How to apply for Erasmus+ funding in 2026: step-by-step guide

Erasmus+ 2026 remains one of the most strategic European funding opportunities for NGOs, schools, universities, training providers and, in some partnership formats, SMEs. The programme is demanding, but it is not reserved for insiders. What matters most is choosing the right action, proving that your organisation is eligible, and translating your idea into a clear work plan with a realistic budget. If you are preparing your first application, this guide shows how to apply for Erasmus+ funding in 2026 step by step, without jargon and without relying on outdated rules from previous programming periods.

• ›NGOs, associations and youth organisations
• ›Schools, colleges, secondary education institutions and VET providers
• ›Higher education institutions and universities
• ›Adult education organisations and training centres
• ›Local and regional authorities, public bodies and specialised agencies
• ›Foundations, social enterprises and sector networks
• ›Companies and SMEs participating in selected cooperation formats

Your organisation usually needs to be legally established in an eligible Erasmus+ country for the action concerned. For partnership projects, eligibility is not only about legal status. Evaluators also look at whether each partner has a credible operational role, a relevant profile and a clear contribution to the expected results. A weak consortium often fails before the writing phase is even over.

KA1 is usually the simpler option for organisations entering Erasmus+ for the first time. It is easier to explain, easier to budget and more directly tied to participant activities. KA2 becomes relevant when you need a transnational partnership to design, test or scale a shared result. In 2026, that distinction matters because evaluators expect tight alignment between the action chosen, the work plan and the budget narrative.

1. 1Start with the problem, not the form. Define the need you want to address, the target groups, the expected change and why a European framework is necessary.
2. 2Choose the right action and call. Decide whether your project is fundamentally a mobility project (KA1) or a cooperation project (KA2), then confirm the relevant call with the competent National Agency or centralised call manager.
3. 3Register your organisation early. For many Erasmus+ applications, you will need an Organisation ID (OID) through the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps registration system. Do not leave this to the final week.
4. 4Build the work plan before writing polished text. Clarify objectives, work packages, responsibilities, milestones, outputs, dissemination activities and risk management. If the work plan is weak, the narrative will not save it.
5. 5Prepare the budget as a consequence of implementation choices. In KA1, connect the budget to participants, duration and destinations. In KA2, justify the requested lump sum through credible deliverables and a proportionate workload.
6. 6Draft the form against the evaluation logic. Use the official criteria as your checklist: relevance, quality of design, partnership quality, impact, dissemination and feasibility.
7. 7Submit early and check the annexes. Many proposals are weakened by missing attachments, internal inconsistencies or last-minute technical issues that could have been avoided with a 48-hour buffer.

Three items deserve extra attention. First, OID registration is administrative but essential. Second, the work plan is the backbone of the application because it proves that your consortium can deliver. Third, the budget is never just a number to fill in. Evaluators read it as a credibility test: if the requested funding level does not match the activities, timeline and outputs, the whole proposal becomes fragile.

• ›Applying under the wrong action because the team confuses mobility with partnership logic
• ›Starting OID registration or partner collection too late
• ›Using generic objectives instead of measurable outcomes and a clear problem statement
• ›Building a consortium that looks formal on paper but weak in practice
• ›Using outdated Erasmus+ budgeting assumptions from older programme periods
• ›Treating dissemination and impact as optional sections instead of core evaluation topics
• ›Submitting too close to the deadline to fix annex, validation or formatting issues

Another frequent mistake is writing for yourself instead of writing for the evaluator. Internal project logic may feel obvious to your team, but evaluators only see what is clearly demonstrated in the form. If the link between need, activities, outputs, budget and impact is not explicit, they will assume the logic is weak. Clarity is not cosmetic in Erasmus+; it is part of the score.

Start with the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

Then check the official where-to-apply and National Agencies page.

For centralised actions and programme governance, review how Erasmus+ is managed, including the role of EACEA, on the official programme management page.