The European Commission would like to hear back from the young travellers and encourages them to share their experiences and adventures. That is why, once selected, all participants become DiscoverEU Ambassadors. They are invited to share their travel experiences through social media tools like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or by providing a presentation at their school or their local community. Participants are welcome to join the #DiscoverEU official Facebook Group .

When filling in the booking form, you will be asked to upload an image of a valid ID document (passport, national ID card), or to scan it with your device’s camera.

If you are selected, we recommend that you wait until you have received your new ID document before confirming your booking. If your passport/ID card expires after completion of your booking, make sure to have both your expired and new passport/ID card with you when travelling. You can have a scanned copy of your expired ID document with you when travelling.

When you apply, you can use your current passport or ID card, even if it has expired. However, should you be selected, you will need to be in possession of a valid ID document (passport or national ID card) when booking your travel pass with the external contractor and when travelling in Europe.

No. The external contractor who will book the trips can select any public transport mode and any operators or lines (private cars and chartered coaches are, as a general rule, excluded).

Yes, as long as they book and pay for the travel costs themselves. However, you are advised not to book tickets or accommodation in advance before your DiscoverEU travel pass is delivered.

If you want to apply, you must have a valid email address. There are many free e-mail providers you can use! Make sure you remember your credentials as communications will be sent to this email address.

The European Parliament, when establishing this initiative chose to focus on young people turning 18, as this age marks a major step to adulthood and to European citizenship.

Young people who travelled with DiscoverEU under the November 2019 application round are not eligible to submit a second application. In case they do so, it will be detected at submission stage. If at any stage during the implementation of the initiative, applications from young people who were granted a DiscoverEU travel pass under the November 2019 application round are being detected, either by the external contractor designated by the European Commission to take care of the travel bookings or by the European Commission itself, the applicant will be disqualified. However, the November 2019 application round, who are still 18 years old on 30 June 2020, can participate in this round too, if:

DiscoverEU is open exclusively to young people who will be 18 years old on 30 June 2020. This means that young people born between 1 July 2001 (included) and 30 June 2002 (included) are eligible to participate in this initiative. Applications must be submitted through the European Youth Portal during the application period running from Thursday 12 March 2020 12:00 CET until Thursday 26 March 2020 12:00 CET.

DiscoverEU is an initiative of the European Union giving 18-year-olds the opportunity to travel around Europe. By travelling mainly by rail (there are exceptions to allow those living on islands or in remote areas to take part), young people discover Europe’ stunning landscapes and its endless variety of cities and towns. This journey also gives them the chance to meet like-minded travellers, become more independent and confident as well as explore their EU identity. Young people can apply during the two application rounds taking place each year and the European Union awards the selected ones with a travel pass.

Young people on the reserve list can be contacted with an invitation to register on the booking platform. Those contacted towards the end of the project, due to being on the reserve list, cannot claim reimbursement for travels made prior to the invitation, nor request an extension of the travel period.

All unselected applicants are placed on a reserve list, organised per nationality and in accordance to their replies to the quiz and the subsidiary question. When a selected applicant withdraws their application or if the value of the travel passes awarded is lower than the available budget, the European Commission may award travel passes to applicants placed on the reserve list up to the complete use of the available budget. Inclusion on the reserve list does not create any entitlement vis-à-vis the European Commission and does not guarantee to be selected at a later stage.

No. Each travel pass will be have your name printed on it and cannot be transferred to another person under any circumstance. The name on the travel pass cannot be changed.

If you have been selected as a member of a group, but your plans have changed and you would like to travel alone, you can do this. You must simply complete the booking form as an individual with your personal code. No further action is required and the other group members will not be affected.

If a member of your group (or the group leader) cancels her/his travel plans this decision will not affect the rest of the group and the remaining group members can still travel as planned. The person who withdrew cannot be replaced and the unused travel pass will be granted to a participant on the reserve list.

If you have been awarded a travel pass and your plans have changed, all you can do is withdraw your participation (see rule B.9) as you cannot transfer your travel pass to one of your friends. Furthermore, each travel pass will have the name of the participant printed on it, it cannot be changed or transferred to another person.

All you have to do is send an email with your application code to the external contractor who is designated by the European Commission to arrange the travel passes. This must be done before booking your trip via the booking form. Your pass will be given to someone on the reserve list. The external contractor's email address will be communicated to you if you are selected.

All participants are potential group leaders. As a participant, you are able to add up to 4 friends who match the eligibility criteria of DiscoverEU even if you have indicated in the application form that you want to travel alone. In order to enable your friends to join your application, you will have to provide them with your application code that you will receive via email. They will have to apply during the application period and be eligible to participate (see rule A.2).

