Erasmus+ supports thousands of young people every year — but what exactly does it pay for?
This guide explains the full list of eligible cost types for:
🌍 Youth Exchanges (KA152)
👥 Mobility of Youth Workers (KA153)
💬 Youth Participation Activities (KA154)
All information is based on the 2025 Erasmus+ Programme Guide, and
all amounts apply ONLY to projects funded under the 2025 call.
Let’s break down every cost category Erasmus+ covers — clearly, simply, and with official logic. ✨
1️⃣ Travel Costs ✈️🚆🚌
Erasmus+ covers participant travel from their home country to the hosting country and back.
How funding works:
✔️ Unit cost (distance band model)
✔️ Different rates for normal vs. green travel
✔️ Applies to all three actions
Covered for:
- youth exchange participants + group leaders
- youth workers (KA153)
- young people in youth participation activities
2️⃣ Individual Support (Accommodation, Food, Local Transport) 🏠🍽️
This is the daily per-diem Erasmus+ provides to cover:
- accommodation
- meals
- internal/local transport
- daily essentials during the activity
Applies to:
✔️ KA152 Youth Exchanges
✔️ KA153 Youth Worker Mobility
✔️ KA154 Youth Participation Activities
Rates vary by host country (cost of living categories).
3️⃣ Preparatory Visits (Optional But Highly Useful) 🧭🤝
Erasmus+ can fund short pre-activity visits to prepare logistics, safety, accessibility and inclusion.
Covered:
- travel (unit cost)
- individual support (daily rate)
Eligible participants:
- group leaders
- youth workers
- organisers
- young people with fewer opportunities
Used in all three actions.
4️⃣ Organisational Support (Core Budget) 🏢📋
This is the main budget for running youth activities.
Covers:
- project management
- pedagogical preparation
- administration
- coordination with partners
- local transport, materials, venue
- mentoring, facilitation, safety arrangements
Funding type:
✔️ Unit cost per participant
Applies to:
- Youth Exchanges
- Youth Worker Mobility
- Youth Participation
5️⃣ Inclusion Support 🤝♿
A) Inclusion Support for Organisations
Funds the extra work needed to support participants with fewer opportunities.
Used for:
- tailored mentoring
- extra staff time
- specialised preparation
- adapted pedagogical methods
Funding type:
✔️ Unit cost per participant
B) Inclusion Support for Participants
Funds the actual extra costs participants may have.
Covers:
- adapted transport
- personal assistant
- medical support
- accessible accommodation
- special equipment
Funding type:
✔️ Real cost reimbursement up to 100%
Applies to all actions.
6️⃣ Exceptional Costs (If Justified) 💶🧾
Erasmus+ can also cover essential exceptional expenses such as:
- visa fees
- residence permits
- vaccinations
- insurance (if required)
- high-cost travel for remote regions
- equipment rental needed for activity
Funding type:
✔️ Real costs (80–100% depending on category)
7️⃣ Activity Costs (What Each Action Specifically Covers) 🎯
🌍 Youth Exchanges (KA152)
Covered inside organisational support:
- workshop materials
- teaching tools
- intercultural activities
- local transportation
- venue rental
- external facilitators (if justified)
👥 Mobility of Youth Workers (KA153)
Covers:
- training materials
- expert fees
- study visits
- job shadowing logistics
- professional development sessions
💬 Youth Participation Activities (KA154)
Covers:
- local workshops
- youth policy dialogues
- community events
- co-creation sessions
- digital participation
- consultative youth meetings
- venue & material costs
8️⃣ Lump-Sum Funding Model (2025) 💼💶
Many KA154 Youth Participation projects use lump-sum funding, meaning:
- organisers propose work packages
- if approved, the lump-sum is awarded
- no detailed financial reporting is needed
- BUT all activities must be delivered exactly as promised
9️⃣ What Erasmus+ Does Not Cover ❌
Erasmus+ does NOT fund:
- tourism or unrelated leisure days
- luxury accommodation
- personal shopping
- costs before/after project dates
- undocumented extensions of stay
- activities not listed in the approved application
📌 IMPORTANT NOTE
All figures, reimbursements and rules in this article refer exclusively to projects funded under the 2025 Erasmus+ Call and the 2025 Programme Guide.
