COVID-19 > Financial Incentives and Business Support

• The total or partial stoppage of the activity of the company, resulting from the interruption of global supply chains, or the suspension or cancellation of orders; or

• The abrupt and sharp drop of at least 40% in invoicing in the 30 days preceding the support application, with reference to the monthly average of the 2 months preceding that period, or in relation to the same period of the previous year, or, for those who started the activity less than 12 months ago, the average of that period; or

• The closure of the establishment pursuant to legislative or administrative determination under the Basic Law on Civil Protection, as well as the Basic Law on Health, or due to the state of emergency.

What is it? What are the benefits?

This support consists of an extraordinary financial incentive to support the normalization of business activity, that is, after the end of an application of the so-called "simplified lay-off” or support for the progressive recovery.

The extraordinary incentive to normalize business activity is given in the following modalities:

• Support in the amount of a national minimum wage (€ 635), per worker, paid once;
• Support in the amount of two national salaries (€ 1270), per worker, paid in a phased manner over six months, with the addition of the following benefits:

• 50% reduction in contributions paid by the company, up to a maximum of 3 months;
• Total exemption from contributions to be borne by the company, during the 2-month period, when there are permanent employment contracts entered into in the 3 months following the end of the incentive grant, resulting in a net increase in the level of employment (year-on-year period).

Who may benefit?

Employers who have benefited from extraordinary support for the maintenance of an employment contract ("simplified lay-off”) or support for the progressive recovery.

How to access?

Companies can request the incentive before or after the end of the application of the "simplified lay-off” or support for the progressive recovery, through iefponline, but this is only granted after the end of the application of the aforementioned incentives.

For detailed information on the support and processing of applications see the relevant webpages of DGERT,IEFP and FAQs of IEFP.

Relevant legislation:

Decree-Law no. 27-B / 2020, of 19 June, amended by Decree-Law no. 37/2020, of 15 July, by Decree-Law no. 58-A / 2020, of 14 August and by Decree-Law no. 98/2020, of 18 November

Application opening notice

Decree-Law n.º 10-G/2020, of 26 March

Decree-Law n.º 27-B/2020, of 19 June, art. 4

Law n.º 27-A/2020, of 24 July, art.19

Ordinance n.º 170-A/2020, of 13 July, amended by Ordinance n.º 294-B/2020, of 18 December

Decree-Law n.º 27-B/2020, of 19 June, amended by Decree-Law no. 37/2020, of 15 July, by Decree-Law no. 58-A / 2020, of 14 August  and by Decree-Law n.º 98/2020, of 18 November 

What is this? What are the benefits?

The extraordinary support for artists, authors, technicians and other culture professionals takes the form of a subsidy for the amount of €438.81 attributed to culture workers who are exclusively independent workers.

This support may be received in addition to the extraordinary support payments for the reduction in the turnover of freelance workers, the extraordinary incentive measure for professional activity and support for social coverage.

Who can benefit?

This support targets:

• natural persons who are exclusively self-employed workers;
• who began (restarted) their registered activity prior to 1 January 2020;
• are registered with the tax authorities under culture profession CAE activity and IRS codes. 

Freelance workers who are simultaneously in the employment of third parties, registered as such with the Social Security system, are not eligible for this support. Those under the employment of third parties are specifically covered by the extraordinary measures designed to maintain contracted employment (the simplified lay-off program).

The eligible CAE company codes are: 59110, 59120, 59130, 59140, 59200, 90010, 90020 or 90030. And the eligible IRS codes are: 1 (1314), 2 (2010, 2011, 2019, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) or 3 (3010 and 3019).

How to apply?

Freelancers are to complete and submit a form via the website www.culturaportugal.gov.pt, separator "CRIAR”. In the form, you need to give your consent for the consultation of databases and the exchange of information with the Tax and Customs Authority and the Institute of Social Security. To access the support scheme, please submit the applications form.

To obtain further information on this support, you may visit the page on Cultura Portugal, the FAQs of support and the government publication documentation.

Relevant legislation:

Ministerial Order no. 37-A/2021

What is it? What are the benefits?

Support for the maintenance of jobs, to be paid in two installments during the first half of 2021. This support is equivalent to two minimum national wages per worker.

Companies that benefit from this support are prohibited from dismissing workers, namely, through collective dismissal and extinction of jobs up to two months after the end of the support.

Since the support is exclusive for micro-companies, it can amount to a maximum of up to € 11,970 per beneficiary company, i.e. € 1,330 per worker (two minimum national wages).

Additional support corresponding to 1 national minimum wage, per job, is also planned for the third quarter of 2021.

Who can benefit?

This support is exclusive for micro-companies (up to 10 jobs) with revenue drop of above 25%. 

It should also be noted that this support cannot be attributed simultaneously with the support for the progressive recovery. In other words, micro-companies that are covered by the simplified lay-off substitute and are interested in this new support, will have to give up the first to receive the second.

This support is still available for companies covered by simplified support in the 1st quarter of 2021 that remain in a business crisis situation in June 2021 and that have not benefited from a lay-off or Support for recovery in 2021.