If you have been awarded as a group leader but your group members have not been awarded, this means that your group members did not complete their application on time via the European Youth Portal platform, or that they did not meet the eligibility criteria, or that they did not click on the “submit” button in order to be registered at the end of the application process. This could also mean that your friend(s) submitted multiple application, in that case only the first one submitted was taken into account. Only the group members who have submitted their application by the deadline via the code provided by the group leader can participate in DiscoverEU.

Yes, a group application will be assessed as one single application. Please note that only the ones who register online (and are eligible to participate) before the end of the application period will be taken into account for the selection. A group can be composed of maximum 5 people.

Participants may travel either alone or in a group of maximum 5 people. You can indicate this in your application form. In case you decide to travel as part of a group, a group leader must be appointed on the group's behalf before you submit any application. The group leader fills in the application form, including the quiz questions and the subsidiary question. S/he will receive a code when submitting the application, which s/he should then communicate to the maximum 4 additional group members in order to allow them to register. Based on the code provided by the group leader, the remaining group members can then register online and fill in their personal data. All group members need to click on the “submit” button in order to be registered.

The selection will be carried out by nationality in accordance with the number of travel passes allocated to each country. This allocation is based on the share of each country’s population compared to the overall population of the European Union. In case there are fewer applicants for certain countries than the allocated travel passes foreseen, the remaining travel passes will be distributed equally among the countries where there are more participants than the quota foreseen. The quota per country will be published along with the selection results.

When the selection is done, all group members will receive the results per email. Please keep a copy of your DiscoverEU application code. Do not share it (e.g. on social media) except with the authorised external contractor from the European Commission. You can check the status of your application on the European Youth Portal . By mid-May 2020 all applicants will receive a notification. If you are not selected, you will be placed on a reserve list and you might be contacted at a later stage in case some selected participants decide to withdraw their application.

The selection of applicants will take place via an online registration tool available on the European Youth Portal, as stated above (see rule B1). Applicants must answer 5 multiple choice quiz questions and 1 subsidiary question. The European Commission will rank the applicants per nationality following their replies to the quiz and the subsidiary question. At least 30,000 young people will be selected among the applicants who have answered correctly to the quiz, and whose answer came closest to the subsidiary question. Young people with special needs (e.g. reduced mobility, visual impairments, etc.) will be entitled to receive appropriate additional support.

If you want to travel in a group and be the group leader, you must apply first and then provide all your group members with your application code. Group members will have to use this code to join your group online. In order to be selected within the application period mentioned above, all group members have to be 18 years old, submit their data and be eligible for DiscoverEU (see rule A2). Please note that all group members are only allowed to apply once. If you submit two applications or more, only the first application registered in the European Youth Portal will be the one to be considered for selection. Any other application from you (individually or in group) will be not be taken into account.

In order to benefit from the initiative, you will need to submit an application for a DiscoverEU travel pass via https://europa.eu/youth/discovereu once the application period is open. The application period will be open between Thursday 12 March 2020 12:00 CET until Thursday 26 March 2020 12:00 CET. Applicants of the November 2019 application round, who are still 18 years old on 30 June 2020, can participate in this round too, if:

C. TRAVELLING

C.1 How many days can I travel? You can travel between a minimum of 1 day and up to 30 days inclusive. The journey must take place between 1 July 2020 (first start date) and 28 February 2021 (last return date).

C.2 How many countries can I visit? This depends on the option chosen: fixed option: the number of destinations is limited to 2 countries or two cities within the same country;

flexible option: the number of countries is not limited. However, the number of travelling days is limited; e.g. one can be abroad for up to one month but within this one month not more than a certain number of days can be used for actual travelling (e.g. in a train). More information on the 2 options can be found in the questions below. The external contractor will also give more information if you are selected.

C.3 Can I start travelling from a country different from my country of residence? Yes, it is possible to start your travel from a country that is not your country of residence. However, the cost of going to that country/location is not covered by DiscoverEU and it is your responsibility.

C.4 Can I travel with local public transportation using my travel pass? Local public transportation and private transport are not included in the DiscoverEU travel pass. You should look yourself for information about the means of transportation, cost of tickets etc. in all your travel destinations before or during your trip. When choosing a flexible DiscoverEU travel pass, you can benefit from discounts on City Cards in a number of cities. Find out more on discounts.

