Participation in European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering activities must be free of charge for the volunteer. ESC volunteering is fully funded: technically you pay nothing, although you sometimes pay costs such as tickets and visas first and are reimbursed afterwards. Applying is completely free, and you do not need to write a project to take part in the ESC: you apply to the projects that are published. No fee is ever asked for applying, in ESC or Erasmus+ youth projects; nobody should pay anything at the application stage. Our guide on what ESC volunteering means for people tells the wider story, and our guide on the European Solidarity Corps explains the programme.
Last updated: November 2026.
What did volunteers find when they went?
For a volunteer from Denmark in Berlin, what mainly made the European Solidarity Corps interesting was that it was free. As the volunteer said: "To me it doesn't make sense to pay to do volunteer work because you offer your help".
For a project in France, a volunteer from Sweden read that all the costs would be covered: travel to and from the project, insurance, accommodation, money for food and even some pocket money. To that volunteer, it appeared to be "too good to be true", but the volunteer went to the program's website and realized that it was actually true.
From Austria to Roskilde: "What I really appreciated about the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is how financially accessible it is". The volunteer received some pocket money, did not need to pay rent, and even received some points at the café for meals and drinks, which was quite helpful in an expensive country like Denmark.
A volunteer from the Netherlands on a care farm in the Austrian Alps followed a German language course through the European Solidarity Corps. Many expenses were reimbursed, and besides lunch and dinner the volunteer got accommodation, travel expenses, insurance and pocket money.
For a volunteer from Finland in Wrocław, volunteering is not just free work, but also an investment in yourself. As the volunteer said: "It gives you the most precious experience in the world practically for free!"
Our guide on ESC volunteer stories has more experiences.
What is covered?
In practice, the European Solidarity Corps covers travel from your home town to the host organisation (paid according to distance bands, so if the ticket costs more than the band you may pay a small part yourself), food, accommodation, local transport between home and the workplace when needed, and visa and residence permit costs. Our guide on whether ESC is fully funded goes through each item.
Is there a catch?
You sometimes pay costs such as tickets and visas first and are reimbursed afterwards. Organisations should cover your expenditure as a participant in solidarity activities but should not provide you with salaries or an economic benefit. Pocket money is for personal needs only, because accommodation, food and insurance are already covered. Volunteers do not expect to earn anything, yet the competences they gain are their biggest return. Our guide on hidden costs in fully funded projects lists what can come up, and our guide on ESC pocket money explains the allowance.
Why is it free?
ESC and Erasmus+ are not charity but a policy investment; the EU funds them because they serve its own goals. The EU expects two things: real work done (in the environment, social services, education) and a person changed (a citizen who knows Europe, has learned a language and can work with other cultures). Our guide on EU-funded volunteering explains the options.
How do you know a free project is really free?
In both ESC and Erasmus+ youth projects, nobody pays anything at the application stage, and nobody transfers money to an organisation. In Erasmus+ youth projects that ask selected participants for a participation fee, the fee is usually deducted from the travel reimbursement, not paid in advance. A request for money under any name (application fee, placement fee, commission, booking fee, visa processing fee) is a warning sign of a fake or problematic call. Our guide on how to spot fake Erasmus offers covers the other warning signs.
Where do you find free projects?
European Youth Portal ESC opportunities are pulled into Youth Works Hub automatically several times a day. The Match page finds projects suited to you. Using Match requires creating an account on the site; signing up with Google is available but not required. In Youth Exchanges and youth worker activities, food and accommodation are fully covered for participants; this is mandatory, not an exception. Our guide on how to apply for ESC takes the steps one by one, our guide on how to register on the ESC Portal covers the account, and our guide on the ideal ESC volunteer explains what organisations look for.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need money before I go?
You sometimes pay costs such as tickets and visas first and are reimbursed afterwards. Our guide on hidden costs in fully funded projects lists what can come up.
Do I pay the organisation anything?
No: nobody pays anything at the application stage, and nobody transfers money to an organisation. In Erasmus+ youth projects that ask selected participants for a participation fee, the fee is usually deducted from the travel reimbursement, not paid in advance. Our guide on how to spot fake Erasmus offers covers the warning signs.
Can I join from outside the EU?
Young people from third countries not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4) can apply to the European Solidarity Corps and the Erasmus+ youth projects, but there are fewer places and more competition. Young people from countries that are not EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme neighbouring the EU (regions 1 to 4) cannot take part in the European Solidarity Corps or in the Erasmus+ youth projects (Youth Exchanges, Mobility projects for youth workers, Youth participation activities); for them, Erasmus+ higher education mobility, Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges (Region 9 only) and Erasmus Mundus are open. Our guide on who can apply goes through the conditions, and our guide on eligible countries lists the countries.
What is the next step?
Applying is completely free, and you do not need to write a project to take part in the ESC: you apply to the projects that are published. The Match page on Youth Works Hub finds projects suited to you. The Youth Works Hub pages below cover the next steps.
Related pages: whether ESC is fully funded · hidden costs in fully funded projects · how to spot fake Erasmus offers · ESC volunteer stories · how to apply for ESC
👉 ESC projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=esc-projects
👉 Erasmus+ projects: youthworkshub.org/?tab=erasmus-projects
