Participants in European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects may need to obtain a visa for staying abroad in the EU Member States and third countries not associated to the Programme hosting the activity. Participants in Erasmus+ projects may need to obtain a visa for staying abroad in the EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme hosting the activity. The authorisations required are short or long-term stay visas or residence permits. According to the European Solidarity Corps Guide and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, it is strongly recommended that the authorisations are requested from the competent authorities well in advance, since the process may take several weeks. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, the process may take several weeks or months. Our guide on what the European Solidarity Corps is introduces the programme, what Erasmus+ is does the same for Erasmus+, and which countries can take part shows where you can apply from.
Last updated: October 2026.
Do you need a visa or a residence permit?
In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you might need either a visa and/or a residence permit to take part in your volunteering activity. In the European Solidarity Corps and in Erasmus+, the authorisations required are short or long-term stay visas or residence permits. Our guide on which countries can take part lists the eligible countries, opportunities for young people outside the EU covers participants from countries not associated to the programme, and who can apply to Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps goes through the conditions case by case.
Who arranges the visa, you or the organisation?
In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you can request and should receive help from the participating organisations in obtaining a visa, for example by providing you a supporting letter. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, it is the ultimate decision of a country's authority to issue a visa or residence permit. Our guide on the organisation that prepares you at home explains what a supporting organisation does, and the agreement you sign before starting covers what the organisations commit to.
When should you start the visa process?
According to the European Solidarity Corps Guide and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, it is strongly recommended that the authorisations are requested from the competent authorities well in advance, since the process may take several weeks. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you are strongly recommended to make your request for any such travel or residence permits well in advance, as the process may take several weeks or months. Our guide on what Humanitarian Aid Volunteering is explains where those projects run, the full timeline from application to departure puts the visa step next to the other deadlines, and preparing before you go collects the rest of the paperwork.
Who can help you with the visa?
National Agencies and the Executive Agency may give further advice and support concerning visas, residence permits and social security. In the European Solidarity Corps, the EU Immigration Portal contains general information on visa and residence permits, for both short-term and long-term stays, at https://immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu/index_en. In Erasmus+, the EU Immigration Portal contains general information on visa and residence permits, for both short-term and long-term stays, at https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you can always return to consult the European Youth Portal at https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/ for information on the European Solidarity Corps, and the information is provided in 28 languages. Our guide on what National Agencies do explains who runs the programme in each country, and what Eurodesk is covers the network that answers questions from young people.
Who pays for the visa?
🛂 European Solidarity Corps Volunteering Projects: visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations, medical certifications and clearance requirements costs are exceptional costs at 100 % of eligible costs, and the request for financial support for exceptional costs must be motivated and approved.
🧾 Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities: visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations and medical certifications are exceptional costs at 100% of eligible costs, and the request must be justified and approved.
Our guide on what Erasmus+ covers sets out those funding rules for Youth Exchanges, mobility projects for youth workers and youth participation activities, what being fully funded means explains the European Solidarity Corps side, and how much money you actually need adds up what you still pay yourself.
What else do you sort out before you leave?
In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, before leaving to start your activity, you and your support and possibly host organisation should sign a volunteering agreement. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, the volunteering agreement determines at least the dates of your departure and return, your rights and responsibilities, the responsibilities of the participating organisations, the financial and non-financial support, and the tasks to be carried out during the activity. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, prior to your departure, you should inform the organisations running the project about any circumstances that may influence your capability to carry out the tasks and provide information about any special needs. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, if necessary, you should also provide accurate information about any health-related issues that may affect your volunteering experience. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you will be insured throughout your activity through the insurance plan set up by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and the European Commission and operated by Henner/Axa. Our guide on the agreement you sign before starting goes through that document clause by clause, insurance for ESC volunteers explains how the cover is arranged, and preparing before you go lists what to pack and prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides whether you get a visa?
In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, it is the ultimate decision of a country's authority to issue a visa or residence permit. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you can request and should receive help from the participating organisations in obtaining a visa, for example by providing you a supporting letter. Our guide on preparing before you go walks through the visa paperwork and the help you can ask for.
Do you need a residence permit as well as a visa?
In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, you might need either a visa and/or a residence permit to take part in your volunteering activity. In the European Solidarity Corps and in Erasmus+, the authorisations required are short or long-term stay visas or residence permits. Our guide on your first steps as an ESC volunteer puts the visa and residence permit next to the other first tasks.
How early should you apply?
According to the European Solidarity Corps Guide and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, it is strongly recommended that the authorisations are requested from the competent authorities well in advance, since the process may take several weeks. In Humanitarian Aid Volunteering, the process may take several weeks or months. Our guide on the full timeline from application to departure helps you count back from your start date.
How are visa costs funded?
In European Solidarity Corps Volunteering Projects, visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations, medical certifications and clearance requirements costs are exceptional costs at 100 % of eligible costs, and the request for financial support for exceptional costs must be motivated and approved. In Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges, mobility projects for youth workers and Youth participation activities, visa and visa-related costs, residence permits, vaccinations and medical certifications are exceptional costs at 100% of eligible costs, and the request must be justified and approved. Our guide on what being fully funded means lists the exceptional costs on the European Solidarity Corps side, and what Erasmus+ covers is the Erasmus+ counterpart.
Where can you check the rules for the hosting country?
In the European Solidarity Corps, the EU Immigration Portal contains general information on visa and residence permits, for both short-term and long-term stays, at https://immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu/index_en. In Erasmus+, the EU Immigration Portal contains general information on visa and residence permits, for both short-term and long-term stays, at https://ec.europa.eu/immigration/. National Agencies and the Executive Agency may give further advice and support concerning visas, residence permits and social security. Our guide on what happens if you leave a project early covers the situation if your plans change after you arrive.
Start the paperwork early
Our guide on the full timeline from application to departure shows where the visa step sits between your offer and your departure. The related pages below from Youth Works Hub cover each part of this guide in more detail.
Related pages: which countries can take part · opportunities for young people outside the EU · preparing before you go · the agreement you sign before starting · the full timeline from application to departure
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/category/esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/category/erasmus-projects