C.5 What is a Flexible Travel Pass option? With a flexible travel pass, you will be able to travel over a period of 1 month, and travel physically on 7 travel days (meaning you can spend a set number of days on trains within this 1-month period). This flexible travel pass lets you ride on trains in virtually all the European Union Member States. You can travel at your own pace, and you can travel on trains operated by European railway companies. The dates on which you travel remain flexible. However, note that the flexible travel pass will have a ‘Start Date’. From this ‘Start Date’ on, your travel pass will be valid for one month. You can change your departure date, but keep in mind that you might lose some days of the validity of your travel pass. Once you book your travel pass, it is not possible to change its start date. You can use your travel pass as a normal travel ticket by simply filling in the travel details and board the train. Many high-speed trains, like the TGV or AVE trains, and Overnight Sleeper trains can be taken with this travel pass. However, you will have to pay additional ‘travel pass holder supplements’ for seat / sleeper berth reservations on them.

C.6 How to use the outbound/inbound ? You can use your Interrail Global Pass in your own country of residence (or citizenship) twice: one outbound trip (leaving your own country) and one inbound trip (entering your own country). This doesn't have to be the first or last trip, it can occur at any time of your trip. If you need more than one outbound and inbound journey, for instance to cross your own country during the trip, you can always buy additional point-to-point tickets from your country’s rail carrier. Outbound and inbound trips must be made during the validity of your travel pass. In addition to marking your travel days in the travel calendar of your travel pass (i.e. on the ticket itself), if you use an outbound or inbound journey during your travel days you should mark those dates also on the special boxes for outbound (leaving) and inbound (returning) in the travel diary that comes with your travel pass. You also need to specify the journey details (date, time and stations) in the travel diary. More information can be found on the Interrail website.

C.7 What is a Fixed travel option? With fixed travel passes, you have to select fixed travel dates which cannot be modified once your booking form has been submitted. Fixed travel passes will be booked in economy class. The number of countries you can visit with this option is limited to 2. Therefore, this option might be unsuitable if you want to visit several countries. Conversely, if you decide to visit only one country, which is a country neighbouring your own, the fixed travel option is a good solution. There are no reservation costs related to fixed travel passes, but there is a budget limit (EUR 258). Once you have applied for the 'fixed' travel option, the external contractor designated by the European Commission to arrange the travel bookings will provide you with the confirmation of the feasibility of your itinerary within 5 working days. In case the 'fixed' travel option proves unsuitable to accommodate your travel plans, the external contractor will recommend opting for the flexible option. To have a clearer idea of the feasibility of your travel plans, we recommend that you look into the website Rome2Rio, which can give you a good idea on whether your itinerary is feasible by rail, how many stops and trains you would need to take, how much time you can expect to travel via trains and a rough estimate of prices.

C.8 What is the difference between the fixed and the flexible travel option? Check the infographic: https://europa.eu/youth/sites/default/files/infographic_flexibleandfixed.pdf Flexible travel option Fixed travel option The dates on which you travel remain flexible. However, note that the Travel Pass will have a ‘start date’. From this start date on, your Travel Pass will be valid for one month. You will have to select fixed travel dates which cannot be modified once your booking form has been submitted. You will be able to travel over a period of one month, and travel physically on a set number of days (this means that you can spend a set number of days -7 in total- on trains within this month). The flexible travel option allows you to travel to many EU countries! You will be able to visit up to 2 countries which are Member States of the European Union at the time of the award decision (this does not include your starting country and it also does not include the countries you will cross) over a period of maximum one month. The selected applicants can travel on consecutive days, or they can spread them out during the travel period. They are allowed to travel on trains operated by European railway companies as well as on ferries and other means of transport selected by the external contractor designated by the European Commission. Please note that certain trains may require reservation. In these cases, selected applicants must make the train reservations themselves before or during their travel period. No supplements for train reservations or other costs encountered during the journey will be covered by the European Commission. There is a budget limit of 258€ that needs to be respected. So make sure your requested itinerary is feasible within this budget.

C.9 Will young people always travel by rail? Participants will, as a basic rule, travel by rail. Nevertheless, in order to ensure the widest possible access, DiscoverEU will offer alternative transport modes, such as coaches or ferries, taking into account environmental, time, and distance considerations. The use of flights will only be considered in exceptional cases. Exceptions include: Those residing in the nine outermost regions (i.e. Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, la Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Martin, Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands);

Those residing in countries/regions which are not accessible by the previous mentioned transportation means (rail networks, ferries and coaches);

When participants have to travel more than 18 hours in order to cross the border of their departure country;

For young people with reduced mobility or disabilities. This will be assessed on a case by case basis. Only one round trip from/to the country of origin can be a flight. Afterwards, the young people are required to travel by rail or other alternative modes (except private cars and chartered coaches).

C.10 Can I travel within one country to multiple locations? You can travel to as many cities and towns as you like (including those in your home country), as long as you visit at least one country abroad, and the number of travel days is not exceeded.

