2025 Call for grants aimed at promoting self-employment, under a non-competitive scheme

The Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE), has published the 2025 call for grants aimed at promoting self-employment. These grants, awarded under a non-competitive scheme, are designed to support the creation of self-employment by providing financial aid to unemployed individuals starting a business or professional activity in the archipelago.

The programme aims to improve the quality of life of entrepreneurs by enabling them to create their own jobs, while also contributing to the revitalisation of the Canary Islands' economic and business fabric.

The call includes three types of subsidies:

• Start-up grant for establishing as a self-employed worker: this is intended to cover initial start-up costs, with a maximum amount of €6,500.

  The amount varies depending on the applicant’s difficulty in accessing the labour market. Additionally, an extra €1,000 will be granted if the applicant is long-term unemployed, operates within the circular, green or blue economy, or works in a municipality with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants—regardless of whether one or more of these conditions apply. In the case of women who are victims of gender-based violence, the total amount will be increased by 10%.

• Financial subsidy: aimed at reducing interest on loans linked to the activity.

  It covers up to 4 percentage points of interest, or the full amount if the rate is below 4%, paid as a lump sum. The maximum subsidised amount is €6,500, depending on the applicant’s employment status. For microcredits (ICO or others), all interest can be covered within this limit. The loan must be formalised between three months before and six months after the start of the activity, and must be used for investments or essential expenses. The applicant must be the loan holder; if there are multiple holders, only the proportional share will be considered, except in the case of jointly owned marital property (duly accredited).

• Technical assistance grant: this covers part of the cost of external services aimed at improving the development of the business, such as feasibility studies, organisation, marketing, diagnostics or advisory services related to starting or managing the activity.

The services must be provided by self-employed associations active in the Canary Islands or by professionals or entities with proven experience. The grant covers up to 75% of the cost, with a maximum of €150. Only services rendered between three months before and six months after the activity start date will be eligible, and cash payments will not be accepted.

These grants are available to unemployed individuals registered as jobseekers or service users with the Canary Islands Employment Service (SCE), who establish themselves as self-employed workers in the Canary Islands. People joining economic interest groups such as "comunidades de bienes" (CB) or "sociedades civiles particulares" (SCP) may also apply individually, provided the incorporation occurs at the start of the subsidised activity.
Economically dependent self-employed workers (TRADE) are also eligible, provided they are registered with Social Security as such and submit the corresponding contract.

Beneficiaries must create their own self-employment position and personally, directly and effectively carry out the economic activity for which they are registered and for which the grant is requested. This requirement applies even if the nature of the business does not require additional employees.

The total budget allocated to this call amounts to €12,500,000, exclusively for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and are registered under the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA), the Special Scheme for Self-Employed Agricultural Workers, the Special Scheme for Sea Workers, or the relevant special scheme or professional mutual fund.