Erasmus+ for organisations in Portugal: 2026 guide

Portugal has one of the most established Erasmus+ traditions in Europe. From Lisbon to the Azores, Portuguese schools, universities, VET providers, NGOs, youth organisations and public bodies have been active in the programme since its earliest years — and the 2026 call continues to offer significant opportunities across all sectors and all regions, including the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.

This guide covers the complete Erasmus+ landscape for Portuguese organisations in 2026 — which actions are open, how much funding is available, which National Agency handles which field, what the 2026 deadlines are, and how to build a competitive application in one of Europe’s most experienced Erasmus+ markets.

Who is eligible for Erasmus+ in Portugal?

Erasmus+ is open to a wide range of organisations legally established in Portugal — on the mainland, in the Azores and in Madeira. Eligible types include:

• Schools — agrupamentos de escolas, escolas não agrupadas, escolas profissionais and other pre-primary, primary and secondary education providers
• VET providers — centros de formação profissional, centros de emprego e formação profissional (IEFP), escolas profissionais and other organisations providing initial or continuing vocational training
• Higher education institutions — universities, polytechnics (institutos politécnicos) and other accredited HEIs holding a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)
• Adult education providers — centros de qualificação e ensino profissional (CQEP), associações de educação de adultos and non-formal adult learning providers
• NGOs and civil society organisations — associações, fundações and other non-profit bodies active in education, youth, culture, social inclusion or civic participation
• Youth organisations — associações juvenis, youth centres and informal groups of young people (for KA152)
• Public bodies — autarquias (câmaras municipais, juntas de freguesia), regional authorities and public institutions active in education or youth
• Enterprises and companies providing structured workplace training as part of VET programmes

All organisations must hold a valid Organisation ID (OID) before submitting any application. Registration is free on the EU Academy portal and takes up to 10 working days. Organisations in the Azores and Madeira follow the same OID process as mainland Portugal.

Portugal’s two National Agencies

Like Italy and Spain, Portugal has two separate National Agencies for Erasmus+ — one for education, training and adult learning, and one for youth.

Agência Nacional Erasmus+ E&F — for education, VET and adult learning

The Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação manages all Erasmus+ actions in the fields of school education, vocational education and training, adult education and higher education in Portugal. This includes KA1 mobility for schools, VET and adult education, KA210 and KA220 in these fields, the Erasmus Accreditation and KA131 higher education mobility.

Agência Nacional Erasmus+ JA — for youth actions

The Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude em Ação manages all Erasmus+ youth actions in Portugal — Youth Exchanges (KA152), Youth Worker Mobility (KA153), Youth Participation Activities (KA154) and KA210/KA220 in the youth field. It also manages the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action (KA155).

The choice of agency depends entirely on your field and the action you are applying for. If your organisation works across both education and youth fields, you can apply to both agencies with separate applications in the same call. Your OID is the same for both.

Erasmus+ actions available to Portuguese organisations

KA210 — Small-Scale Partnerships (recommended starting point)

KA210 is the most accessible and recommended first action for Portuguese organisations applying to Erasmus+ for the first time. Lump sum grants, no receipts required, no experience needed and a minimum of just two partners.

Portuguese organisations are particularly attractive KA210 partners for organisations across Southern Europe, the Lusophone world and Latin America — Portugal’s geographic position, strong civil society sector and linguistic connections make it a natural bridge in many European cooperation consortia.

KA220 — Cooperation Partnerships

KA220 is the full-scale cooperation action for Portuguese organisations with prior EU project experience and an innovation or systemic impact objective. Three lump sum tiers from €120,000 to €400,000 for projects of 12–36 months with at least 3 partners from 3 countries.

KA122-SCH — Short-term Mobility for Schools

Portuguese schools at all levels can fund staff professional development abroad through job shadowing, teaching assignments and training courses. No prior experience required, maximum 30 participants per project, managed by Agência Nacional E&F.

KA122-VET — Short-term Mobility for VET

Portuguese centros de formação profissional and other VET providers can fund learner placements, staff job shadowing and ErasmusPro long-term learner placements abroad. Maximum 30 participants per short-term project, maximum 3 short-term grants in any 5-year period before accreditation is expected.

KA122-ADU — Short-term Mobility for Adult Education

Portuguese organisations providing adult education — associações de educação de adultos, CQEP, social solidarity institutions and non-formal adult learning providers — can fund staff professional development through learning visits and training courses abroad. No 50% course fee cap for adult education.

KA152 — Youth Exchanges

Portuguese youth organisations can send or host groups of young people aged 13–30 for structured non-formal learning exchanges with partner groups from other programme countries. Two rounds per year, managed by Agência Nacional JA.

KA153 — Youth Worker Mobility

Professional development for Portuguese youth workers, trainers and non-formal educators through learning visits, seminars and job shadowing abroad. Two rounds per year, managed by Agência JA.

Erasmus Accreditation — School, VET and Adult Education

Portuguese schools, VET providers and adult education organisations committed to long-term European mobility can apply for the Erasmus Accreditation — simplified annual access to KA1 mobility funding without reapplying each year.

The Azores and Madeira: special considerations

Portuguese organisations based in the Azores and Madeira are fully eligible for all Erasmus+ actions on the same terms as mainland organisations. However, the 2026 Programme Guide includes a specific provision for organisations in outermost regions — which includes the Azores and Madeira — regarding travel costs.

