In this paper we try to understand to what extent the experience of the gap year challenges and develop the autonomy of these young people, or gappers. The study explores changes the experience provides ex-gappers, as the youths are aware of them and as changes are visible for others. This is important as autonomy is a desire and aim of any educational system and a requirement for society integration and selfachievement. This is an occasional study conducted with seven people who came to university after a gap year experience. Interviews were made with ex-gappers, their relatives or close friends and a responsible person from a funding institution. Gap year experience changes ex-gappers' beliefs and practices broadly related to personal autonomy. Their relatives and the funding person witnessed these changes. Results regarding citizenship and social commitment after the experience show that those who travel alone evidence more concerns regarding social issues.