How to access?

Not yet published by the government.

Relevant Legislation:

Notice of the Council of Ministers of 7 Jan. 2021

This is financial support for companies in a business crisis associated with a regime of temporary reduction of the normal working period, with a view to maintaining jobs, gradually resuming economic activity and the phased repayment of workers' pay. This support has differentiated solutions depending on the applicable business crisis scenarios. Thus, the support modalities vary depending on the intensity of the revenue drop suffered by companies and evolve over the last five months of 2020.

This measure was extended until the end of the first half of 2021.

What are the benefits?

Its operationalization consists of the following benefits:

Micro-enterprises with a revenue drop above 25% will also have access to "simplified" support, which provides for two national minimum wages per worker, paid in two tranches in the first half of 2021.

Conditions for the adoption of the mechanism:

• Prohibition of collective dismissal, due to termination of the job and unsuitability during the application of the measure and in the subsequent 60 days;
• Prohibition of distribution of dividends during the application of the measure.

Who can benefit?

The support covers employers of a private nature, including those in the social and solidarity sector, which have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and who are in a business crisis situation (revenue drop equal to or greater than 25%), have or have not benefited from the simplified lay-off scheme. The revenue drop must be verified in the full calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month the initial request for support or extension refers to, compared to the same month of the previous year or to the monthly average of the two months preceding that period, or for those who started the activity less than 12 months ago, compared to the average monthly revenue between the beginning of the activity and the penultimate full month prior to the calendar month the initial request for support or extension refers to.

How to access?

In order to access the extraordinary support for the gradual resumption of activity with temporary reduction of the normal working period, the employer must submit an electronic application, in its specific form, through direct social security portal, with the employer's statement and the statement of the certified accountant (Mod. 3058-DGSS) attesting to the situation of business crisis.

The amount to be received can also be estimated using the following Simulator.

For more information, please refer to the Social Security, DGERT and the official statement of the government for this incentive.

Relevant legislation:

Decree-Law No. 46-A/2020 of July 30

Labor Code, approved by Law No. 7/2009 of February 12

Law 27-A/2020 of 24 July

Decree-Law 90/2020 of October 19

This measure constitutes a special system of support for hiring in the context of the direct costs associated with the jobs created, in particular the costsfor remuneration, plus the respective contributory expenses borne by the employer, for a maximum period of 36 months. The hiring support for remote working is part of the CO3SO Employment + Programme.

What are the benefits?

When up to three new jobs are created, support for each hired worker can reach €1,500 per month. After 36 months, this support totals 54,700 euros. The support can be increased, reaching 1,900 euros per month and totaling 68,400 euros after 36 months, in the following cases:

• Job creation in new companies (activity started less than five years ago);
• Job creation for people with special conditions (beneficiaries of social integration income, victims of domestic violence, refugees, people who integrate single-parent families, homeless people, among others)
• Job creation as a result of diaspora investments.

Who can benefit?

The support is intended for coastal companies that create jobs in the interior under a remote work scheme, allowing them to receive an additional 0.5 IAS (Indexante de Apoios Sociais), per job, for each month of support, regardless of the number of jobs created. The amount of support is 219 euros per person. 

How to access?

The management of this measure will be up to local action groups (LAGs), entities committed to local work and the development of the territory based on local development strategies.

For more detailed information, please consult the Portugal 2020 contest website.

Relevant legislation:

Resolution of the Council of Ministers No 41/2020

"ATIVAR.PT” is an incentive measure financed by Portugal 2020 that grants financial support to employers who enter into permanent or fixed-term employment contracts, for a period equal to or greater than 12 months, with unemployed people enrolled in IEFP, with the obligation to provide professional training to hired workers. 

The new notice provides for direct lump sum support with the following increases:

• 25% young people;

• 35% people with disabilities;

• 25% contracts with remuneration above 2 national minimum wages;

• 35% underrepresented gender;

Additionally, it provides for a 50% reduction in social contributions.

Please visit the IEFP portal for more information on employment incentives.

https://www.iefp.pt/apoios

What is it? What are the benefits?

The Improvement of Supply Support Line received another 300 million euros in financing for this company support instrument for the tourism sector.

The Improvement of Supply Support Line consists of medium and long term financing for tourism projects designed to:

• requalify and reposition projects, establishments and activities, or 
• launch projects, establishments and activities implemented in low density territories, or 
• that fall within the scope of entrepreneurship.

To access the Improvement of Supply Support Line 2021, tourism companies should be planning to undertake investments in the fields of environmental management and accessibility. All projects are to receive a minimum global ranking in these two areas with companies wishing to ascertain whether their project meets this ranking, should go to SG​​PI and choose the option "Evaluation of Project Sustainability and Access”.

General operational conditions:

(1)   Special projects 

• Entrepreneurial projects with the maximum eligible investment of €500,000, backed by small or medium enterprises to be launched or launched within the last two years as regards tourism animation projects, facilities/equipment or activities – CAE Groups 931 and 932 – and services associated with the tourism sector, with a particular focus on the technological dimension; 
• Projects for implementation in low density territories. 

