Today, 41 Maltese 18-Year-Olds Can Apply To Travel Across Europe For Free
If you’re 18, then it’s your lucky day: because you qualify to apply for a rail pass that allows you to travel across the EU largely for free.
The travel pass is part of a European initiative called DiscoverEU, encouraging young people to explore the continent within the confines of the union.
To qualify for this pass you need to be born between 1st July 2005 and 30th June 2006, as well as a citizen or resident of one of the following countries: an EU member state including overseas countries and territories (OCTs), or one of the third countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme: Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye.
Meanwhile, each country has a quota of how many participants can go up – 41 people will be chosen from Malta.
To apply, you need to fill out an online form and then participate in a quiz unless you apply as a group member.
If selected, you can travel for a period of a minimum one day and up to 30 days between 1st July 2024 and 30th September 2025.
If you’re not much of a solo traveller, this doesn’t have to be something you do alone. You can go with up to four friends, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, who will use your application code to submit their own application.
Lucky winners will automatically become DiscoverEU Ambassadors, as such, you’ll have to share your travel experiences on social media using #DiscoverEU.
As a basic rule, awarded applicants will have to travel by rail. But, where necessary the action offers alternative transport modes as ferries and coaches, taking into account environmental, time and distance considerations.
In exceptional cases, and when no other transportation means are available, young people will be offered travel by plane, ensuring that youths living in remote areas or islands, like Malta, will also have a chance to take part in this amazing journey.
Travellers will also be granted a European Youth Card (EYCA) which will be available for activation in the dedicated DiscoverEU Travel App, accessible to participants after completing the booking process. The card is valid for one year after its activation and will give young people discounts for visits and activities in culture, learning, nature, sports, local transportation, accommodation, food, and more.
Selected applicants will be able to travel over a period of maximum one month, with a set number of seven travel days. This means that they can travel on trains on any seven days within an overall period of one month. They’d also need to travel to at least one foreign country.
Applications opened today and they close on 30th April at 12pm, so click here if you’re interested.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Will you be applying for this initiative?
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