How far in advance should you apply for an IVI Placement Program?

IVI organises volunteer placements throughout the year. However, the application processing and sourcing of suitable placements can take a few weeks. Therefore, you should submit your application as early as possible to get the best placements available for you.

Please note: In placements involving the care and education of children, volunteers are required to provide a Police Records Clearance. Please allow time for your Police Records Clearance to be processed. In fact, you would be well advised to organise your Police Records Clearance today, so that you can send a copy to us for it to be sent by us to your Host, and take the Original with you so that you can produce it if required.

Short notice

While short notice limits your placement choices, IVI will always try to arrange a placement for you. However, please be aware that short notice placements may not involve the exact volunteering role you desire, or in your first country of choice.

Please note: It may be extremely difficult to arrange short notice placements in some countries where communication is poor or government approval is required. But we will always try!

In advance

IVI places volunteers on a 'first in, first served' basis. Applying in advance gives you an excellent chance of finding the placement that interests you (provided you fulfill any criteria, e.g. a related qualification).

Please remember that each placement has a set number of volunteer places. Popular placements can fill quickly during peak travel periods that differ in each hemisphere. If your requested placement is already filled, we will suggest similar alternative placements.

Every attempt is made to meet reasonable volunteer requests. However, we may be unable to accommodate unusual or unrealistic requirements.

Please note: If you send your application 12 months before you depart, we cannot guarantee that your desired placement will still be exactly the same in 12 months time. However, you will be notified of any changes as soon as we become aware of them. Under these circumstances, IVI will find you a new placement at no extra cost.

Placements Requiring Experience

Although many placements do not require experienced volunteers, some hosts do stipulate that a placement needs a volunteer with specific skills. This usually applies to placements relating to scientific research, where competition for placements is high and hosts select the most qualified volunteers. Placements requiring specific skills and/or experience are indicated by the letters 'SIVP' in the placement description on our website.

• How to apply
• What happens after we receive your application?
• Prices of IVI Placement Programs