Erasmus+ accreditation is the key that opens the door to European educational mobility for your school. However, the process can feel overwhelming if you are not familiar with the steps, deadlines and requirements set by your National Agency. In this guide we explain everything you need to know to obtain it.
What is Erasmus+ accreditation?
Erasmus+ accreditation in the field of school education is a recognition granted by the National Agency to schools that demonstrate a strategic commitment to internationalisation and the improvement of educational quality through European mobility.
There are two main pathways:
- KA120 (Erasmus+ Accreditation): for individual organisations seeking recurring access to mobility funding.
- KA121: annual funding application for already accredited organisations.
- KA122: short-term mobility projects for non-accredited organisations (entry route).
Accreditation is not mandatory to participate in Erasmus+, but it offers a huge advantage: guaranteed access to annual funding without having to submit a new project each time.
Requirements for accreditation
For your school to be eligible for Erasmus+ accreditation in school education, you need to meet these requirements:
- Be a recognised educational institution acknowledged by the relevant education authority.
- Have an Erasmus+ Plan describing how mobility fits into the school's improvement strategy.
- Define clear and measurable objectives linked to internationalisation, pedagogical improvement and teacher professional development.
- Have organisational capacity to manage mobilities.
- Be registered on the ORS platform (Organisation Registration System) and hold a valid OID.
The step-by-step process
1. Registration on the ORS platform
The first step is to register your school on the European Commission's ORS system. Here you will obtain an OID (Organisation ID), the unique identifier for your school across the entire Erasmus+ ecosystem. You will need basic school data, legal documents and an authorised contact person.
2. Drafting the Erasmus+ Plan
This is the key document of the application. It must include:
- School context: current situation, challenges and needs.
- Strategic internationalisation objectives.
- Planned mobility activities (students, teachers or both).
- How learning outcomes will be integrated into the school's teaching practice.
- Quality management and impact assessment.
"The Erasmus+ Plan is not a bureaucratic formality — it is the roadmap that demonstrates your school has a clear vision of how European mobility will improve the education you provide."
3. Submitting the application
The application is submitted via the National Agency's web forms during the open call (usually between October and February, although dates may vary). Meeting deadlines is critical: a late application is automatically excluded.
4. Evaluation and resolution
The National Agency evaluates applications against quality, relevance and feasibility criteria. The process usually takes 3 to 6 months. If accreditation is granted, your school can apply for annual funding (KA121) through a simplified procedure.
How much funding can you get?
Erasmus+ funding covers several items:
- Organisational Support (OS): a fixed amount per participant to cover the school's management costs.
- Travel: a contribution based on the distance between the sending and receiving school.
- Individual Support: per diem and accommodation for participants depending on the destination country.
- Course Fees: for teacher training activities (KA1).
The total Erasmus+ budget for 2021–2027 is €26.2 billion, nearly double the previous period. The opportunities are enormous.
Where does EuryGo come in?
Accreditation is the door; the mobilities are what your staff actually live. Once your school is accredited (or has an approved KA122 project), you choose the activities for your Erasmus+ Plan — and structured courses are among the most common.
EuryGo runs structured KA1 teacher training courses in Jerez de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in southern Spain: six days, small groups, an attendance certificate and Europass documentation, fully fundable with your KA1 grant. See the course catalogue or work out how much your grant covers.
Key deadlines for 2025
Although exact dates are published in each annual call, these are the indicative deadlines:
- October–November: accreditation call opens.
- February: usual deadline for accreditation applications.
- March–April: deadline for KA121 funding applications (already accredited schools).
- June–July: provisional resolution of applications.
If your school is thinking about taking the step towards internationalisation, don't wait until the last minute. The sooner you start preparing your Erasmus+ Plan, the stronger your application will be.