Young people, young adults and youth workers can already take part in mobility activities under the Swiss solution. However, with Switzerland’s association with Erasmus+, as envisaged by the Federal Council for 2027, they would participate directly in the Erasmus+ programme on an equal footing with all other participants from Erasmus+ member states. The funding and participation opportunities under Erasmus+ in the field of mobility are more diverse than those under the Swiss programme for Erasmus+. The following sections provide an insight into the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+ in the youth sector. 

Should Switzerland become an associate member of Erasmus+ in 2027, this would mean in practical terms:

• Swiss youth work organisations would, in principle, have access to all relevant Erasmus+ actions, i.e. on an equal footing with organisations from EU Member States and other Erasmus+ countries. These opportunities differ in some respects from the current Swiss arrangement.
• Erasmus+ mobility in the youth sector is limited to programme countries and to neighbouring countries of the EU that are not associated with the programme (including the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and the Southern Mediterranean). Furthermore, no more than 20 per cent of funding may be used for activities with these neighbouring countries. Unlike the current Swiss arrangement, which allows for projects with countries worldwide, this global dimension would be lost in the case of mobility schemes.
• Youth exchanges and mobility schemes for youth workers can be organised on a bilateral or multilateral basis, regardless of which participating country they take place in. The restriction currently in place under the Swiss arrangement (multilateral only in Switzerland, bilateral only abroad) would thus be removed.
• From an Erasmus+ perspective, Switzerland is no longer considered a third country, meaning that European partner countries can carry out projects with Switzerland without restriction.
• Applications are submitted via the EU tools.
• As a project organiser, you will receive funding directly from the Erasmus+ programme.
• The rules and policy priorities of the Erasmus+ programme apply.

Despite some differences from the current Swiss scheme, similar activities would, in principle, be eligible for funding under Erasmus+. You can therefore start your project right away. We recommend considering two scenarios. Think about how your project could be carried out under both Erasmus+ and the current Swiss scheme, taking into account the respective budget frameworks, partner requirements and risks. 

Erasmus+ promotes the learning mobility of individuals in various fields of education, including youth work. These mobility programmes provide young people and youth workers with non-formal and informal learning opportunities. Through these programmes, young people and young adults acquire key competences that contribute to their personal and social development, strengthen their active participation in society and improve their career prospects. Youth workers develop skills for their professional development, promote new ways of working within their organisations and contribute to the overall quality of youth work.

Mobility schemes contribute to the programme objectives of Erasmus+: they promote quality in youth work, drive innovation and digitalisation, strengthen social inclusion and help tackle societal challenges. Through their transnational nature, they create clear European added value for the participants and enable a sustainable impact at institutional level, even beyond individual projects. Individual learning mobility under Erasmus+ falls under Key Action 1 (KA1).

Organisations and participants from the following countries may take part in Erasmus+ mobility schemes in the youth sector:

EU Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

Third countries associated with Erasmus+: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, United Kingdom (from 2027)

Other countries: In addition to the programme countries, neighbouring countries of the EU that are not associated with the programme (including the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and the Southern Mediterranean) may also participate in mobility activities in the youth sector. A maximum of 20 per cent of the funding may be used for activities with these neighbouring countries.

For the ‘youth exchanges’ and ‘mobility programmes for youth workers’ formats, funding – as is already the case under the current Swiss scheme – consists of several lump sums. Each activity includes one lump sum for:

• individual support,
• organisational support,
• travel costs.

In justified cases, additional funding may be applied for, for example for inclusion support, preparatory visits or exceptional costs.

Youth participation projects and DiscoverEU inclusion follow their own funding framework, with some different cost categories.

The exact flat-rate amounts have not yet been finalised; they are based on the guidelines set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. The 2027 Programme Guide, which is expected to be published at the end of 2026, will be the authoritative reference.

Under Erasmus+, the following mobility formats are funded in the youth sector. Some of these have different names to those used in the Swiss scheme, and some are available exclusively under Erasmus+.

