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Applying for Erasmus+ can feel overwhelming the first time. Multiple programme types, national agency websites, project forms — it is a lot. But once you understand the structure, the process becomes much more manageable. This guide walks you through every step, from choosing the right programme to submitting your application.
Step 1: Identify Your Programme Type
Erasmus+ is not a single programme — it is a family of actions. For young people and youth organisations, the most relevant are:
- KA1 — Youth Mobility: Youth exchanges (groups of young people), volunteering (European Solidarity Corps), and training courses for youth workers.
- KA2 — Cooperation Projects: Larger-scale projects that produce tangible outputs like toolkits, platforms or research.
- KA3 — Support for Policy Reform: Dialogue between young people and decision-makers.
For most first-time applicants, KA1 is the right starting point — specifically, a youth exchange or a training course.
Step 2: Find a Partner Organisation
Erasmus+ KA1 youth exchanges require a minimum of two organisations from two different programme countries. Finding the right partner is often the hardest part. Use the SALTO Youth partner-finding tools, post in Erasmus+ Facebook groups, or reach out to national agencies directly — they sometimes maintain lists of organisations looking for partners.
The quality of your project depends more on the quality of your partnership than on the quality of your writing. Choose partners you can trust and work with honestly.
Step 3: Design Your Project
Before touching the application form, design the project itself. What is the theme? Why is it relevant to your participants? What will they learn and how? What non-formal methods will you use? What will happen after the exchange — how will learning be disseminated? Answering these questions thoroughly will make the application almost write itself.
Step 4: Register on the Funding & Tenders Portal
All Erasmus+ applications are submitted through the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal. Both the lead applicant organisation and all partner organisations must be registered and have a valid PIC (Participant Identification Code). Register early — the process can take a few days.
Step 5: Complete the Application Form
Application forms are available in the EU Login system. Key sections include: organisational profile, project description, objectives and methodology, participants profile, budget breakdown, and dissemination plan. The budget section is formula-based — most costs are covered by unit contributions defined by the European Commission, so there is less room for error than it might seem.
Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline
Erasmus+ has fixed annual deadlines — typically in February and April for youth actions. Missing the deadline by even one second means waiting six months for the next round. Set calendar reminders, submit a draft version the day before, and do the final submission on a stable internet connection.
After Submission
Evaluation takes approximately three to four months. If selected, you will receive a grant agreement that must be signed before any activity can start. If rejected, you will receive an evaluation report — use it. Most successful projects were not funded on their first application.