Programme Countries have full eligibility. Partner Countries have restricted access. Here is the complete, up to date 2026 breakdown of every country that can take part in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), plus the key eligibility differences between the two programmes.
Quick Answer: Who Can Apply? ✅
Erasmus+ and ESC eligible countries fall into two groups. Programme Countries (33 in total: 27 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Türkiye, North Macedonia and Serbia) have full eligibility, so they can apply, coordinate and host projects. Partner Countries (Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, Southern Mediterranean and beyond) can take part with restrictions, joining projects but not coordinating most centralised actions.
One of the most common questions about Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps is simple: can my country take part? The answer depends on which group your country falls into, and the two groups carry very different levels of access. This guide covers every country, explains what the distinction means in practice, and shows where Erasmus+ and ESC eligibility differ.
What Are Erasmus+ Programme Countries? 🌐
Programme Countries have the highest level of access to Erasmus+ and ESC. If you are a resident of a Programme Country, you can take part in the full range of activities, and organisations there can apply for funding, coordinate projects and host participants across youth exchanges, training courses, volunteering placements, higher education mobility and more.
EU Member States: 27 Countries 🇪🇺
Full eligibility: can apply, coordinate, host and fully take part in all Erasmus+ and ESC actions.
🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇾 Cyprus 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇹 Italy 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇲🇹 Malta 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden
Non-EU Programme Countries: 6 Countries 🤝
These six non-EU countries have the same rights as EU member states for Erasmus+ and ESC participation.
🇮🇸 Iceland 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇳🇴 Norway 🇹🇷 Türkiye 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇷🇸 Serbia
💡 Important for Türkiye, North Macedonia and Serbia: these countries often surprise people by having full Programme Country status. A young person from Türkiye, North Macedonia or Serbia has exactly the same eligibility for Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges and ESC volunteering as someone from France or Germany, and organisations there can apply for funding and host international projects.
What Are Erasmus+ Partner Countries? 🗺️
Partner Countries can take part in Erasmus+ and ESC projects, but with restrictions. The main limit is that organisations from Partner Countries generally cannot apply as the lead applicant or project coordinator under most centralised Erasmus+ actions. They can join as partners in projects led by Programme Country organisations, and in some decentralised actions, such as youth exchanges and training courses, their participation is more flexible.
Western Balkans: 4 Countries 🏔️
Can take part through partnerships; cannot coordinate most centralised Erasmus+ actions.
🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇽🇰 Kosovo 🇲🇪 Montenegro
Eastern Partnership Countries: 5 Countries 🌅
Can take part through partnerships; cannot coordinate most centralised Erasmus+ actions.
🇦🇲 Armenia 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇬🇪 Georgia 🇲🇩 Moldova 🇺🇦 Ukraine
Southern Mediterranean Countries: 8 Countries ☀️
Can take part through partnerships; cannot coordinate most centralised Erasmus+ actions.
🇩🇿 Algeria 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇱🇧 Lebanon 🇱🇾 Libya 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇵🇸 Palestine 🇹🇳 Tunisia
Programme Countries vs Partner Countries: What the Difference Means for You 🔍
Here is what each group can actually do, side by side:
🧑🤝🧑 Take part as a young person in a youth exchange — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ◐ Often yes, case by case
🧭 Apply as project coordinator for a youth exchange — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ❌ Generally no
🏠 Host an ESC volunteer — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ◐ In some cases
✈️ Be an ESC volunteer abroad — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ◐ Depends on action type
📚 Apply for an Erasmus+ training course — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ◐ As partner, not coordinator
💶 Receive Erasmus+ funding directly — Programme Country: ✅ Yes · Partner Country: ❌ Generally no
📌 Note for Partner Country participants: even if your country is a Partner Country, you may still be eligible for specific activities, particularly youth exchanges and some volunteering actions. The restrictions apply mainly to organisational coordination and funding applications, not always to individual participation. Always check the rules for the specific action you are interested in.
How Does Eligibility Differ Between Erasmus+ and ESC? ⚖️
The country lists above apply to both programmes, but Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps are not identical when it comes to who can do what. The key differences:
🔹 ESC requires registration on the ESC Portal. To volunteer through the ESC you must first register on the official portal. Erasmus+ has no single equivalent sign up; you apply through your university, a youth organisation, or a National Agency.
🔹 ESC has a lifetime limit. Your total ESC volunteering across your life cannot exceed 12 months. Erasmus+ activities do not share this single cap.
🔹 ESC Solidarity Projects are for Programme Countries only. If you want to run your own local Solidarity Project, you must be legally resident in an EU or associated (Programme) country. Partner Country residents can join volunteering through partnerships, but not this action.
🔹 Erasmus+ can partner more widely. Erasmus+ youth exchanges and training courses can bring in Partner Countries from many regions of the world as project partners, giving them broad, if partner level, reach.
🔹 Age rules differ. Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges are open from age 13 to 30, while ESC volunteering is 18 to 30 (and 18 to 35 for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering). See our full Erasmus+ and ESC age limits guide and the difference between ESC and Erasmus+.
Ready to sign up for the ESC? Here is how to register on the ESC Portal step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Country Eligibility ❓
Can Türkiye apply for Erasmus+ youth exchanges?
Yes. Türkiye is a Programme Country with full eligibility. Turkish young people can take part in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, and Turkish organisations can apply to coordinate projects, host participants and access the full range of Erasmus+ and ESC actions.
Can Georgia participate in ESC volunteering?
Yes, but with restrictions. Georgia is an Eastern Partnership Partner Country. Georgian participants can join some ESC activities through partnerships with Programme Country organisations, but Georgian organisations cannot coordinate most centralised ESC actions independently.
Is the UK still in Erasmus+?
No. The United Kingdom left Erasmus+ after Brexit and is no longer eligible for Erasmus+ or ESC. The UK runs its own separate programme, the Turing Scheme.
What is the difference between Programme Countries and Partner Countries?
Programme Countries have full eligibility: they can apply for funding, coordinate projects and fully take part in all Erasmus+ and ESC actions. Partner Countries have restricted participation: they can join projects as partners but generally cannot act as lead applicants or coordinators under centralised Erasmus+ actions.
Can Morocco or Egypt participate in Erasmus+?
Yes, with restrictions. Morocco and Egypt are Southern Mediterranean Partner Countries. Their organisations can take part through partnerships with Programme Country organisations but cannot coordinate centralised actions. Specific eligibility depends on the action type.
How many countries are eligible for Erasmus+?
In total, 33 Programme Countries have full eligibility (27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Türkiye, North Macedonia and Serbia). In addition, 17+ Partner Countries across the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Southern Mediterranean can take part with restrictions.
Find Erasmus+ and ESC Opportunities 🚀
Youth Works Hub lists opportunities across all Programme Countries, updated regularly and free to browse. New here? Start with what Erasmus+ is, check who can apply, then find your placement.
👉 Browse opportunities: youthworkshub.org
