18-year-olds can apply for DiscoverEU travel passes

DiscoverEU free train passes are available in a new European Commission round. The round offers 40,000 free travel passes. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

It is open to 18-year-olds who want to explore Europe mainly by rail. Applications opened on April 8, 2026. They close on April 22, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Who can apply for DiscoverEU free train passes?

Applicants were born between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, according to the DiscoverEU call page. They come from European Union member states or countries associated with the Erasmus+ program. The associated countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkiye. Selection is based on a five-question quiz about the European Union. It also includes one additional question from the European Youth Portal.

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Travel by train for up to 30 days

Successful applicants will be able to travel between July 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027. The application round ends well before the travel period begins. According to the DiscoverEU rules, the DiscoverEU pass can be used for up to 30 days. Within that period, it covers 7 days of actual travel. Meanwhile, train travel remains the main mode of transport. Special arrangements are available where rail travel is not possible.

In addition, participants receive a discount card. It covers public transportation, accommodation, culture, food, sports, and other services in eligible countries. Also, the program includes pre-departure meetings and DiscoverEU events. There, young people can meet other participants and receive more information about the European Union.

DiscoverEU Inclusion Action and program background

Additional support is available for young people with disabilities, health conditions, or disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Through the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action, this support may include extra funding. It may also include the option to travel with an accompanying person.

DiscoverEU was launched in 2018 at the request of the European Parliament. It is part of the Erasmus+ 2021–2027 program. As the European Commission notes, the initiative has received more than 1.9 million applicants. There have been 431,931 passes available since the initiative began. In the most recent survey, 72% said it was their first train trip outside their country of residence. More than two-thirds said they would not have been able to afford the trip without the program.

Separately, the initiative also supports rail mobility in Europe. The Commission presents train travel as the main option. This is in line with broader goals for more sustainable transportation.

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