Government grant (incentive) loans are obtained by applying to public institutions that provide grant funding. Grants and support can be requested from institutions such as Provincial and District Agriculture and Forestry Directorates, KOSGEB, and public banks. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply. Those engaged in agricultural and livestock activities must have their Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) document.
To qualify for grant funding, applicants must document that they operate in sectors eligible for grants. Additionally, applicants are generally required not to be employed elsewhere under social security. The state offers grant funds under business and investment supports to cover operating expenses and to improve the quality of provided services.
Who Is Eligible for Government Grant Loans
The following groups can apply for government grant funding:
- Farmers engaged in livestock activities.
- Producers of covered (greenhouse) and open-field crop production.
- New entrepreneurs who develop business ideas and projects.
- Tradespeople and small shop owners.
- SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).
How to Apply for Grants for New Startups?
Entrepreneurs planning a new business must ensure their idea falls within sectors supported by KOSGEB. Check the list of supported sectors on KOSGEB’s official site. Applicants should then register for KOSGEB’s practical entrepreneurship training and complete it successfully to receive a certificate.
They must prepare a business plan for the proposed activity and establish their enterprise. During this process, they should document all expenses. If KOSGEB approves the application, it can cover eligible costs. Both traditional and advanced entrepreneurship support programs are available.
What Is the Young Farmer Grant?
As part of rural development efforts, the Young Farmer Project provides grants to young farmers. This support is offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Prospective applicants must first register through the designated online pre-registration portal for the Young Farmer program.
Registered users can complete pre-registration using their national ID and password. Those not yet registered must first obtain a ÇKS record and then access the system.
Documents required from young farmers applying for the grant include:
- A copy of a valid identity document.
- A signed declaration (commitment letter).
- Proof of literacy, typically a diploma or equivalent document.
- The Young Farmer project application petition.
- A project introduction form.
- Proof of not being employed for pay, obtained from social security records.
Which Businesses in Livestock, Crop Production and Tourism Receive Grants?
Under IPARD-2, businesses in livestock, crop production and rural tourism may qualify for grant funding as follows:
- Up to 50% non-repayable grant for processing and marketing fruits and vegetables.
- At least 50% non-repayable grant for processing and marketing meat and meat products.
- Up to 60% grant for establishing dairy-producing agricultural enterprises.
- Up to 65% non-repayable support for enterprises producing red meat.
- At least 50% non-repayable grant for rural tourism ventures.
- Grants to support local products and micro-enterprises.
- Support for beekeeping to expand farming activities.
- Grants to encourage culture-based aquaculture.
Firms operating in these sectors can receive non-repayable grants covering between 50% and 70% of eligible investment costs, depending on the measure.
Which Sectors Does KOSGEB Support?
A full list of supported sectors is available on KOSGEB’s official website. Each sector is divided into sub-branches with specific codes used during application. These classification codes are known as NACE codes.
Examples of NACE codes include:
- ‘S’ representing ‘Other Service Activities’.
- 95 for repair of computers, personal and household goods.
- 1 for repair of computer and communication equipment.
- 23 for repair of footwear and leather goods.
- 29.05 for bicycle repair.
Only businesses whose activity appears on KOSGEB’s supported list can apply for support.
KOSGEB Supported Regions and Support Rates
KOSGEB divides supported regions into six categories, with different support rates for each. The classification, published in the official gazette, lists provinces by region.
- First region: Eskişehir, Muğla, Kocaeli, İzmir, Bursa, Ankara, Antalya and İstanbul.
- Second region: Adana, Aydın, Bolu, Edirne, Denizli, Isparta, Kırklareli, Kayseri, Konya, Yalova, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale (excluding Gökçeada and Bozcaada).
- Third region: Balıkesir, Burdur, Bilecik, Gaziantep, Karabük, Manisa, Karaman, Mersin, Trabzon, Samsun and Zonguldak.
- Fourth region: Amasya, Afyonkarahisar, Bartın, Artvin, Çorum, Düzce, Elâzığ, Hatay, Erzincan, Kastamonu, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale, Kütahya, Rize, Nevşehir, Malatya and Sivas.
- Fifth region: Yozgat, Tokat, Tunceli, Sinop, Osmaniye, Kilis, Niğde, Kahramanmaraş, Ordu, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Erzurum, Çankırı, Adıyaman, Aksaray and Bayburt.
- Sixth region: Ağrı, Batman, Ardahan, Bingöl, Diyarbakır, Bitlis, Hakkâri, Iğdır, Mardin, Kars, Muş, Siirt, Şırnak, Şanlıurfa, Van, Bozcaada and Gökçeada.
