What support can I get?

• IEFPNo deadline

  Self-employment with unemployment benefit paid as a lump sum

  If you are receiving unemployment benefit, you can ask to receive all the remaining benefit in one go to create your own full-time job. You need to present a viable plan at the job centre; the answer usually takes 60 to 90 working days.

  • ✓ Open your company or start as self-employed
  • ✓ Buy an existing business
  • ✓ Join an existing company as a partner
  • ✓ Add a subsidised loan to the benefit money
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ✓ No regional restriction stated
  • ! Requires unemployment benefit — add your situation to your profile
  • ! Requires IEFP registration — confirm it in your profile
  • ! Required age: 18 or older — add your year of birth to your profile
  See the support
• IEFPNo deadline

  National Microcredit Programme — MICROINVEST up to €20,000

  If you find it hard to get a job or credit and want to start or grow a small business, you can ask for microcredit of up to €20,000 with a guarantee and lower interest, plus free help to prepare your project. Young unemployed people get priority.

  • ✓ Buy the equipment you need
  • ✓ Pay the first business expenses
  • ✓ Grow a small business
  • ✓ Get free technical help with your business plan
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ✓ No regional restriction stated
  • ! Required age: 16 or older — add your year of birth to your profile
  See the support
• IEFPNo deadline

  Emprego Interior MAIS — support for moving to Portugal's interior to work or become self-employed

  If you move to Portugal's interior to work or create your own job, you get about €3,760 (or €2,686 with a fixed-term contract), plus 20% for each family member who moves with you and €806 for moving costs. You apply on iefponline within 180 days of starting.

  • ✓ Pay for moving home to the interior
  • ✓ Help your family settle in
  • ✓ Start your business in the interior
  • ✓ Work remotely from the interior
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ✓ No regional restriction stated
  See the support
• IEFPNo deadline

  Free technical support to create your own job or business (ATCP)

  If you are unemployed and registered at the employment center, you can get free help to create your own business or job. You receive support to build your business plan and, during the first two years, guidance and management consulting.

  • ✓ Build your business and investment plan
  • ✓ Develop skills to manage your business
  • ✓ Organize the project before approval
  • ✓ Receive management consulting during the first two years of activity
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ✓ No regional restriction stated
  • ! Requires IEFP registration — confirm it in your profile
  See the support
• IEFPNo deadline

  Business creation support — MICROINVEST and INVEST+ loans

  If you are registered at the job centre (unemployed, looking for a first job up to age 35, or self-employed on a low income), you can ask a bank for a guaranteed, lower-interest loan to start your small business: up to €20,000 (MICROINVEST) or up to €100,000 (INVEST+), with nothing to pay in year one.

  • ✓ Buy equipment for your business
  • ✓ Pay start-up costs
  • ✓ Have working capital for the first months
  • ✓ Create jobs
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ✓ No regional restriction stated
  • ! Requires IEFP registration — confirm it in your profile
  • ! Required age: 18 or older — add your year of birth to your profile
  See the support
• MAR 2030Until 17 Dec 2026

  Execution of the LDS of GAL GRATER MAR (Terceira and Graciosa)

  If you are on Terceira or Graciosa (Azores), you can get between 50% and 100% as a grant for sea-related projects: up to €50,000 of investment for businesses and up to €100,000 for non-profits.

  • ✓ Start a sea or fishing-related business
  • ✓ Diversify coastal activities (tourism, processing)
  • ✓ Improve energy efficiency
  • ✓ Innovate products and services
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ! Only for: Açores — add the project's region
  • ! Add the project's sectors to confirm
  See the support
• MAR 2030Until 04 Jan 2027

  Execution of the Local Development Strategy of GAL Litoral Rural - MAR 2030

  If you live or work in the coastal parishes of Matosinhos, Póvoa de Varzim or Vila do Conde covered by this call, you can get a grant for projects linked to the sea, fishing and aquaculture: starting a business, innovating, saving energy or promoting heritage.

  • ✓ Start or grow a sea-related business
  • ✓ Innovate in fishing and aquaculture products
  • ✓ Install renewables or save energy
  • ✓ Preserve fishing communities' heritage
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ! Only for: Norte — add the project's region
  • ! Add the project's sectors to confirm
  See the support
• AÇORES 2030Until 30 Nov 2026

  Execution of the LDS of GAL MAR AÇORES ORIENTAL - School and Professional Training and Community Identity

  If you live or work on Santa Maria or São Miguel (Azores), you can get up to 100% as a grant for sea-related training projects, cultural activities and promoting local products. Individuals, companies and associations can apply.

  • ✓ Run sea-related training and skills projects
  • ✓ Promote cultural and community activities
  • ✓ Promote local products and resources
  Why it fits

  • ✓ Open to individual
  • ! Only for: Açores — add the project's region
  • ! Add the project's sectors to confirm
  See the support

Automatic pre-selection: always check the conditions in the official call before applying.