Eligibility of New Entrepreneurs
Can I participate in the programme if my business exceeds 3 years of existence during my stay abroad?
Yes, entrepreneurs may apply as new entrepreneurs providing their business is younger than three years when registering for the programme.
Can the new entrepreneur be part of a cooperative?
Employees in cooperatives may be accepted as new entrepreneurs as long as they are firmly intending to start up their own business as well as meeting the other necessary eligibility requirements set by the programme.
Can a family member, who is planning to take over a family enterprise, participate in the programme as a new entrepreneur?
Yes, a family member, who has taken over the family business or who is planning to do so, may participate in the programme. While the business may have existed for more than 3 years, the new entrepreneur wasn’t heading the family business per se, and ...
Can an independent professional (for instance, a lawyer) apply as an entrepreneur in the programme?
Yes, according to the European Union definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprise, self-employed professionals are considered entrepreneurs. Independent professionals can participate in the programme as new entrepreneurs, provided that the ...
Can I participate in the programme as a new entrepreneur if I live outside the European Union?
Yes, interested new entrepreneurs must have their ‘permanent residence' in an EU Member State or in any of the other participating countries to participate in the programme and must intend to start their business in one of the participating ...
Can a new entrepreneur from Switzerland participate in the programme?
The current condition for all entrepreneurs, regardless of their nationality, applying for the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme, is to be a permanent resident in one ofparticipating country. Entrepreneurs from Switzerland can participate in ...
How can I find a host entrepreneur?
Once successfully accepted in the programme, all participants are listed in an online catalogue. Approved new and experienced entrepreneurs can search the programme's database for appropriate partners and make suggestions to their intermediary ...
Are legal entity forms of no profit cultural associations (NGOs) eligible?
NGOs, non-profit making organisations, foundations and cooperatives can participate in the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme providing they meet the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise definition set by the European Commission. In ...
Do new entrepreneurs benefit from financial assistance during the stay abroad?
Financial support to new entrepreneurs contributes to travel costs to and from the country of the stay and covers subsistence costs (in particular in terms of accommodation) during the visit. The details of the financial support are subject to an ...
Must the new entrepreneur find additional funds for his/her stay abroad?
Financial support to new entrepreneurs contributes to travel costs to and from the country of the stay and covers subsistence costs (in particular in terms of accommodation) during the visit. Under no circumstances will the European Commission accept ...
Who grants the financial support to new entrepreneurs?
The details of the financial support are subject to an agreement between the new entrepreneur and his/her intermediary organisation and reflect the overall living costs of the country of the stay. Grant agreements awarded by payment of monthly lump ...
Can I start an exchange with a host company working in a different sector to mine?
The business sector is an important criterion for finding a suitable business partner with whom to start an exchange. You may choose up to four different sectors for the exchange, but it is recommended you choose a host company from the same sector, ...
Can I participate in the programme even though my country of residence has no intermediary organisation working on the programme?
They are currently no intermediary organisations in Malta, FYROM, Armenia, Moldova and Luxembourg. It is unusual for host entrepreneurs from these countries to participate in the programme, as there are no intermediary organisations on site to ...
EU outermost regions
Can an NE or HE from an EU outermost region participate in the programme? Yes, the EU has eight regions that are geographically very distant from the European continent but that still form an integral part of the EU member countries they belong. ...