(2)   Minimum amounts per CAE for the GVA/BT ratio

• CAE 551, 553, 900, 960: 55%
• CAE 552, 563, 771: 35%
• CAE 559, 772, 823: 30%
• CAE 561, 932, 799: 40%
• CAE 791: 12.5%
• CAE 910: 65%
• CAE 931: 45%

Who can benefit?

Tourism companies of any scale, type or legal form of registration that meet the respective overall conditions:

• Hold valid licences for the exercising of their activities and duly registered with the National Tourism Register whenever so legally required;
• Demonstrate a balanced economic-financial position;
• Hold no outstanding liabilities to the Taxation and Social Security Authorities as well as to Turismo de Portugal;
• Have paid all outstanding wages apart from situations under judicial ruling;
• Employ a team of staff appropriate to the development of the respective activity.

How to apply?

Access to this support line may be made through contacting any of the following participating Credit Institutions:

• Abanca;
• Banco BPI;
• Banco Português de Gestão;
• Banco Santander Totta;
• Bankinter;
• Caixa Económica Montepio Geral;
• Caixa Geral de Depósitos;
• Crédito Agrícola;
• Eurobic;
• Millennium BCP;
• Novo Banco;
• Novo Banco dos Açores.

For further information, please consult the Turismo de Portugal website and the respective Information File.

What is it? What are the benefits?

The PAAC – the Cultural Actor Support Program is designed to support the initiatives and projects of cultural actors, local or regional of a non-professional character and that, by their inherent nature, correspond to the specific needs or aptitudes of the Norte region, the territorial scope under the auspices of the DRCN – the Norte Regional Directorate of Culture.

Irrespective of the artistic area of expression, the areas of candidate application are the following: 

• Publishing and Editing;
• Training;
• Creation/Production; 
• Programming /Dissemination.

Who can benefit?

The program is designed for all culture actors in the Norte region of Portugal, whether individual or collective entities, nonprofit organisations, not professional in character or, when professional, not benefiting from support awarded under the auspices of Culture. Entities holding the legal status of Foundation are not eligible for support.

How to apply?

Candidate applications are to be submitted prior to 15 March while any entity duly eligible to apply may submit one application per civil year. The projects and initiatives are to run throughout the civil year of the respective application.

The request for support should be submitted in the specific form for this purpose and available at the 

DRCN website (www.culturanorte.gov.pt), duly completed and submitted online, here.

The candidate application form needs filling out in its entirety and submitted in conjunction with the following documentation:

a) Copy of the citizen card /taxation card;

b) Copy of the collective identification card (whenever a collective entity);

c) Copies of the minutes of the General Assembly electing the most recent management boards (whenever a collective entity); 

d) Copies of the last management report and accounts and the activity plan for the year of support (whenever a collective entity);

e) Supplier file, available on the DRCN website, updated, completed and signed;

f) CVs of project participants, as project creatives, technical managers or artists;

g) Draft versions, editorials, pre-projects, programs, candidate project summaries or other documentation that the entity considers relevant to evaluating the project in terms of the respective criteria presented.

Further information may be obtained via the Norte Regional Directorate of Culture Website, the  program regulationsand the respective FAQs.

• Acceleration of the payment of the incentive refund requests, including the simplified advance of 80% of the incentive associated to the expenditure presented in the refund request;

• Automatic deferment for 12 months of repayable incentive instalments, due up to September 30th 2020, without interest charges or any other penalty;

• Eligibility for reimbursement of expenses incurred in planned initiatives or actions cancelled or postponed for reasons related to COVID-19, in Portugal 2020 projects, namely in the areas of internationalisation and professional training;

• Priority assessment of requests for reprogramming of projects that justify the need for changes or adjustments due to the negative impact of COVID-19.

This measure aims to capture external investment to densify production chains and engineering centers in order to obtain production of basic materials, mechanical and electronic equipment, sensors, medicines and other medical products and devices, food products, technologies associated with energy and ecological changes, in order to improve the integration of our companies in the chains of European strategic autonomy.

Its main objectives are: (1) promoting direct contact between producer and consumer and (2) encouraging less intensive and environmentally sustainable cultural practices.

Investment projects for 'Short chains and local markets' may benefit from support provided that they have a total eligible cost, calculated in the course of analysis, equal to or greater than € 500 and equal to or less than € 50 000.

The amount of support may thus be used for a set of operational costs, including overheads, which are eligible for up to 5% of the remaining costs. Transport, food, and other costs are part of the eligible costs.

Who can benefit?

The following entities may benefit from the support provided for in this chapter, individually or in partnership:

• Local Action Groups (GAL) or managing entities (EG) in the case of GAL which is not a legal person; 
• Associations established under Articles 167 and the following articles of the Civil Code, whose social purpose is local development;
• Associations, regardless of their legal form, consisting of agricultural producers, including producer groups or organisations recognised under Ordinance No 169/2015 of 4th June;
• Partnerships consisting of individual or legal persons, which incorporate at least three agricultural producers;
• Local authorities.

