Great seems to be the resonance of Youth Pass to the new beneficiaries as so far 147.130 young people, 18 and 19 years oldhave applied to receive it, according to official data.
Of them, the 64.872 are the beneficiaries who had applied in 2024 and will receive additional amount of 150 euros. The platform vouchers.gov.gr will remain open for applications up to May 15th 2025while the Market Place consisting of businesses wishing to offer additional discounts and privileges to young, beneficiaries of Youth Pass is expected to be launched by the end of the month.
“There are still a few days, until May 15, so that young people 18 and 19 years old will apply for Youth Pass. It is an action with a social sign that enhances young people’s involvement in social life, as well as domestic tourism and cultural activity. 147 thousand young people and young people have already made the application, ”Dimitris Papastergiou said in a statement to RES-EIA, adding:
“It’s a simple and easy process through vouchers.gov.gr, which takes just a few minutes. All beneficiaries receive an intangible digital debit card, which they can use to book ferry tickets, go to concerts or theater, stay in some accommodation and more generally in the areas of tourism, culture and transport. In addition, within May, it is put into operation and a market place so that the beneficiaries receive additional discounts from the businesses that will join it. “
What is Youth Pass and who are the beneficiaries
The digital debit card of the program is a measure of encouragement and introduction of young people into cultural and tourism activities, strengthening the domestic cultural and tourism industry, as well as familiarization of young people using electronic transactions.
In other words, it can be used to make purchases or to receive services from businesses active in the fields of culture, tourism and transport. Indicatively, it can be used for purchases from airlines, hotel companies, accommodation, sea transport, ferry, e -books, movies, music, camping, cinema, museums and theater businesses.
Beneficiaries of Youth Pass per year are natural persons, tax residents of Greece, who have reached the 18th or 19th year of their age on December 31 of their preceding calendar year and have not reached the same 20th year on the same date.
Beneficiaries receive in Format Digital Debit Card 150 EUR In the year of application and, if they continue to meet the necessary conditions, in addition to EUR 150 in the following year. The budget of the program for 2025 is EUR 30 million and is funded by the regular budget. Young people, in order to submit their application, must first registered in the National Communication Registry (EMEP), in the emep.gov.gr.
By April 1stWhen the platform opened, more than 26,000 young people, belonging to the age categories where the program is addressed, received push notification in their digital wallet gov.gr Wallet to apply for Youth Pass.
Establishment of a Market Place Business Register
At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Governance, together with the relevant Ministries of National Economy and Finance and Home Affairs, decided to set up a registration of promotional operations (market place), in the context of enhancing young people and supporting their participation in social and cultural life.
The Registry is created by the Information Society (MAE), a body of the Ministry of Digital Governance and concerns businesses wishing to provide additional special discounts and privileges to young, beneficiaries of Youth Pass. That is, when a Youth Pass beneficiary is aimed at a company integrated into the Market Place, it will receive the additional discount offered by this business. In this way, young people will have a greater overall financial support through the Youth Pass initiative.
The Market Place is expected to be launched by the end of May, shortly after completion of applications for Youth Pass. Already, businesses have shown interest in joining the Market Place.
Businesses that will join the Registry should be active in the areas of tourism, culture and transport. Their participation in the Registry presupposes the provision of discounts to Youth Pass beneficiaries for as long as their digital card is active, regardless of whether purchases or transactions are carried out using the card or otherwise.
The aim of the initiative is to give young people incentives and conveniences to make the most of the Youth Pass program, enjoying more experiences, movements and cultural activities.
At the same time, business participation enhances their extroversion and social presence, while actively contributing to the support of the younger generation.