In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the financing mechanism for travel is a contribution to unit costs. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects the contribution to the travel costs of participants from their place of origin to the venue of the activity and return is a contribution based on unit costs, based on the travel distance per participant, including accompanying persons. The Youth Works Hub guide covers European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects. The Youth Works Hub guide also covers Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is introduces the programme, what Erasmus+ is does the same for the other programme, and green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the low emissions option.
Last updated: October 2026.
What is a travel distance band?
A travel distance band is a band of travel distances, and the applicant will select the applicable travel distance band for the distance between the place of origin and the venue of the activity. In Erasmus+ the applicant must indicate the distance between the place of origin and the venue of the activity by using the distance calculator supported by the European Commission. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, travel distances must be calculated using the distance calculator supported by the European Commission. Our guide on what Erasmus+ covers lists the other cost categories, and whether ESC is fully funded sets out what is and is not paid.
What are the distance bands and the amounts?
In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, travel is a contribution based on unit costs. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the financing mechanism for travel is a contribution to unit costs.
🚶 10 to 99 km: EUR 28 per participant, and 56 EUR in case of green travel.
🚲 100 to 499 km: EUR 211 per participant, and 285 EUR in case of green travel.
🚆 500 to 1 999 km: EUR 309 per participant, and 417 EUR in case of green travel.
🚌 2 000 to 2 999 km: EUR 395 per participant, and 535 EUR in case of green travel.
⛴️ 3 000 to 3 999 km: EUR 580 per participant, and 785 EUR in case of green travel.
🌍 4 000 to 7 999 km: EUR 1 188 per participant, and 1 188 EUR in case of green travel.
🛫 8 000 km or more: EUR 1 735 per participant, and 1 735 EUR in case of green travel.
Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains which journeys count as green travel.
How is your distance measured?
In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the applicant must indicate the distance between the place of origin and the venue of the activity by using the distance calculator supported by the European Commission. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, for example, if a person from Madrid in Spain is taking part in an activity in Rome in Italy, the applicant will calculate the distance from Madrid to Rome and then select the applicable travel distance band, between 500 and 1 999 km. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, the applicant must indicate the distance of a one-way travel to calculate the amount of the EU grant that will support the round trip. Our guide on how flights are booked and reimbursed covers the booking itself, and how much money you actually need puts the travel grant next to the other costs.
How does it work for itinerant activities?
In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, for itinerant activities, the applicant should add up the distances between individual venues and choose the distance band corresponding to the total. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges and in Erasmus+ Mobility projects for youth workers, the activity must take place in the country of one, or several in case of itinerant activities, of the organisations participating in the activity. Our guide on what a Youth Exchange is describes the format, and mobility of youth workers covers learning activities for youth workers.
What is green travel and what amount does it get?
In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, green travel is travel that uses low-emissions means of transport for at least half of the round trip such as bus, train, bike or car-pooling. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, traveling by boat will be considered as green travel if combined with another low emissions means of transport. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, for travel distances between 10 and 99 KM the contribution is EUR 28 per participant and 56 EUR in case of green travel. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, for travel distances between 4 000 and 7 999 KM the contribution is EUR 1 188 per participant and 1 188 EUR in case of green travel, and for travel distances of 8 000 KM or more EUR 1 735 per participant and 1 735 EUR in case of green travel. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, up to four additional days for participants receiving a green travel grant are included in the pocket money contribution based on unit costs per day per participant, based on the host country and the duration of the activity per participant, excluding accompanying persons. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges the individual support for subsistence is allocated based on the receiving country, the duration of the activity per participant, group leaders, accompanying persons and facilitators, including also one travel day before the activity and one travel day following the activity, and up to four additional days for participants, for group leaders, accompanying persons and facilitators receiving a green travel grant. Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains which journeys count as green travel, and how much pocket money you get on ESC covers the daily amounts.
What are the rules for short distances?
In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, below 500 KM, participants will, as a general rule, travel with low emissions means of transport. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, below 500 km, participants will, as a general rule, travel with low-emissions means of transport. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, over 500 KM, participants are strongly encouraged to use a combination of different modes of transport to make their travel more sustainable. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, over 500 KM, participants are strongly encouraged to use a combination of different modes of transport to make their travel more sustainable. Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESCexplains which short journeys count as green travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is the amount for one way or for the round trip?
In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, the applicant must indicate the distance of a one-way travel to calculate the amount of the EU grant that will support the round trip. Our guide on booking flights for ESC explains how the journey is booked and reimbursed.
Is the travel contribution based on your real travel costs?
No, in European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects the contribution to the travel costs of participants is a contribution based on unit costs, based on the travel distance per participant, including accompanying persons. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the financing mechanism is a contribution to unit costs. Our guide on what Erasmus+ covers explains the other cost categories next to travel.
Are the travel distance bands in the European Solidarity Corps and in Erasmus+ youth activities the same?
Yes, in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, the contribution to unit costs is based on the travel distance bands between 10 and 99 km, between 100 and 499 km, between 500 and 1 999 km, between 2 000 and 2 999 km, between 3 000 and 3 999 km, between 4 000 and 7 999 km and travel distances of 8 000 km or more. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, the contribution based on unit costs is for travel distances between 10 and 99 KM, between 100 and 499 KM, between 500 and 1 999 KM, between 2 000 and 2 999 KM, between 3 000 and 3 999 KM, between 4 000 and 7 999 KM, and of 8 000 KM or more. Our guide on ESC vs Erasmus+ compares the two programmes side by side.
Do group leaders, trainers, facilitators and accompanying persons get travel support?
Yes, in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges the contribution to the travel costs of participants includes group leaders, accompanying persons and facilitators, from their place of origin to the venue of the activity and return. In Erasmus+ Mobility projects for youth workers the contribution to the travel costs of participants includes trainers, accompanying persons and facilitators. In European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects the contribution is based on the travel distance per participant, including accompanying persons. Our guide on the role of youth workers explains what youth workers do in these projects.
Does national travel count?
In Erasmus+ Youth participation activities the contribution covers the travel costs of participants, their accompanying persons and facilitators, from their place of origin to the venue of the project activity or the physical event and return, regardless of whether the travel is national or transnational. Our guide on Youth participation activities describes how the format works.
Are visa costs part of the travel grant?
No, in Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities and in European Solidarity Corps volunteering projects, visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations and medical certifications are exceptional costs. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, the grant for visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations and medical certifications is 100 % of eligible costs. Our guide on visa and residence permits for ESC and Erasmus+walks through the paperwork.
Check the distance before you apply
The related pages below from Youth Works Hub cover each part of this guide in more detail. Our guide on green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC explains the low emissions option, and how much money you actually need puts the travel grant next to the rest of the budget.
Related pages: green travel in Erasmus+ and ESC · how flights are booked and reimbursed · how much pocket money you get on ESC · whether ESC is fully funded · what Erasmus+ covers · how much money you actually need
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/category/esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/category/erasmus-projects