In addition, any eligible entity shall comply with the specific conditions of access set out in the Specific Technical Guidance No. 125/2020".

What investments are eligible?

Investments in eligible shares with a total cost of 500€ to 50,000€. The eligible actions in the "short chains" component are as follows:

• Storage, transportation, and acquisition of small sales structures;
• Awareness-raising and education actions for consumers or other target audiences;
• Development of electronic platforms for promotional materials;
• Actions to promote and raise awareness for the local trade close to urban centers that allow the selling and valorization of local production;
• Travel of producers to local markets, deliveries at specific locations and acquisitions of associated services;
• Adaptation of the equipping of existing infrastructures to specific points within short chains.

How to access?

To submit an application, please register at the Balcão do Beneficiário. For more details, please refer to the supporting documents available on the PDR 2020 website.

For more information on this incentive, please refer to the Specific Technical Guidance No. 125/2020 and the Analysis Standard N4/A4/10.2.1.4/2020 of the PDR. Please also see the other supporting documents available on the PDR 2020 website.

Relevant legislation:

Ordinance No. 152/2016

Ordinance No. 86/2020

This measure aims to boost investment in the agri-food/agricultural sector by:

• Support young farmers, discriminating them positively in the selection of applications, who want to settle for the first time in the inland regionof the country. In addition, a public tender notice will be published for investment in the specific farm for young farmers to settle in landregions;
• Support for investment in the farm dedicated to organic farming, which will take into account the location of the farm in the interior as a priority criterion;
• Support for the creation of producer groups and organisations, including multi-products, while the location of the Producer Group, inland, will be taken into account for the selection of projects in order to promote the organization of production and thus tackle one of the main structural weaknesses of the sector;
• EIB credit line to complement new and ongoing investments under PDR2020 and for the working capital.

Who can benefit?

Young farmers; Organic farmers, groups, and producer organisations.

How to access?

This measure is part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, with a set of tenders that can be seen on the dedicated PDR applications page.

What is it? What are the benefits?

Program lasting 1 year, providing the company with the necessary skills to develop and enhance its brand, adapt to regulatory requirements, drivegrowth in foreign markets, leverage its added value, find partners and financing, etc. It focuses on consulting, training, networking (supplier networks, integration into value chains, external partners, etc.)

Who can benefit?

Programme focused on mature (>5 years) and viable companies, in strategic or systemic sectors.

How to access?

This programme has not yet been implemented, as such does not have additional information, with the exception of the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No 41/2020.

Programme to support micro-enterprises and SMEs, from the secondary and tertiary sectors, to finance investments to adapt and modernise establishments and production units within the context of COVID-19.

Who can benefit?

Micro-enterprises and SMEs in the secondary and tertiary sectors.

What investments are eligible?

The programme will focus on investment expenditure related, for example, to:

• Reorganization and adaptation of storefronts;
• Adaptation of areas of access to the public;
• Reorganization and adaptation of workplaces and layout of spaces.

How to access?

Application information can be found at the Balcão 2020. 

For more information, please visit the websites of IAPMEI and Tourism of Portugal, as well as the website of the PEES and adaptar.pt.

Relevant legislation:

Decree-Law No. 20-G/2020

Digital Commerce is an ACEPI programme, co-financed by Compete 2020, Portugal 2020, and EU-ERDF, aimed at micro-enterprises and SMEs in the local retail and service sectors.

The program promotes the digital transition of companies that do not yet have an online presence, supporting:

• E-commerce platform creation
• Reformulation of websites, integrated with logistics solutions or reservation systems
• Design of projects by business or commercial associations, which are associated with decarbonized logistics solutions.

Who can benefit?

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the local retail and service sectors.

How to access?

Access to this measure should be carried out directly through the official page of the Digital Commerce initiative.

For more information, please consult the official page of the Digital Commerce initiative and respective academy, as well as the Portugal 2020 page and the official promotional video of the initiative by the competent Secretary of State.

The Trade Modernisation Fund for micro and small enterprises of local retail and services will:

• Encourage joint associative projects, created on the initiative of economic operators, which encourage local or sectoral articulation and cooperation in promotional, commercial, and logistics areas;
• Provide specific support to establishments that are part of the national list of "Shops with History";
• Encourage pilot projects based on the implementation of innovative solutions related to digitalization and environmental sustainability;
• Support the modernisation of establishments.

Who can benefit?

Micro and small enterprises in the retail and service sectors.

How to access?

Information on access to the measure can be found on the IAPMEI page.

Relevant legislation:

Ordinance No. 236/2013

Financial support for companies in the areas of the maritime economy: net support to 50% for the annual hiring of graduates or masters or doctorates in marine or related areas for the various areas of the blue economy including to support the management of these SMEs.

Who can benefit?

Young graduates, masters or doctorates; Technology-based and scientific entrepreneurs; Fishermen.

How to access?

Not yet disclosed.

What is it? What are the benefits?

The Bolsa de Valor platform will facilitate the purchase and sale of smaller companies, promoting the meeting of different parties and ensuring transparent, standardized information and financing solutions.

