The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) is accepting applications for its GORS–MNA Desk Internship 2026 in Lyon, France. This six-month paid internship offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain practical experience within the world’s largest international police organization while supporting international police cooperation across the Middle East and North Africa (MNA) region.
Open to nationals of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, the internship combines multilingual communication, project coordination, international meetings, and operational support in a multicultural working environment.
About the INTERPOL Internship
The internship is hosted by the Global Outreach & Regional Support (GORS) Directorate within the AFR MNA & ASP Sub-Directorate. GORS strengthens the operational capacity of INTERPOL’s member countries by coordinating regional bureaus, supporting National Central Bureaus (NCBs), implementing cooperation agreements, and advancing regional business plans.
Interns will work alongside experienced international professionals while gaining valuable insight into how a global intergovernmental organization coordinates cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
The internship is scheduled to begin on 1 December 2026.
Internship Duration and Location
- Location: Lyon, France
- Duration: 6 months
- Estimated Start Date: 1 December 2026
- Security Clearance: Basic confidentiality vetting required
The programme is designed for full-time participation at INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon.
Internship Benefits
INTERPOL provides financial support to help interns meet living expenses during the programme.
Interns receive:
- EUR 700 monthly internship allowance
- EUR 30 monthly transport subsidy
- Additional EUR 170 monthly housing subsidy for eligible interns
- Access to INTERPOL’s health insurance scheme at no additional cost, if requested
- Experience working in a multicultural and multilingual international organization
- Professional exposure to international police cooperation and global governance
The internship offers valuable career development for individuals pursuing international public service, diplomacy, law, and security-related careers.
Key Responsibilities
The selected intern will support the Directorate through a variety of administrative, operational, and project-related activities.
Responsibilities include:
- Preparing, formatting, and managing official correspondence and documentation
- Assisting with the organization of international meetings and conferences
- Supporting project implementation and reporting activities
- Preparing agendas, participant lists, and meeting documentation
- Taking notes and producing meeting summaries during conferences
- Providing linguistic assistance in required working languages
- Producing statistical reports, charts, and operational summaries
- Supporting additional tasks assigned by the supervising manager
Interns will also gain practical experience in project lifecycle management, event coordination, multilingual communication, and Microsoft Office applications.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a national of one of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries
- Have reached the legal age of majority in their country of nationality
- Be currently enrolled in a post-secondary accredited institution or have graduated within the past one year
- Hold academic qualifications in:
- Business Administration
- International Relations
- Information Technology
- Law
- A Master’s degree is considered an advantage
Language Requirements
This internship has mandatory language requirements.
Applicants must have:
- Professional fluency in English
- Professional fluency in Arabic
Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an additional asset.
Why Apply for This Internship?
INTERPOL’s Internship Programme provides participants with a unique opportunity to understand international policing from within a global organization. Interns develop practical skills in international cooperation, project coordination, multilingual communication, and stakeholder engagement while contributing to initiatives that support member countries in combating transnational crime.
The programme is particularly valuable for graduates seeking careers in international organizations, diplomacy, public administration, law, or security cooperation.
Application Requirements
Applications must be submitted online and include a cover letter explaining:
- Motivation for joining the INTERPOL Internship Programme
- Interest in the GORS–MNA Desk internship
- Relevant skills and strengths for the role
- Expectations from the internship experience
Only applications submitted through the official INTERPOL recruitment portal will be considered.
Application Deadline
Deadline: 6 October 2026
Candidates are encouraged to apply early, as only applicants whose profiles most closely match the requirements will be contacted for further assessment.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should complete the official online application through the INTERPOL Careers portal and upload all required information, including a tailored cover letter addressing the internship requirements.
