Updated Financial Guide for MSCA

The European Commission has published a new version of the Financial Guide for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Version 2.0, dated 1 September 2026, introduces several updates and clarifications concerning the implementation of MSCA projects.

The main changes include:

• Clarification that recruitment in the public sector counts as equivalent direct contract (even if through public law appointment act).
• Clarification of the mobility rule exemptions regarding temporary protection and refugee status
• Clarification on the definition of the country of main activity within the mobility rule.
•  Increase of the secondment duration limit in MSCA-DN, MSCAPF, and MSCA COFUND from one third to one half of the fellowship duration.
•  Removal of the requirement of one-month prior employment as an eligibility for MSCA-SE and intersectoral secondments between MS and AC.
•  Introduction of the new MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2025 related explanations.
• Addition of link to the Indicative Audit Programme (IAP) for details on record-keeping.
• Update to the new Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

New rules that apply in principle only for grant agreements signed with version 1.2 (01.04.2024), 1.2 (15.09.2025) or 1.3 are marked with special symbols.