How to access?

The platform is not yet available, however, please see more information in the Economic and Social Stabilisation Programme.

What is it? What are the benefits?

This support aims to reimburse the expenses demonstrably borne by beneficiaries in initiatives or actions cancelled or postponed for reasons related to COVID-19, provided for in approved projects. Where, for reasons not attributable to companies and other private beneficiaries of the programme, it is not possible to validate the payment request within 20 working days from the date of its submission by the beneficiary, the application shall be settled as an advance payment, up to a maximum of 70% of the public support corresponding to it.

If the applicant does not have sufficient financial means, a payment request may be submitted on the basis of an invoiced but not yet paid expenditure, which is considered as advance payment, provided that the sum of advance payments already made and not justified with expenditure submitted and validated does not exceed 50% of the public expenditure approved for each project.

How to access?

The request for payment of expenses in advance based on invoices may be made through the Mar2020 platform.

For more information, please see the new measures of Mar2020.

Relevant legislation:

Order No 3651/2020

What is it? What are the benefits?

The Ministry of the Sea has decided to adopt, under the Blue Fund, the following extraordinary measures, with effect from 8th May:

• All steps are taken to speed up payments, which include the adoption of exceptional measures;
• The expenses demonstrably incurred by beneficiaries in initiatives or actions cancelled or postponed for reasons related to COVID-19, provided for in approved projects, are eligible for reimbursement;
• In addition, projects which, due to the negative impact arising from COVID -19, do not use the total amount of the approved budget for theimplementation of actions or objectives and/or have insufficient implementation of those actions or objectives, will not be penalized and maybe reprogrammed or terminated and considered as completed, provided that they do not call into question the achievement of the objectives for which the operation was approved and provided that payments that have given rise to any advances received are implemented in full;
• Where, due to the negative impact arising from COVID-19, it proves possible and necessary, when the deadline set for the completion of the project is in 2020, this date may be extended to 2021 and within a period compatible with the completion of its technical/financial implementation, provided that this is requested by the beneficiary and accepted by the Fund's management board. 

For more information, please see the page of the Directorate-General for Sea Policy.

Relevant legislation:

Order No 5698/2020

Who can benefit?

This Support Line is eligible for micro, small and medium sized companies, certified by an Electronic Declaration issued by IAPMEI​,​ as well as ​​Small Mid Cap and Mid Caps, in either case, in business in the national territory and undertaking activities in CAEs not belonging to section K,​ with a business turnover in 2019 that generated at least 30% from activities within the scope of event organisation, whether in terms of infrastructures or audiovisuals and that meet the following eligibility criteria (for additional information, please go to publication document).

How to apply?

Candidates may submit their applications through banking institutions up until 30 June 2021.

For further details on this support line, please consult the Turismo de Portugal website and the respective publication document.

Who can benefit?

Eligible to apply for this Support Line are small and medium sized companies (SMEs), certified by an Electronic Declaration issued by IAPMEI​,​ as well as ​​Small Mid Cap and Mid Caps, in either case, in business in the national territory and undertaking activities under CAE 79 (Travel agency and tourism operator activities), as their primary or secondary activity and that additionally comply with the remaining eligibility criteria.

How to apply?

Applications may be submitted through banking institutions before 30 June 2021.

For further details about this support line, please go to the Turismo de Portugal website.

What is this? What are the benefits?

The Guarantee Culture Program is a universal support (not subject to tender), non-repayable, that seeks to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the cultural sector and nurture the gradual resumption of its activity through enabling the remuneration of artistic and technical labour. This program supports the presentation of creative projects or artistic programming that takes place in either physical or digital formats and contexts. 

The program has the following funding limits for business entities:

• € 50,000 for micro companies;

• € 75,000 for small businesses;

• € 100,000 for medium-sized companies.

The program has the following funding limits for individual and collective artistic entities of a non-commercial nature:

• € 10,000 for individual persons;

• € 20,000 for informal groups;

• € 40,000 for legal persons.

Who can benefit?

The Guarantee Culture Program is designed for:

• individual or collective artistic entities that engage in non-commercial activities (including freelance individuals without registered accountancy);
• cultural and artistic (micro, small and medium enterprises, including freelance individuals without registered accountancy) business sectors.

The artistic areas covered by the Guarantee Culture Program are the performance arts, the visual arts, disciplinary crossovers, books, cinema and museology.

How to apply?

By the end of March 2021, the notifications of the Guarantee Culture Program are to be published and thereby opening the application period. 

For further information, please consult the preliminary program FAQs , as well as the Government publication document.

Relevant legislation:

Ministerial Order no. 37-A/2021

What is it? What are the benefits?

Non-refundable support for the payment of 6 commercial rent and the transfer of a holding for companies that record large revenue drop.

• Revenue drop between 25% and 40%: support of 30% of the rent, up to a maximum of 1,200€/month (total support up to 7,500€ per establishment)
• Revenue drop greater than 40%: support of 50% of the rent, up to a maximum of 2,000€/month (total support up to 12,500€ per establishment)

How to access?

