Rural Activation Bonus 2025: Up to 18,000 euros to boost your rural project in Galicia

The Rural Activation Bonus 2025 is a grant from the Xunta de Galicia designed to boost rural entrepreneurship through direct aid to those who start non-agricultural activities in Galician rural areas. This initiative is part of the CAP Strategic Plan (PEPAC) 2023-2027 and has a budget of 12.6 million euros, co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

What is the Rural Activation Bonus 2025?

The Rural Activation Bonus 2025 is a direct lump-sum financial aid granted to people who start new economic activities in rural areas, provided that these are not directly related to traditional agriculture or livestock farming. What makes this aid particularly attractive is that it does not require the submission of invoices or justification of specific investments. Instead, the beneficiary commits to fulfilling an approved business plan and to maintaining the activity for at least five years from the tax registration.

This means that the bonus is not conditional on previous expenses or specific purchases, but on the viability and continuity of the proposed business. The aim is to encourage free, flexible, and innovative entrepreneurship, allowing ideas to prosper without excessive bureaucracy. The maximum amount that can be received is 18,000 €, distributed in two payments, which facilitates both the start-up and consolidation of the project.

Who can apply for the aid?

This bonus is aimed exclusively at individuals, not companies, cooperatives, or legal entities. In other words, any person of legal age who decides to become self-employed in rural Galicia can be a candidate to receive the aid, as long as they have not carried out the same activity in the last three years.

In addition, the activity must be non-agricultural, which includes sectors such as rural tourism, catering, local commerce, technology, crafts, training, social or cultural services, among many others. The idea is to diversify the rural economy beyond the primary sector, offering new job opportunities and improving the range of services for the local population. It is also necessary to have a solid business plan that demonstrates the technical and economic viability of the project.

GDRs, key entities for processing the grant

The management of the bonus falls to the 24 Rural Development Groups (GDR) recognized by the Xunta de Galicia. Each GDR manages the granting of aid within its territory, based on objective criteria defined by the call itself and adapted to local development strategies. This allows projects to be evaluated in context, taking into account the needs and characteristics of each region.

In addition to receiving applications, GDRs also offer technical guidance to entrepreneurs, helping them to improve their proposals and to comply with all formal requirements. Their role is key to ensuring that funds go to projects that really add value to the territory and that are integrated with the local economic and social fabric.

How to apply for the Rural Activation Bonus 2025

This is a call in competitive competition, which means that aid is not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, but according to the quality and score of the project submitted. The more detailed, realistic, and innovative your project is, the more likely you are to access the aid. Also, remember that registration as self-employed must be prior to the application, and that projects must start in 2025 to be valid.

Registration period and duration of the call

• Opening date: May 1, 2025.
• Closing date: May 30, 2025.
• The call was published in the Official Journal of Galicia (DOG) on April 30, 2025. You can consult it here.

Documentation and application process

To submit your application, you will need:

• Business plan: an essential document describing your idea, market analysis, economic forecasts, implementation schedule, and long-term viability.
• Registration in RETA: it is mandatory to be registered in the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers before May 1, 2025.
• Official application form, which you can download from the DOG website or from your local GDR page.
• Signed commitment to maintain the activity and comply with the business plan for five years.
• In some cases, additional documentation on training or experience related to the activity you are going to start.
• All this documentation must be submitted to the GDR corresponding to your region, either electronically or in person, as indicated in their guidelines.

Practical tips to improve your application

• Make sure your project has a differential value, whether it's because of its innovative nature, its social impact, or its contribution to the economic development of the area.
• Include a SWOT analysis and a realistic economic forecast in your business plan.
• Demonstrate that you have the technical and personal capacity to carry out the activity successfully.
• If you can, collaborate with other local actors (associations, suppliers, rural networks) to strengthen your proposal.
• Avoid formal errors and submit all documentation in due time and form, as GDRs value professionalism from the first step.

Conclusion

If you are thinking of starting a new project in rural Galicia, the Rural Activation Bonus 2025 can give you the boost you need. With aid of up to 18,000 euros, without the need to justify investments and with an accessible application process, this initiative represents a powerful tool for local development.

If you have an idea and need the facilities, land, or guidance to make it happen, at Grupo Country Homes we specialize in rural properties with business potential in Galicia. We would be delighted to help you find the perfect property, locate your corresponding GDR, and increase your chances of success.

The deadline is May 30! Don't miss this opportunity to start a business in rural areas and contribute to the sustainable future of Galicia.