40,000 free Europe travel passes open but UK teens must wait
DiscoverEU applications are open until 15 October for around 40,000 European travel passes, but UK residents cannot apply until the UK rejoins Erasmus+.
Around 40,000 young people are being offered travel passes to explore Europe under the latest DiscoverEU scheme, with applications now open until 15 October 2026. The programme gives successful 18-year-olds the opportunity to travel across participating European countries, primarily by rail, alongside a discount card for accommodation, attractions and other services.
There is an important catch for British teenagers hoping to apply this month. Young people living in the UK are not eligible for the current autumn 2026 round, although the programme has confirmed that the United Kingdom will join Erasmus+, including DiscoverEU, from 2027.
Who can apply for the 40,000 passes?
The current application window opened at midday Brussels time on 1 October and closes at midday on 15 October 2026. Applicants must have been born between 1 January and 31 December 2008, meaning the scheme is aimed at people turning 18 during 2026.
Eligible applicants must be citizens or residents of an EU member state, an eligible overseas territory or one of the non-EU countries currently associated with Erasmus+. These include Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye.
Applicants complete their details and take part in a quiz as part of the selection process. The autumn round has a planned budget of €23.5 million.
What does a DiscoverEU pass include?
Successful applicants can travel for up to seven travel days during a maximum one-month trip. For this round, journeys can take place between 1 March 2027 and 31 May 2028, giving winners a large window in which to organise their European trip.
Participants also receive a DiscoverEU discount card offering reductions on areas including accommodation, culture, sport and local transport. Some high-speed and overnight trains require reservations, although participants can receive a limited number of eligible seat reservations without charge.
When could British teenagers become eligible?
UK residents cannot apply for the October 2026 round because Britain is not currently participating in Erasmus+. British citizens who live in an eligible participating country can qualify under the residency rules, but living in Britain itself does not qualify someone for this application.
That position is due to change when the UK joins Erasmus+ from 2027, with DiscoverEU specifically included in the announcement. The exact eligibility rules for future UK applicants will depend on the terms of the relevant 2027 application round, so teenagers should wait for those rules before assuming they qualify.
For this month's applicants elsewhere in Europe, the immediate deadline is clear. Applications for the approximately 40,000 passes close at 12 noon Brussels time on Thursday 15 October 2026.
