As a general principle, FP7 is open to participation from any country in the world. The procedures for participation and funding possibilities vary for different groups of countries. Quite naturally, the EU Member States enjoy the broadest rights and access to funding. The same conditions apply to Member States and to countries associated to FP7 (countries paying a share to the overall budget of FP7). In FP 6 these countries included EEA countries (Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein), candidate countries (e.g. Turkey, Croatia), as well as Israel and Switzerland.

Another important group are the International Cooperation Partner Countries (e.g. Russia and other Eastern European and Central Asian states, developing countries, Mediterranean partner countries, Western Balkans countries). Participants from these countries are entitled to funding under the same conditions as EU Member States. Participation from industrialised high-income countries is also possible on a self-financing basis, with EU funding granted only in exceptional cases.