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DiscoverEU: a pass to travel around Europe by train at 18

Twice a year the European Union gives tens of thousands of rail passes to people turning 18: you apply online by answering a short quiz.

Official page

At a glance

Who can take partPeople turning 18 in the year of the round who are citizens or residents of an EU country or an associated country. In the October 2026 round, people born in 2008 could take part
What you winA pass for 7 days of train travel within a period of up to 30 days, plus a discount card valid across Europe. In the October 2026 round there are about 40,000 passes
What is not coveredFood, accommodation, insurance and other travel costs are paid by the traveller
How to applyOnline, on the European Youth Portal: you answer 5 multiple-choice questions about the European Union and an estimate question used as a tie-breaker. You can apply alone or in a group of up to 5 people
WhenUsually two rounds a year, in spring and autumn. The autumn 2026 round closed on 15 October (travel from March 2027 to May 2028); the date of the next one has not been announced yet

How it works, step by step

  1. 1 · Check your age

    Each round says which dates of birth it covers: usually people turning 18 that year.

  2. 2 · Prepare for the quiz

    The questions are general knowledge about the European Union and its initiatives for young people: the European Youth Portal pages are enough to prepare.

  3. 3 · Apply on the right days

    A round stays open for about two weeks and closes at noon, Brussels time. You need an EU Login account.

  4. 4 · If you win

    You receive the pass and the discount card; you choose your travel dates within the period given and activate the pass before the deadline.

Questions

Is it really free?

The pass is; food, accommodation and seat reservations on some trains are not.

Can I travel with friends?

Yes, you can apply as a group of up to 5 people, all meeting the age requirement; the group wins or loses together.

Official links

More opportunities in Europe

  • European Solidarity Corps: Volunteering in another country, with travel, food, accommodation and a small allowance paid for.
  • ALMA: For 18 to 29-year-olds not in work or education: preparation in Italy and 2 to 6 months of work in another country.
  • Erasmus+ for recent school leavers: A traineeship in a European company within a year of your diploma or vocational qualification, with a grant.
  • Working in Europe with EURES: Job offers across the European Union and, when available, a contribution towards the interview and the move.
  • EU competitions: to work in the European institutions.

Sources: DiscoverEU rules, autumn 2026 round, checked on 26 October 2026. Texts written by Posso partecipare?: the official pages and calls always prevail. · Legal notice (in Italian)