# Check the Lanbide start-up grants first

> Check whether you can get the Lanbide start-up grants for new autónomos, and why you must register as a job seeker first.

- Page: https://autonomo.eus/steps/lanbide-grants
- Part: Part C: Become an autónomo
- For: Everyone
- Last checked: 14 October 2026

Lanbide, the Basque employment service, gives start-up grants to new autónomos. **You qualify only if you are registered as an unemployed job seeker on the day before you register your activity with Hacienda.**

## Before you start

- The right to work in Spain. See [Check your right to work](https://autonomo.eus/steps/right-to-work).
- You have not yet registered as an autónomo.
- Your business will be based in Euskadi.
- A digital ID, such as [BakQ](https://autonomo.eus/steps/bakq) or an [FNMT certificate](https://autonomo.eus/steps/fnmt-certificate). The grant application asks for one. Without one, you can still register with Lanbide at an office.

## What it unlocks

| Grant | Amount | What you need |
| --- | --- | --- |
| APES: setting up the business (*ayudas al establecimiento del proyecto*) | €3,500, plus 15% if you are under 30 and 15% for women | At least €5,000 of investment in fixed assets, such as computers and software, made between 1 November 2025 and your application |
| APEC: consolidating the business (*ayudas a la consolidación*) | €2,500, with the same increases | Your Hacienda and Social Security registrations fall between 1 November 2025 and your application. It helps pay your Social Security fees, advertising, website, advice, training and rent |

## How to do it

1. Register with Lanbide as an unemployed job seeker (*demandante de empleo*).
   - Online: use the [Lanbide registration page](https://web.lanbide.eus/apps/ALTA_LANBIDE.GE_ALTA_LANBIDE_INI?LG=C) (*Solicitud de inscripción en Lanbide*). It accepts BakQ, an Izenpe citizen certificate, an electronic DNI or an FNMT certificate. It does not accept BAK. Tick the box that lets Lanbide check your identity data and press "Continuar" (continue).
   - At an office: if you have no digital ID, [book an appointment](https://web.lanbide.eus/apps/cit_in?LG=C&ML=OFIMEN1&TPUS=U) ("Solicita Cita") or call 945 160 600. Choose the postal code of your home, the reason "Inscripción inicial en Lanbide" (first registration with Lanbide), then a date and time. Lanbide gives you a slot at the office for your postal code.
2. Stay registered at least until the day before you register your activity with Hacienda.
3. [Register with your Hacienda Foral](https://autonomo.eus/steps/register-hacienda) and [with Social Security](https://autonomo.eus/steps/register-social-security).
4. Apply for APES, APEC or both on the Basque Government website. Open the [APES 2026 page](https://www.euskadi.eus/ayuda_subvencion/2026/apes-2026/web01-tramite/es/) or the [APEC 2026 page](https://www.euskadi.eus/ayuda_subvencion/2026/apec-2026/web01-tramite/es/) and press "Sede Electrónica" (electronic office). Log in with your digital ID, fill in the form, attach the documents, sign and send.
5. Follow your application and read Lanbide's letters in [Mi carpeta](https://www.euskadi.eus/micarpeta) (my folder), the Basque Government's personal area.

## Where

- Registering as a job seeker: online, or at a Lanbide office by appointment only. Offices open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 14:00, and 8:30 to 13:30 from June to September. Phone 945 160 600. See [how to contact Lanbide](https://autonomo.eus/steps/offices#contact-lanbide).
- Grants: the Lanbide entrepreneurship team, personas.emprendedoras@lanbide.eus, phone 945 160 601. Applications are made online on euskadi.eus.

## Cost and time

- Cost: free.
- Time: the 2026 calls are open from 1 October to 30 October 2026. Applications are handled in order of arrival until the money runs out, so apply early. Lanbide decides within 6 months of your application.

## Common mistakes

- Registering as an autónomo before registering as a job seeker. You cannot fix this later.
- Relying on this year's amounts next year. These are the 2026 calls. Each year, look for the current year's APES and APEC calls on [the Basque Government's grants page](https://www.euskadi.eus/gobierno-vasco/tramites-servicios/?r01kQry=tT:ayuda_subvencion;cO:r01epd0122e4ed314423e0db04c97a47b5baa317f,r01epd0122e4edf39923e0db0b11fff216b637726,r01etpd1804bc161227299a1977bcedbc0dd7c5b66,r01etpd1804bdc03437299a19720838a388982a1e1,r01etpd1804ae5a73a7299a197769e9d6487fbbd1f,r01etpd180477a10dd7299a1974d126531e0a3e4bf,r01etpd1804ad8b2887299a1973c4e954c58b19a50,r01etpd1804b27a7707299a1977cb0d28f75808939;mA:documentLanguage.EQ.es,procedureCollection.EQ.0,procedureStatus.EQ.16;pp:r01PageSize.20;p:Inter,Inter_portal&r01SearchEngine=meta). Type "APES" or "APEC" in the "Que contenga" (containing) box.

## Official sources

- [APES 2026](https://www.euskadi.eus/ayuda_subvencion/2026/apes-2026/web01-tramite/es/)
- [APEC 2026](https://www.euskadi.eus/ayuda_subvencion/2026/apec-2026/web01-tramite/es/)
- [Rules for both calls (BOPV)](https://www.euskadi.eus/bopv2/datos/2026/09/2604054a.pdf)
- [Lanbide: register online as a job seeker](https://web.lanbide.eus/apps/ALTA_LANBIDE.GE_ALTA_LANBIDE_INI?LG=C)
- [Lanbide: in-person service and appointments](https://www.lanbide.euskadi.eus/atencion-presencial/weblan00-content/es/)
- [Basque Government: grants and subsidies](https://www.euskadi.eus/gobierno-vasco/tramites-servicios/?r01kQry=tT:ayuda_subvencion;cO:r01epd0122e4ed314423e0db04c97a47b5baa317f,r01epd0122e4edf39923e0db0b11fff216b637726,r01etpd1804bc161227299a1977bcedbc0dd7c5b66,r01etpd1804bdc03437299a19720838a388982a1e1,r01etpd1804ae5a73a7299a197769e9d6487fbbd1f,r01etpd180477a10dd7299a1974d126531e0a3e4bf,r01etpd1804ad8b2887299a1973c4e954c58b19a50,r01etpd1804b27a7707299a1977cb0d28f75808939;mA:documentLanguage.EQ.es,procedureCollection.EQ.0,procedureStatus.EQ.16;pp:r01PageSize.20;p:Inter,Inter_portal&r01SearchEngine=meta)

Next step: [Gestoría or do it yourself?](https://autonomo.eus/steps/gestoria.md)

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