C.11 What if I have to cancel my trip or need to modify it? Any potential cancellation or modification fees will need to be covered by yourself. There is no extra budget foreseen to cover expenditures of this kind, whatever the reason. Different private travel insurances are available to cover such expenditures. If you wish to cancel your participation, please send an email to the external contractor. In this case an applicant on the reserve list will receive your travel pass. The external contractor's email address will be communicated to you if you are selected. If you have chosen the flexible travel option and you want to make any modifications, there is no need to inform the external contractor. For the fixed travel option, you will need to write to the external contractor.

C.12 How can I prepare my travel? On the European Youth Portal, you can find practical information and useful tips about travelling in Europe. You must possess a valid travel document/pass during your journey. Anything related to such a document (validity, etc.) is your responsibility. You are legally obliged to be in the possession of a valid passport or ID card when travelling in the European Union. Participants should also ensure that they possess a valid health insurance for the duration of their travels. Anything related to such a document (validity, etc.) is your responsibility.

C.13 What are my passenger rights? To be informed on your passenger rights, have a look at the European Youth Portal’s travelling section. Young people with disabilities can familiarise themselves with their rights via this link. Be aware that all provisions for those with disabilities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, making it easier to plan their trip.

C.14 Technical issues with your booking form In the event of technical issues, such as not receiving a confirmation code/email or details submitted incorrectly, please contact the external contractor responsible for the booking. The external contractor's email address will be communicated to you if you are selected. If you do not know the email address, you can reach out to the external contractor by sending a private message to European Youth on Facebook.

C.15 We are a group and someone needs to go home earlier. Can the rest of the group continue their journey? Yes, this is possible when choosing the flexible travel option.

C.16 Can I travel in a group, even though I am awarded as an individual? When choosing the flexible travel option, you are free to travel in a group, as well as change groups and even direction at any point during your trip. During the booking process make sure to put the same start date as the rest of the participants you want to travel with. The booking form automatically updates each day at midnight, and allows booking earliest 14 days prior to the date of departure. Therefore, to be safe, we recommend all group members to fill in the booking form approximately at the same time. Changing the departure date after booking is not possible.

C.17 Should I book the travel passes myself? No. You shall not book your travel passes yourself, as passes purchased separately shall not be reimbursed. Travel passes will exclusively be booked, purchased and delivered by the external contractor designated by the European Commission. You should also consider not booking and paying for any accommodation until you are sure about your travel dates and have received your travel pass.

C.18 What is the value of the travel pass? The basic rule is that each participant will be entitled to a travel pass worth EUR 258. Travel will only be in 2nd class. However, this amount can be higher in the exceptional cases referred to below: For participants travelling from the outermost regions (e.g. Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, la Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Martin, Madeira, Azores and Canary Islands) to mainland Europe. Once the participants land on the continent, the basic rule applies;

For participants outside the above-mentioned outermost regions who are entitled to travel by plane to mainland Europe. Once on the continent, the basic rule applies;

In some specific situations to be assessed on a case-by-case basis (e.g. for selected applicants residing in islands part of the EU) an extra journey by train/ferry/coach, might be covered;

For participants with reduced mobility and/or special needs. Costs to be assessed on a case by case basis according to their needs. Costs of special assistance (accompanying person, dog for visually impaired participants, etc.) might be covered based on the appropriate documents for justifying their special needs, as required under the national law of the residence Member State.

C.19 What are reservations costs, and are they included (flexible option)? No, reservation costs are not included in the flexible option pass. Trains reservations are required for most high-speed trains, international trains, some InterCity’s, and all overnight trains. However, with your travel pass, you can easily travel without reservations on many local and regional trains. This means you can travel between two cities connected with high-speed trains by taking slower or alternative routes with regional trains and avoid reservation costs. With the Rail Planner App you can easily filter out trains with reservations when you plan your journey. With the fixed travel option, reservations are included (see rule C5). Check the infographic

C.20 Are any of the following expenses included: travel insurance, accommodation, subsistence or any other expenses related to the trip? No. The initiative does not include any travel insurance. Insurance coverage is the sole responsibility of the participant. Moreover, accommodation and subsistence costs, as well as, travel expenses created by the participants' preferences (e.g. starting your travel from another country) or any other expenses related to the trip shall be covered only by the participants. Interrail offers discounts on accommodation, luggage storage and many other services throughout Europe (please see Eurail benefits portal). The participants should acquire appropriate health and travel insurance for the whole duration of the trip. Basic health insurance coverage is usually provided by the participant's national health insurance during his/her stay in another EU country through the European Health Insurance Card. However, the coverage of the European Health Insurance Card or private health insurance may not include all possible cases, especially if repatriation or specific medical intervention is needed. In that case, a complimentary private insurance is advisable.