Around 40 thousand passes up for grabs to travel around Europe by train: what are the requirements, quizzes and how to apply
Backpack on your shoulders and seven days to discover Europe, without spending a single euro on train tickets. It officially opened in October the new DiscoverEU callthe European Union initiative, part of the Erasmus+ programme, which gives young people a pass to travel on the continent. This year there are around 40 thousand placesfor a budget of 23.5 million euros. You have until 12pm (Brussels time) on 15 October to apply.
DiscoverEU 2026 requirements: who can apply
The call is reserved for born in 2008from January 1st to December 31st. What matters is the year of birth: anyone who turns 18 later in 2026 can also apply. You must be a citizen or resident of an EU member state, an associated overseas territory or one of the non-EU countries participating in Erasmus+: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Anyone who has already obtained a pass in past editions cannot try again.
How to apply to DiscoverEU: quiz and online application
Everything is done on the European youth portalby clicking on Participate. You have to enter the data of a valid document: identity card, passport or residence permit. After verifying your email and entering your personal data, you move on to test, consisting of five questions plus an additional question for cases of parity. Warning: answering well is not enough, because the selection also takes into account the quotas assigned to each country. In the end, it is best to save the application code.
DiscoverEU: can you go with friends?
You can travel alone or in a group, up to a maximum of five people. The group leader takes care of the quiz and shares the code with friends, who also sign up, provided they meet the same requirements.
When you leave and what is included
Those who are selected can travel for a maximum of seven days within a month. The departure date is chosen between March 1, 2027 and May 31, 2028. The main means of transport is the train, but those who live on an island or in remote areas may have alternatives. Plus comes a discount card for accommodation, culture, sports and local transport. Additional help is provided for children with disabilities or health conditions that make travel more complicated. The pass covers travel, while eating, sleeping, insurance and paying any supplements are expenses paid by those leaving, so it’s best to take a budget into account. To find out if you have been chosen you will have to wait, indicatively, for January 2027.