2026 Erasmus+ deadlines for Portuguese organisations

All deadlines at 12:00 Brussels time. Always verify with Agência E&F (erasmusplus.pt) or Agência JA (juventude.gov.pt/erasmusplus) before submitting — both agencies publish national guidance and may adjust deadlines after the Programme Guide is released.

How much funding can Portuguese organisations receive?

The individual support rate for Portugal as a destination is €140/day — Country Group 2, alongside Greece, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia. When Portuguese participants travel to higher-cost destinations the applicable rate changes — €160/day to Germany, France or Italy, €180/day to Norway, Sweden or Denmark.

Portugal’s strengths as an Erasmus+ partner

Portuguese organisations are among the most sought-after Erasmus+ partners in Europe, particularly for coordinators in Southern Europe and the Balkans. Several factors make Portugal a highly attractive consortium member:

• Atlantic and Mediterranean bridge — Portugal’s geographic position at the western edge of Europe, combined with its cultural connections to Brazil, Africa and the Lusophone world, gives projects a genuinely transatlantic dimension that evaluators value in cooperation and youth projects
• Strong NGO and adult education sector — Portugal has a well-developed civil society with significant experience in EU-funded projects, particularly in adult education, social inclusion and non-formal learning
• Experienced youth sector — the Portuguese youth sector has been active in European youth programmes since the earliest years of the programme, with strong connections across Southern Europe and the Lusophone world
• Linguistic diversity asset — Portuguese-speaking organisations bring a linguistic dimension to projects that is unique among Western European programme countries, relevant for projects addressing multilingualism, intercultural dialogue and language learning
• €140/day individual support rate — slightly below the Western European average, hosting activities in Portugal is cost-effective for international participants while still offering a high-quality environment

The 2026 priorities for Portuguese organisations

The four horizontal priorities apply to all Erasmus+ applications. Portuguese organisations are naturally well-positioned across several:

• Inclusion and diversity — Portugal’s immigrant communities (particularly from Portuguese-speaking African countries and Brazil), Roma communities, rural populations and people facing social exclusion all represent genuine inclusion contexts. Adult education organisations working in basic skills and social integration are particularly well-aligned
• Digital transformation — digital skills for educators, youth workers and adult learners; digital tools in non-formal education; addressing digital exclusion in rural and coastal communities
• Environment and climate change — Portugal’s coastal geography, climate vulnerability and renewable energy transition create strong environmental education contexts. Green travel (train) is practical for many Portuguese routes to Spain and France
• Democratic participation — civic education, media literacy, active citizenship and European values — particularly relevant for youth organisations given Portugal’s younger population and active civil society tradition

Common mistakes Portuguese organisations make when applying

Submitting to the wrong National Agency. Submitting a youth project to Agência E&F or an adult education project to Agência JA is a basic eligibility error. Always confirm which agency handles your field and action before submitting.

Not addressing the Azores or Madeira travel cost provision. Organisations in the autonomous regions often budget using standard unit costs and then discover at reporting stage that their actual travel costs were significantly higher. If you are based in the Azores or Madeira, discuss exceptional travel cost eligibility with the Agência Nacional before building your budget.

Selecting the wrong KA210 lump sum tier. The grant tier must be proportionate to the activities described. A €60,000 application with a thin activity plan for a first-time Portuguese applicant will score poorly on the Quality of Project Design criterion. Start at €30,000 with a focused, realistic project.

Generic inclusion language without genuine design. Both Agência E&F and Agência JA evaluators are experienced at identifying applications that mention inclusion priorities without designing specific measures. Genuine inclusion must be built into your project from the planning stage — not added as a paragraph in the application form.

Leaving OID registration too late. OID registration takes up to 10 working days. Many Portuguese organisations start the process in late January before the February deadline. Register as soon as you decide to apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Portuguese associação sem fins lucrativos apply for Erasmus+?

Yes. Non-profit associations (associações sem fins lucrativos) registered in Portugal are fully eligible for all relevant Erasmus+ actions, including KA210, KA220, KA152 and KA153. Your OID registration should reflect your current legal form and registration number with the relevant Portuguese authority.

Can the same Portuguese organisation apply to both Agência E&F and Agência JA in the same call?

Yes — if your organisation works across both education/adult learning and youth fields. Each application is evaluated independently by the respective agency. Your OID is the same for both applications.

What is the individual support rate for activities hosted in Portugal?

The Programme Guide reference rate for Portugal as a destination is €140/day — Country Group 2. This is the reference rate; verify the exact rate with the relevant Agência Nacional before building your budget as they may publish rates within the allowed range.

Can a Portuguese organisation from the Azores coordinate an Erasmus+ project?

Yes — organisations in the Azores and Madeira are fully eligible to coordinate Erasmus+ projects on the same terms as mainland organisations. The exceptional travel cost provision is a budget consideration, not an eligibility restriction. Contact the Agência Nacional E&F for specific guidance on how to handle outermost region travel costs in your application.

Can a Portuguese school apply for KA210 and KA122-SCH in the same call?

Yes. There is no rule preventing a school from applying for both a KA1 mobility project and a KA210 cooperation project in the same call. Both go to Agência E&F and are evaluated independently.

All programme information is based on the official Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 (Version 1, published 12 November 2025). The individual support rate of €140/day for Portugal is confirmed from the Programme Guide Country Group 2. The outermost regions provision (Azores and Madeira) is confirmed from Programme Guide Part B. Always verify current national information with Agência E&F (erasmusplus.pt) or Agência JA (juventude.gov.pt/erasmusplus) before submitting. GrowthProjects.eu is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with either agency, the European Commission or EACEA.