Hi,

I am working for a charity and we have volunteer helping out from time to time (of course unpaid).

Some of the volunteers have Non-O Visa and work-permit, some are coming on irregular basis and are on a retirement visa.

Now, technically, they are working illegally, correct? Even if it is for a charity and they get no payment and the charity is making no proftit?

One of them mentioned, that a friend of him (on retirement visa), is also helping out at another charity but is paying them for the 'allowance' which would make it legal. Anyone knows about that?

Also sometimes we have volunteers coming while travelling which led to the point that we figured whenever you pay, it is legal?

For example when you are taking a cooking class as a tourist - you are basically 'working' by yourself but paying for the experience.

Is that something you can compare?

Any advise would be appreciated!

Volunteering is only legal with a work permit from the labour office.

Paying an allowence doesn't make it legal, only a work permit does. You can't compare doing a cooking class with volunteering. When you follow a cooking class you do not work, you are doing a course.

You are not allowed to work on a retirement visa. If you have the right visa to work you still always need a work permit.

Payments have nothing to do with it.