
    2. Also, if you are pregnant, have an autoimmune disease, or are traveling with small children, you will want to do additional research and have a discussion with your physician and insurance company about any potential complications.

  • Register with the State Department

  • Step 3: Study Up

    • The more you know about your destination, the better prepared you will be to enjoy it.

  • Language Lessons

    Traveling can make the world feel smaller. (Creative commons photo by Sarah Faison)
    1. Be sure to confirm what the language requirements are for your particular program.
    2. Find out if the program you've chosen offers any language study or materials.
    3. If not, many public universities offer language classes in the evenings or over weekends.
    4. To go it alone, seek out materials to help you learn a language. Some such companies include:
    5. Also see our language guides here at Mahalo:

  • Cultural Study

    • It will be important to understand the cultural differences between your home and where you'll be volunteering.
    1. Ask your program administrator for reading recommendations that will help you understand your host country's culture.
    2. Go to your local library and research your destination's culture.
    3. Order books online about where you plan to travel.
    4. You might also try finding novels, short stories, or films rooted in your host country; sometimes these can give you a sense of place beyond the relevant facts and figures.
    5. Ask around: have any of your friends, co-workers, or family members traveled to your host country before? What were their experiences? Your program may also be able to get you in touch with alumni who can discuss their experiences.

  • Step 4: Pack Up!

    • You may need specific items for a volunteer-based experience.
    1. Review your program's guidelines for what to pack.
    2. Be sure to ask about any over-the-counter medications your program recommends bringing, such as ibuprofen, Benadryl, or anything for stomach upset.
    3. Also ask about exchanging currency; you'll want some money on hand when you first arrive so you can take a taxi or provide for any incidentals.
    4. Research the weather where you'll be traveling.
    5. Leave valuables at home.
    6. Glasses-wearers should bring a backup pair of lenses just in case.
    7. Those packing medical prescriptions should keep them in their original prescription bottles and keep them easily reachable throughout the trip.
    8. Don't forget to leave a copy of your passport and travel itinerary with a close friend or relative.
    9. And leave a little room for a few special souvenirs!

  • Step 5: Heed Any Warnings

    • No adventure is worth your personal safety.
    1. Regularly check the State Department's website to keep abreast of any warnings particular to your destination.
    2. Also review the Center for Disease Control's page on specific destinations to learn of any health warnings or specifications.
    3. Follow up on any political uprisings, cultural shifts, disaster relief efforts, or other major news about your area of travel.
    4. Stay in regular contact with the program you will be traveling with to be sure you have all the information you'll need to go forward with the trip.

  • Conclusion

    • You may be embarking on this journey for a variety of reasons: perhaps it is to ease a personal loss by giving back, or you might want to experience a place as more than a tourist. Before you depart, be sure to reflect on your personal goals for the trip and why it is you have chosen to volunteer your time abroad. If you are going on the trip with a child, friend, or family member, you might discuss your expectations and outline your goals for the experience. This conversation will be terrific to refer back to when your trip is complete, as your perspective may be vastly different. Enjoy your time abroad and be sure to bring back the lessons you learned to your life and community at home!

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