Applications are open from February 4, 2021, with payments starting in the second half of February.

Relevant legislation:

Law nº75-A/2020

What is it? What are the benefits?

Exceptional and complementary support to those already in force, equivalent to 20% of the average drop in revenue recorded on the two weekends with more intense restrictions compared to the average of all weekends this year, to cover fixed costs not yet covered by other measures. 

To access this measure, the restaurant must commit to:

• Maintain jobs and their activity
• Not distribute profits or other funds to partners

Who can benefit?

Restaurants with:

• Revenue drop on weekends, public holidays and and the eve of public holidays.  in which the activity suspension is in force (including 31 December), compared to the average revenue recorded during the first weekends of 2020 (between 01.01.2020 and 31.10.2020);
• Positive equity as of 31.12.2019, except for a company incorporated after 01.01.2019;
• Regularized financial situation at the Tax Authority and Social Security.

How to access?

Business owners must, after 25th November, communicate in the portal 2020, on their honor, the revenue made on the two weekends of lockdown. New applications are accepted until the end of March.

For more details, please see the Estamoson page and the respective document which contains information on this incentive for restaurants.

What is it? What are the benefits?

The Apoiar.pt measure consists of a non-refundable grant to support micro and small enterprises with revenue drop, which act in the following sectors: (i) retail and services open to consumers with closure decreed in March 2020; (ii) cultural activities; (iii) accommodation; (iv) restaurant sector. (v) bakery and pastry; (vi) manufacture of pyrotechnic articles; (vii) others.

The amount to be given to each company will be 20% of revenue drop, when it is above 25%, up to a limit of: 

• Individual Entrepreneurs (ENI): 3,000€
• Micro-enterprises: 12,500€
• Small business: 68,750€
• Medium-sized enterprises: 168,750€

Companies with a revenue drop of more than 50% have a limit of:

• Individual entrepreneurs (ENI): 7,500 €

• Micro-enterprises: € 18,750

• Small business: € 103,125

• Medium and large companies: € 253,125

Companies using this fund are therefore obliged to maintain employment and not to distribute profits or other funds to partners.

Companies whose establishments have been closed since March may have an increase in support, up to:

• Micro-enterprises: 68,750€
• Small business: 168,750€

Additionally, a new modality was made available for ENI under simplified accounting regime, with dependent workers, which provides for the support (non-refundable) of 20% of the billing losses up to a limit of € 5,000 per ENI, including extraordinary support up to € 1,000. Applications for this support are available from January 28, with payments starting in the second half of February.

Who can benefit?

The eligibility criteria for this fund are as follows:

• Micro, small, medium-sized enterprises (with more than 250 employees and less than 50M€ of revenue) and individual entrepreneurs without organized accounting (with employees).
• Companies belonging to the sectors most affected by health crisis mitigation measures (indicated above)
• Revenue drop of more than 20% in the first nine months of 2020
• Companies with a mid-term balance sheet showing capitalisation (in case of negative equity as of 31.12.2019)
• Companies with a financial situation regularized at the Tax Authority and Social Security, and not regularized subject to the condition of regularization.

How to access? 

The second installment of the payment, referring to the first three quarters of 2020, can be requested from January 18, 2021. New applications will be accepted until the end of March.

Applications for reinforcement and extension of support start on January 21, 2021 and the respective payments are available from the beginning of February.

New applications are accepted until the end of March.

To access this fund please consult the Tourism of Portugal and the IAPMEI.

For more details, please see the information page of Tourism Of Portugal, the FAQs of the APOIAR Programme, and Notice No. 20/SI/2020 of COMPETE 2020. 

This incentive will be available until the €600M budget allocation is exhausted.

NOTE: according to the List of Eligible Activity Codes of measure APOIAR.PT, the monitoring of the execution of projects in the sectors of Accommodation, Restaurant Sector and Similar, Tourist Activities (some Classification of Economic Activities - CAE) and other Cultural Activities (some CAE) is the responsibility of Tourism of Portugal. Projects in the remaining eligible sectors of activity are monitored by IAPMEI.

What is it? What are the benefits?

The Short-Term Export Credit Insurance Line is a COSEC export credit insurance line, guaranteed by the Portuguese State, for the coverage of export operations of goods and services, with national incorporation, for minimum amounts of 20,000.00 € and with a credit period up to 2 years.

In the form of Export Credit Insurance, a credit insurance policy is issued whereby the exporter Portuguese may cover the risks associated with the importing company (commercial risks) or the country of import (political/extraordinary risks), whether they occur in the preparation phase of the order, or after dispatch of the goods/service.

In the case of State Guaranteed Credit Insurance, the coverage of political and extraordinary risks associated with the importing country is at stake, such as acts or decision of the Government of the country of import, expropriation, nationalization, confiscation, difficulties in transferring, conversion, and general moratorium, wars, riots, and catastrophic events.

State Guaranteed Credit Insurance may assume different modalities, such as Export Credit Insurance; Financial Credit Insurance (in individual operation or credit line); Secure Deposit; Portuguese Investment Abroad Insurance.

Who can benefit?

