The European Union is once more offering free travel passes to young people to explore Europe, with applications open until 15 October 2026 at midday, Brussels time.
The DiscoverEU programme gives 18-year-olds the chance to travel for free on environmentally friendly modes of transport, such as trains, for up to seven days within a period of no more than one month, between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028. Part of the Erasmus+ scheme, the programme aims to allow young people to explore Europe’s diversity, learn about its cultural heritage and history, and connect with people from all over the continent.
It is also an opportunity to develop independence or to travel with friends, since the programme is open to groups travelling together. Travellers can go solo or add up to four friends to their group, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. Each friend must submit their own application using the same application code. Alternatively, travellers can also combine travel plans with other DiscoverEU travellers. Alternatively, travellers can combine travel plans with other DiscoverEU participants. The DiscoverEU Facebook Group may be a good platform for this.
#DiscoverEU applications are OPEN!🚆 Are you 18 & from or residing in an EU country or an associated country? This is your chance to apply for a FREE railway pass & explore Europe 🌍 You could also get a free night in a youth hostel! 🔗 Apply now: https://t.co/uQ77wPZSXR https://t.co/SiGs94rIAF
— European Youth ❤️🇪🇺 (@EuropeanYouthEU) October 1, 2026
To help young people further with the expense of travel, a DiscoverEU discount card also offers numerous discounts on accommodation, culture, sports, local transport, and other services.
To be eligible, applicants need to:
- Have been born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008 (both dates inclusive).
- Enter their identity card (ID), passport or residence permit number in the online application form.
- Be a citizen or resident of an EU member state, including its outermost regions; an Overseas Country or Territory (OCT) associated with the EU; or one of the countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia or Türkiye.
- Agree to the declaration in the application form.
In good news for young British citizens, the United Kingdom will join the Erasmus+ programme, including DiscoverEU, from 2027.
Once the forms are filled in, there is a quiz to complete (only by the group leader in the case of group applications). If selected, the Erasmus+ National Agencies will help travellers connect and learn, with the organisation of pre-departure meetings and travellers’ meet-ups. Factsheets are available online to help prospective participants to get more of a sense of how the experience works and learn about the adventures of previous young DiscoverEU travellers.
In addition, travellers automatically become DiscoverEU ambassadors by participating in the programme. As ambassadors, participants are invited to share their travel experiences on social media using #DiscoverEU, or in person, through presentations at schools or in their local community.
