UK and Switzerland to join the Erasmus+ Programme as of Call Year 2027: Frequently Asked Questions

They will become ‘third countries associated to the Programme’. Further information on including third countries in your project will be covered in the Programme Guide 2027, once available.

Both Switzerland and the United Kingdom will be eligible to participate in all three networks, depending on their individual capacity. We do not have an update on progress per initiative, per country.

For projects funded before 2027, organisations from Switzerland and the United Kingdom could only take part as associated partners, and only if this was allowed under the specific action. This rule will continue to apply for all projects that started before 2027.

The planned association of the United Kingdom would not change the existing visa provisions; the same rules as today would continue to apply. EU nationals generally do not need a visa for short visits to the United Kingdom usually for up to 6 months. However, they may need pre-travel authorisation before travelling, depending on the United Kingdom system in place for their nationality and travel date. For the most up-to-date details, you should consult the official United Kingdom government visa webpage: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Applicants and beneficiaries should take guidance from their National Agency. The following guidelines in relation to Switzerland and UK in 2027 can be followed.

Countries taking part in Erasmus+ currently fall into three main categories:

• EU Member States

• Third countries associated with Erasmus+, which take part in the programme under similar conditions to EU Member States 

• Third countries not associated with Erasmus+, which can take part in certain Erasmus+ actions, subject to specific rules. 

As of 2027, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will become associated third countries. This means that organising mobility projects with organisations from these countries will follow the established rules, applicable to any other organisation from a Member State or an associated third country. The detailed rules of implementation will be available in the 2027 Erasmus+ Programme Guide.

An organisation is considered a newcomer if it has not previously received support in a particular Erasmus+ action as either a coordinator or partner in either this programme or the previous programme.

Some organisations from Switzerland and the United Kingdom may already have participated in Erasmus+ actions that allowed partners from non-associated countries. These organisations would not necessarily be regarded as newcomers.