Promoting complementary pathways linked to education

In the context of the AMIF-2025 Call the main target group are migrant third-country nationals legally residing in the EU, with more specific target groups being described under each topic in terms of age, gender, potential status, etc. The legal status of the migrants benefiting from the implementation of the proposal does not form a part of admissibility or eligibility criteria. However, the relevance of each proposal is assessed in relation to how well the proposed activities in connection with the selected target group(s) and envisaged results will help achieve the specific objectives and the expected outcome outlined under each topic.

The target group of final beneficiaries under topic AMIF-2025-TF2-AG-INTE-04-PATHWAYS is non-EU nationals (third-country nationals or stateless persons), who are residing outside the EU in their country of first asylum. As stated in the call documentPDF, “projects should be designed in a way to promote the integration of beneficiaries in the host society” these beneficiaries are persons in need of international protection arriving from countries of first asylum.

The proposed activities can refer to students being matched to European higher education institutions or recognised institutions offering vocational education and training.

In the context of the Call for proposals, AMIF-2025-TF2-AG-CALL-INTE, the term "international organisations" is used as defined in Article 159 of the Financial Regulation (Euratom 2024/2509) - ''international public-sector organisations set up by international agreements (international organisations) and with specialised agencies set up by such organisations''.

Please note that for the AMIF-2025-TF2-AG-INTE call, as stated in section 6 Eligibility of the call document, in order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

− be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

− EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), excluding Denmark

− non-EU countries: countries associated to the AMIF (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature.

Please note that currently, there are no countries associated or that are negotiating their association to AMIF. Please refer to the information published on the DG HOME website: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.

Therefore, only entities legally established in a Member state are eligible for this call. Entities established in a third country cannot take part in the project as a project partner (co-applicant/co-beneficiary) and declare costs under the project.

The Annotated Grant Agreement, “1. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) (D.1): Types of costs — Form — Eligibility conditions — Calculation; 1.1. What?” states that in relation to Financial Support to Third Parties “This cost category can only cover financial support. By contrast, cost for non-financial support or support given in-kind (e.g. vouchers) must be declared under other categories (e.g. as cost for purchases of vouchers)”.

Any costs must comply with the general eligibility conditions defined in Article 6.1. of the Grant Agreement.

Further note that the relevance of each proposal is assessed in relation to how well the proposed activities and its associated costs will help achieve the specific objectives and the expected outcome outlined under each topic.

The Model Grant AgreementPDF, “Article 6.1 General eligibility conditions” defines the general conditions for costs to be eligible under this call. Furthermore, the call documentPDF, section “Budget categories and cost eligibility rules” lists the eligible budget categories of this call.

In the context of activities to facilitate refugee students’ integration in the destination country by providing tailored support, two specific considerations that are the result of the general eligibility conditions should be met:

1. Direct costs of the project

As stated in the call document, “any costs incurred in the implementation of legal pathways (e.g., pre-departure and post-arrival activities) must be direct costs of the project. Stipends and allowances for students in need of international protection are not eligible costs in this call for proposals.”. No forms of lump-sums, allowances, or stipends, or any other form or repetitive/regular reimbursements of expenses or payment transferred to the final beneficiaries are eligible under this call, as this would constitute financial support to third parties, which is listed as an ineligible budget category in the call documentPDF, section “Budget categories and cost eligibility rules”.

2. No access to existing national programmes

Whenever part of the costs, for instance for housing, language courses, or access to basic services, can be covered by programs already in place at national or local level, then these costs are not eligible, as they would not be “necessary for the implementation of the action” (Model Grant AgreementPDF, Article 6.1.). Applicants should take all the necessary measures to ensure that they integrate guidance and assistance services for final beneficiaries to access existing schemes to the highest extent possible in their proposal.