Companies with export business in all markets, except countries with negotiable risks, namely:

• Countries of the European Union
• The following OECD countries: Australia, Canada, USA, Iceland, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Switzerland

How to access?

The application must be formalised by completing the online form.

For more information, please see the insurance promoter's page (Cosec) and AICEP page.

Relevant legislation:

Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 10-A/2020

• Allows the extension or suspension of the payment of outstanding credits contracted with financial institutions for the funding of operations deemed essential to the activity of the company; and

• Prohibits the revocation of contracted credit lines and loans.

• Credit Institutions; or

• Credit finance companies, investment companies, leasing companies, factoring companies and mutual guarantee companies; or

• Branches of credit and financial institutions operating in Portugal.

• Credits to purchase securities or positions in other financial instruments; and

• Credits granted to beneficiaries of subsidy or benefit schemes, including tax benefits, to establish headquarters or residence in Portugal, including for investment activity (except "Regressar" Incentives); and

• Credits granted for individual credit cards of board members and employees.

• Have their head office and exercise their economic activity in Portugal; and

• Have their situation regularized with the Tax and Customs Authority and Social Security (until April 30th 2020, debts constituted in March 2020 are not considered for this purpose); and

• Are not, on March 18th 2020:

• In default or in default on credit agreements for more than 90 days (or, if they do not comply with the materiality criteria set out in Notice of Banco de Portugal No 2/2019 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1845 of the European Central Bank of November 21st 2018); or

• In the event of insolvency or suspension or assignment of payments; or

• To be enforced by any institution with which they have credit agreements.

• The company may request that only the capital reimbursements, or part of them, be suspended during the moratorium period.

• Interest accruing during the moratorium period will be capitalised in the outstanding amount, except when the beneficiary company has requested only the suspension of capital reimbursements.

• During the period of moratorium, the guarantees granted by the beneficiary undertaking or by third parties shall remain valid and effective and shall be extended for the same period.

OpenCall202020 makes available to companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the liquidity in the real estate investment funds it manages. It will be implemented through a financial instrument characterized by the sale and subsequent long-term lease of a property, safeguarding the right to buy back the property.

• Total allocation for tourist activity: 40M€
• Total allocation for industrial activity: 20M€

This measure has as main targets, companies that own real estate properties for tourist or industrial activity. Other targets include companies that, whether or not they own the property subject to the operation, develop or intend to develop tourist activity.

Conditions of eligibility of companies:

• Have the situation regularized at the Tax Authority and Social Security;
• Be registered in the Central Register of the Official Beneficiary;
• Do not have unjustified incidents in the record of the Central Credit Responsibilities, maintained by Banco de Portugal.

Conditions of eligibility of real estate properties:

• Be free of financial obligations or charges at the time of the implementation of the operation;
• Have a regularized building register;
• Have a licence or authorisation to use, where applicable;
• Have an energy certificate (SCE), where applicable;
• In the case of buildings for a particular activity, have authorisation to do so. In the case of existing developments subject to registration in the National Tourism Register, they are duly registered.

What are the conditions of the operation?

• Maximum amount of the transaction: the purchase price shall correspond to a maximum of 90% of the average value of the valuations of the property, up to a maximum of EUR 5 million;
• Lease term: up to 15 years;
• Rent: paid monthly and will correspond to the application of a fee on the value of the operation between a minimum of 2.5% (in the case of properties located in low-income territories) and a maximum of 4% (for the remaining locations). The rent will be updated annually according to the expected update coefficient for the urban lease;
• Price application: the financial means made available with the sale of the property should be applied in investments in the adaptation, requalification, sustainability, and modernization of real estate properties, including in energy efficiency and circular economy. It is also accepted, in addition, the investment in working capital and settlement of financial obligations and charges of the property. Investments contributing to economic, social, and environmental sustainability will be privileged;
• Purchase option: the tenant will be provided with the option to purchase the property, which may be exercised from the third year of validity of the lease and until the end of the term of the lease. The option to purchase the property may also be accompanied by the purchase obligation at the end of the lease term. The price of the repurchase of the property will correspond to the respective acquisition value by Turismo Fundos, updated according to the positive variation of the harmonised index of consumer prices published monthly by the National Institute of Statistics. In the case of negative variation, it is limited to 0;
• Property charges: multi-risk liability insurance, as well as all charges related to the property, must be paid by the tenant.

How to access?

To access this fund please submit the application through the dedicated page of Tourism of Portugal. 

For more information, please consult the Tourism of Portugal page.

Relevant legislation:

Resolution of the Council of Ministers n.º 41/2020

What is it? What are the benefits?

Fund, to be managed by Banco de Fomento, for participation in capitalization operations of viable companies with high growth potential, in strategic sectors and targeting external markets, with temporary public intervention and preferential co-investment mechanisms.

Who can benefit?

Companies

How to access?

This fund is not yet available, however, please see more information on the PEES page.

Who can benefit?

• Medium-sized Enterprises, with SME Certification;
• Small Mid-Caps and Mid-Caps. 

Who can benefit?

