Questions we get asked. Answered plainly.

No. You need functional English — enough to follow group activities and communicate with participants. We specifically design for people whose English is "good enough", not native-speaker level. The application form can be completed by anyone with B1-level English.

No — and in fact, people for whom this would be a first international experience are exactly who we're trying to reach. No prior travel or Erasmus+ experience is needed or preferred.

Travel, accommodation, food, and a daily allowance are all covered by the Erasmus+ grant. The only real cost is your time. Some participants cover a small portion of very long travel distances, but VJMS absorbs the difference where possible.

Yes. You don't need to be enrolled at a university. Erasmus+ KA1 youth exchanges are open to anyone aged 18–30 in Austria — employed, unemployed, in education, or not.

18 to 30 for KA1 youth exchanges. Some specific programs have 18–25 windows. Each call we publish specifies the exact age range for that exchange.

You're eligible as a legal resident of Austria regardless of how long you've been here or where you're originally from. There's no citizenship requirement.

Between 5 and 21 days, depending on the project. Most first exchanges are 7–10 days. This time is fully covered — you're not paying for accommodation or food during that period.

We ask two short motivation questions (not a 14-page essay), basic personal information, and an accessibility/travel check. Selection favors clear motivation and group balance, not CVs or academic credentials.

Our first cohort launches Q3 2026. Join the interest list and you'll be among the first to hear when applications open. We send one short email per call — no spam.

No — exchanges are full-time programs running 7–10 days. You take leave from work or study for the duration. Most employers accommodate this for 1–2 weeks. Erasmus+ youth exchanges are non-formal education, not tied to any academic calendar.

18 to 30 inclusive. Some specific exchanges narrow the band (e.g. 18–25) depending on the host's project design. There is no exception below 18 for KA1 youth exchanges. ESC (European Solidarity Corps) has different rules and covers 18–30 as well.

Basic travel insurance is your responsibility. Your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) covers emergency medical care across EU countries. The host organisation arranges additional program insurance. VJMS can advise on what's adequate.

Yes. Any person with legal residence in Austria — including third-country nationals with a valid residence permit — can participate as a sending-country participant. You do not need Austrian citizenship or EU citizenship.

You book your own travel, keep all receipts, and submit them after the exchange. Reimbursement is calculated by distance band (under 500 km, 500–2000 km, over 2000 km), not actual cost. The ceiling per band is set by the European Commission and updated annually. VJMS can advance funds where needed.

Almost always English. No certificate is required — functional conversational English is enough. You do not need to speak the host country's language. If English is a barrier, there are inclusion support measures available.

VJMS Wien (Verein für Jugendmobilität und Solidarität) is run by its two founders — Shehroz Ali (Obmann/Chairperson) and Ahmed Abdelati (co-founder, board member). Both live in Vienna. Both came from elsewhere. The association is registered with the Austrian authorities under ZVR 1493880648.

Yes. We're a gemeinnütziger Verein (non-profit association) registered with the Austrian interior ministry (Vereinsbehörde). Our ZVR number is 1493880648 — you can verify us directly on the BMI Vereinsregister at zvr.bmi.gv.at/Start.

No. OeAD is Austria's National Agency for Erasmus+ — the government body that receives EU funding and distributes it to organizations like us. VJMS is a sending organization: we apply to OeAD for project funding, then run the exchanges and take our participants.

Q3 2026. We're in partner-building and application preparation now. Everything on our roadmap is public on the homepage.

Each project we run is funded by Erasmus+ grants — meaning the EU funds the actual exchanges. We also accept private donations and sponsorship to cover organizational costs (staffing, infrastructure, accreditation preparation) that Erasmus+ doesn't fund. We publish our finances transparently.

No. VJMS Wien is a beneficiary organisation — we apply for Erasmus+ grants through the OeAD (Austria's National Agency) and use them to run exchanges. The OeAD is the official National Agency; VJMS is an accredited sending/hosting organisation operating within the programme.

Primarily through Erasmus+ project grants administered by the OeAD. These grants cover 80–100% of participant costs for approved projects. Complementary funding comes from private supporters and foundations. VJMS does not charge participants.

Yes, if VJMS Wien is entered in the list of eligible organisations under § 4a EStG (Austrian Income Tax Act). Donations for charitable purposes (mildtätige Zwecke) and youth welfare qualify. We can provide a donation receipt on request.

VJMS Wien is registered in the Vereinsregister (ZVR 1493880648). The public register is searchable at zvr.bmi.gv.at. Our Impressum lists all legally required disclosure information.

VJMS Wien is a gemeinnütziger Verein (non-profit association) recognized under BAO §§ 34–47. Donations from Austrian corporate entities may be deductible under § 4a EStG. Private individual donations to youth associations are not currently deductible under Austrian law — see our funders guide for full detail.

Yes. Project-level sponsorship is possible for individual exchanges. Reach out to hello@vjms-wien.eu with "Sponsorship" in the subject line.

Erasmus+ funding is project-tied — it can only be spent on the specific approved project. Private support goes to organizational costs: staff capacity, infrastructure, accreditation prep, and programs that fall outside Erasmus+ scope.

We publish an annual transparency report. As a Verein we file annual accounts with the association authority. Our ZVR registration is publicly verifiable at zvr.bmi.gv.at/Start.

KA1 (Key Action 1) is about individual mobility — sending or hosting participants on short-term exchanges, trainings, or volunteering. KA2 (Key Action 2) is about cooperation — multi-country partnerships developing projects, tools, or practices together. VJMS runs both, but KA1 youth exchanges are our primary programme.

A typical KA1 application submitted in the February round receives a decision in June–July, with project start in August–September. Total lead time from application to first exchange is roughly 6–9 months. KA2 projects have longer timelines (12+ months from application to first activity).