In the field of youth mobility, there are essentially two ways to obtain funding for activities under Erasmus+: individual applications (standard projects) and projects run by accredited organisations. During the 2027 transition phase, accreditation for Swiss organisations will not yet be available.

Individual applications (standard projects)

An individual application allows you to apply for funding for a single mobility project. This route offers low-threshold access: neither prior experience with Erasmus+ nor accreditation is required. Individual applications are open for all four mobility formats: youth exchanges, mobility for youth workers, youth participation projects and DiscoverEU Inclusion. This corresponds to the current procedure under the Swiss solution.

As soon as the final conditions for the 2027 transition phase have been finalised, they will be announced here; the 2027 Programme Guide will be the authoritative reference. The following key criteria currently apply to Erasmus+ standard projects:

• no prior experience required
• project duration of 3 to 24 months
• two application rounds per year
• a maximum of 5 applications per format per application round (as an applicant or partner)

Accreditation (KA150-YOU)

Erasmus+ accreditation in the youth sector ensures that organisations which regularly carry out activities have simplified and predictable long-term access to annual funding for youth exchanges and mobility programmes for youth workers. It is applied for once and is valid for the entire duration of the current Erasmus+ programme generation. Organisations with successful accreditation are no longer eligible to apply via the individual application procedure for youth exchanges and mobility for youth workers; however, as an accredited organisation, you may continue to participate in such projects as a partner.

Accredited organisations benefit from several advantages:

• They receive a guaranteed minimum grant (amount to be confirmed).
• They have greater planning certainty.
• They have greater flexibility in implementing their projects.
• They can build long-term European partnerships.
• They can focus on their strategic development rather than on individual project details.

The accreditation procedure is open to all eligible organisations under Key Action 1. Informal groups of young people are excluded – they may only submit individual applications. Applicant organisations must have been established at least two years prior to the application deadline and have relevant experience in carrying out activities in the youth sector. Information from Erasmus+ on accreditation in the youth sector can be found here.

Should Switzerland become associated with Erasmus+ in 2027, accreditation for Swiss organisations would not yet be available during the 2027 transition phase. Further information will follow.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with the Erasmus+ Programme Guide at an early stage; it is the authoritative reference document for Erasmus+. We also recommend consulting resources provided by other National Agencies (NAs). Depending on the funding opportunity, there may be other relevant documents. Movetia will be happy to help you find your way around.

Check which of the mobility formats – youth exchanges, mobility for youth workers, youth participation projects or DiscoverEU Inclusion – best suits your project idea and your target group.

Approach existing contacts, such as current project partners, at an early stage to discuss potential collaboration under Erasmus+. International collaboration takes time. 

Take part in European training courses (TCA, = Training and Cooperation Activities) and other international events – either in person or online. There, you’ll make new contacts, exchange ideas with experts from across Europe and establish your position within European networks. 

Movetia will keep you informed about relevant events and support you in finding partners via the NA network. For new project planning, you can submit an application to us for a preparatory visit.

Consider what your project idea would look like under both Erasmus+ and the Swiss scheme, taking into account the respective budget frameworks, partner requirements and risks. Movetia will be happy to help you assess these. For the first application deadline in 2027 (expected in February), the most suitable formats are those that can be funded under both programmes (youth exchanges, mobility for youth workers).

Whilst the association decision is still pending, your organisation should plan to act as the applicant. This is the only way to submit your project under both scenarios – in both cases, the application is submitted to Movetia (under the Swiss solution as well as in the event of association). You should also clarify at an early stage which partner organisations abroad will be involved.

Particularly in youth exchanges and youth participation projects, young people should be actively involved in the preparation, implementation and follow-up. Plan for this involvement right from the start.

On the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, you will find funded projects from all programme areas. Use these for guidance on content and to develop a feel for the language and logic of Erasmus+ applications. 

Significantly larger funding amounts are available under Erasmus+. Use this time now to think more broadly about project ideas, involving more partners, with greater impact and a longer duration.