Micro and Small Enterprises, with SME Certification, (includes Individual Entrepreneurs (ENI), with and without organized accounting, with SME Certification).

General conditions:

How to access?

Please consult the information mentioned above, which applies to all credit lines.
For more information, please see the IAPMEI page on the various credit lines and the specific page of this incentive, as well as the Tourism of Portugal.

Who can benefit?

Micro-enterprises in the tourism sector and other economic activities with an emphasis on tourism, with up to 10 employees and annual turnover or total annual balance sheet of not more than 2 M€.

Of the € 100m of endowment, € 90m is earmarked for micro-enterprises and € 10m for small companies.

Loan amount

750€/month/job existing in the company on 29th February 2020, in the case of micro-enterprises, or on November 30, 2020, in the case of small companies, multiplied by the period of three months, maximum of 20,000€ for microenterprises and € 30,000 for small companies. Of the amount of the support granted, 20% of it can be converted into a non-reimbursable incentive, provided that, as of 30th September 2021, the maintenance of the number of existing jobs in the company on 29th February 2020 for microenterprises and on 30 November 2020 for small companies is demonstrated.

How to access?

Applications are submitted through the form available in the SGPI. To access it please refer to Tourism of Portugal.

Relevant legislation:

Normative Order No.1/2021

Normative Order No. 10/2020, which changes Normative Order No. 4/2020, of 20 March

Conversion of 20% of the credit granted as non-refundable in case of maintenance of jobs.
A total of €4,000 will be made available for each job, of which €800 as non-refundable grant.

Companies using this grant are therefore obliged to maintain employment and not to distribute profits or other funds to partners.

Who can benefit?

SMEs and Mid-cap that provide support services to cultural, festive, sporting, or corporate events.

How to access?

This line of credit is not yet available and will be promoted by Banco Português de Fomento (Statement by the Council of Ministers).

For more information, please see the website Estamos ON, the official document, and the latest document released by the Government.

Who can benefit?

This Support Line is eligible for micro, small and medium sized companies, certified by an Electronic Declaration issued by IAPMEI​,​ as well as ​​Small Mid Cap and Mid Caps, in either case, in business in the national territory and undertaking activities under the auspices of the CAEs identified in the publication document, and that meet the following eligibility criteria.

How to apply?

Candidates may submit their applications through banking institutions up until 30 June 2021.

For further details on this support line, please consult the Turismo de Portugal website and the respective publication document.

What is it? What are the benefits?

Measure to change the exceptional regime for situations of late payment of non-residential rent.

Tenants may now defer payment of overdue rent under the following conditions:

• In the months in which the state of emergency is in force and in the first subsequent month;
• In the months in which, under a legal provision or administrative measure approved under the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure of its facilities or suspension of its activity is determined:
• In the three months following the lifting of the forced closure of its premises or the suspension of its activity takes place.

However, the following conditions still apply:

• Deferral applies to rent that is due from October to December 2020, and from January to June 2021;
• The debt regularization period begins on 1st January 2022 and runs until 31st December 2023;
• The payment is made in 24 successive installments, of the value corresponding to the result of division of the total amount outstanding by 24, settled together with the rent of the month concerned or up to the eighth calendar day of each month, in the case of non-monthly rent. 

Tenants who wish to defer rent payment should inform the landlords of such intention within 20 days after 30 December 2020.

Who can benefit?

For non-residential tenants, the following eligibility conditions apply:

• Establishments open to the public for retail and service activities closed or having their activities suspended or by legislative or administrative determination;
• Restaurants and similar establishments, including in cases where they maintain activity for the sole purpose of cooking for consumption outside the establishment or home delivery.

How to access?

The tenant wishing to benefit from this scheme must communicate his intention to the landlord, in writing and up to five days before the maturity of the first rent in which he wishes to benefit from this scheme, by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, sent to the respective address contained in the lease contract.

Relevant legislation:

Law No. 45/2020 of 20th August, which amends Articles 8, 10 and 14 of the Law No. 4-C/2020 of 6th April

Law No. 75-A/2020

The counting of lease contract terms for their termination is suspended until June 30th 2021.

For those closed since March, the beginning of the payment of rent for 2020 and 2021, was deferred until January 2022. This payment can be made in 24 monthly installments. Also for tenants with establishments closed since March, lease contracts must be extended for a period equal to the duration of the closure, with a minimum duration of 6 months after reopening.

The extraordinary and transitory regime for the protection of residential and non-residential tenants provides for the maintenance of the lease agreements in force, even those that the landlord may have refused to renew.

Relevant Legislation:

Law no. 1-A/2020, of March 19th

Law no. 4-A/2020, of April 6th

Law no. 4-B/2020, of April 6th

Law no. 14/2020, of May 9th

Law no. 75-A/2020

• Sickness benefit for prophylactic isolation of the worker, up to 14 days, due to a situation of serious risk to public health;

• COVID-19 sickness allowance;

• Exceptional support for employees who miss work to care for their child or grandchild in prophylactic isolation;

• Exceptional support for employees who are absent from work to care for children whose educational/social support establishments are closed.