In the first and second regions, male applicants receive 60% support. Women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with disabilities, or relatives of martyrs and veterans receive 80% support. In the remaining regions, male applicants receive 70% support, while women, disabled entrepreneurs, and relatives of martyrs or veterans receive 90% support.
How to Receive Practical Entrepreneurship Training?
KOSGEB offers the Practical Entrepreneurship Training free and open to all. Announcements are published on KOSGEB’s official channels. Enrollment is often available through e-government services.
KOSGEB Entrepreneur Development Support Program
KOSGEB’s grant supports are provided under “Entrepreneurship Supports.” Since 2018 these supports have evolved and in 2022 the Entrepreneur Development Support Program was introduced, offering up to 360,000 TL in support. The program aims to help entrepreneurs establish, run, grow, and scale their businesses.
Within this program, traditional entrepreneurs can receive up to 60,000 TL, and advanced entrepreneurs up to 360,000 TL. Examples of available supports include:
KOSGEB Establishment Support
| Individual Enterprise Establishment Support | 5,000 TL |
| Capital Company Establishment Support | 10,000 TL |
KOSGEB Performance Support
| First Performance Period | Second Performance Period |
| 180–539 days: 5,000 TL | 360–1,079 days: 5,000 TL |
| 540–1,079 days: 10,000 TL | 1,080–1,439 days: 15,000 TL |
| 1,080+ days: 20,000 TL | 1,440+ days: 20,000 TL |
KOSGEB Entrepreneurship Support
Under this support, grants up to 50,000 TL and repayable loans up to 100,000 TL are offered. Eligible applicants can apply; establishment support includes a 2,000 TL non-repayable payment.
Non-repayable payments up to 18,000 TL may be provided for machinery, equipment and initial setup costs, and up to 30,000 TL for operating expenses. Additionally, repayable loans up to 100,000 TL are available on favorable terms.
How to Apply for KOSGEB Supports
KOSGEB applications begin online. Applicants must register in the KOSGEB database and submit the SME declaration, which is completed via the e-Government system. After that, prepare the business plan and required documents and submit them to the provincial or district KOSGEB office.
Applications are generally evaluated within two months. If approved, payments begin promptly. Evaluation is conducted by KOSGEB experts, and business plan preparation is covered in the Practical Entrepreneurship Training.
What Incentives Does TKDK Provide?
TKDK incentives target agriculture and livestock projects. Designed for registered farmers, TKDK offers both grants and interest-free loans. Major TKDK supports include:
- Incentives for red meat production.
- Support for establishing and developing poultry and egg farms.
- Breeding cattle and pedigree stock support.
- Support for breeding poultry and meat-producing birds.
- Poultry production incentives.
- Support for milk and dairy production.
- Farm establishment grants for red meat production.
- Aquaculture and water product production supports.
- Support for production and processing of aquatic products.
- Small ruminant (sheep/goat) breeding incentives.
- Support for renewable energy installations on farms.
- Support for acquisition and production of agricultural machinery.
- Support for construction and improvement of agricultural facilities.
TKDK funding often covers renovation costs of facilities and much of its support is provided as non-repayable grants.
How Are KOSGEB Support Limits Determined?
KOSGEB determines grant and interest-free loan limits based on the enterprise’s infrastructure and capacity. Key limits and areas of use include:
- The maximum KOSGEB grant amount for certain supports is 50,000 TL.
- Interest-free loan limits vary by enterprise size: small enterprises may access up to 100,000 TL, medium enterprises up to 200,000 TL, and larger (macro) enterprises up to 300,000 TL.
- Macro-sized businesses and projects requesting grants may receive up to 65,000 TL in some cases.
- Interest-free loan limits are calculated based on the enterprise’s request, while grant amounts are determined after KOSGEB assessment.
- KOSGEB grant breakdowns commonly allocate 2,000 TL for establishment, 18,000 TL for machinery, and up to 30,000 TL for infrastructure and office expenses in early phases.
After a business is established, KOSGEB conducts inspections and finalizes support limits. Approved funds are disbursed through KOSGEB partner public and private banks.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for KOSGEB Supports
Steps to apply for KOSGEB support:
- Apply for Practical Entrepreneurship Training via the relevant application portal.
- Complete the training, establish and activate your business.
- Register the enterprise in KOSGEB’s database on kosgeb.gov.tr and enter all required company information.
- Download and complete the support request form after filling in enterprise details.
- Submit the support request form and required documents to the provincial KOSGEB office.
- Present the business plan during the submission and complete the application process.