Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion 2026: up to EUR 50,000 at 0.5% interest and up to 30% write-off

The micro loan from HAMAG-BICRO (Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments), under the Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion (Mikro zajmovi za rast i uključenost) programme, ranges from EUR 1,000 to 50,000 and is intended for micro and small business entities that are young companies, up to 3 years old, or whose majority owners belong to vulnerable groups. The interest rate is the base rate for Croatia reduced by 2.5 percentage points, and it cannot be lower than 0.5%. At the current base rate it is 0.5% and fixed for the entire repayment period. With regular repayment and the additional employment of a person from the target groups, up to 30% of the disbursed principal can be written off. The application is submitted online, and the programme is valid until the funds are used up, 31 December 2029 at the latest.

This guide covers the conditions of the HAMAG-BICRO programme (September 2026 version), a calculation example, the documents and the procedure. We can check your eligibility with you, see the contact box near the end of the page. Information as of 20 October 2026.

In brief: key conditions of the micro loan

• Amount: EUR 1,000 to 50,000. On 24 September 2026, HAMAG-BICRO announced an increase of the maximum amount from EUR 25,000.
• Interest: the base rate for Croatia reduced by 2.5 percentage points, at least 0.5%, fixed. With the base rate of 2.71% (valid from 1 July to 31 October 2026), this is 0.5%.
• Repayment: 1 to 5 years, including a grace period of up to 1 year, in quarterly instalments.
• Purpose: tangible and intangible assets, and working capital of up to 30% of the loan amount.
• Write-off: up to 30% of the disbursed principal, with regular repayment and the additional employment of a person from the target group.
• Who it is for: micro and small entities up to 3 years old, or entities whose majority owners are persons with disabilities, persons aged 55 or over, young people aged 18 to 29 or persons without completed secondary education.
• Application: online, through the HAMAG-BICRO system. The application can also be submitted by a person who is only just setting up a company or a sole proprietorship (obrt).
• Source of funds: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Efficient Human Resources Programme 2021–2027 (Učinkoviti ljudski potencijali 2021.–2027.)

Who can apply for a micro loan?

The loan can be requested by micro and small business entities, as defined in European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, that meet one of two conditions:

• young company: an independent business entity up to 3 years old, including a person who only intends to set up a company or a sole proprietorship;
• owner from a vulnerable group: the majority owners of the entity are persons with disabilities, persons older than 55 years, young people aged 18 to 29 or persons without completed secondary education. According to HAMAG-BICRO’s answers, this also includes persons aged exactly 55, or 18 and 29 years.

In addition, the entity must also meet the following conditions:

• it has a registered place of business and operates in Croatia for the entire duration of the loan agreement;
• it is registered for the activity for which it requests the loan;
• it is majority-owned by a natural person, and the majority owner is employed in it full-time for the entire duration of the loan agreement;
• its bank account is not blocked and has not been continuously blocked for more than 30 days in the last 6 months;
• it settles its existing liabilities regularly and has no outstanding obligations to the state, unless it has agreed a rescheduling;
• it is not in the first year of using the self-employment aid of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ). The year is counted from the signing of the aid agreement, regardless of the payment date.

Additional condition for young companies

The natural person applying and the majority owners of a young company must not currently hold more than 30% of shares in other entities, nor may they have held such shares for more than 3 years in total. According to the HAMAG-BICRO notice of 24 September 2026, a previous share of more than 30% no longer excludes an applicant automatically; instead, it is assessed how long that ownership lasted (a maximum of 36 months in total). According to HAMAG-BICRO’s answers, this condition does not apply to entities whose majority owner belongs to a vulnerable group.

Who cannot apply for the loan

• medium-sized and large enterprises;
• entities older than 3 years whose majority owner does not belong to a vulnerable group;
• entities in excluded activities (see the next section);
• entrepreneurs who have already used this loan, because each can receive only one.

Which activities are excluded?

The micro loan cannot be requested by entities seeking financing for these activities:

• agriculture, forestry and fishing;
• transport and storage;
• accommodation (e.g. apartments, rooms, hostels, hotels);
• real estate activities;
• financial activities, insurance and cryptocurrency trading;
• renting and leasing;
• employment activities;
• other sports activities (NKD 93.19);
• activities related to fossil fuels, and the production, processing and sale of tobacco;
• other activities on HAMAG-BICRO’s List of Excluded Activities, for example gambling.

Farmers can look at HAMAG-BICRO’s SP ZPP loans, which are intended specifically for them.

What can be financed with a micro loan?

• Fixed assets: tangible and intangible assets, for example equipment, machinery, tools, computers and software.
• Working capital: goods, materials and other current costs, up to 30% of the loan amount.

The following are not financed:

• refinancing of existing liabilities, including repayment of loans and leases;
• reimbursement of previously paid liabilities and investments that are physically completed or fully implemented;
• investments in real estate. According to HAMAG-BICRO’s answers, this also includes new windows and doors for business premises;
• investments in the development of products and services;
• purchase of securities and ownership shares;
• purchase of assets from related parties;
• investments for personal purposes;
• double financing and pre-financing of grants. Combining with other sources is allowed if the sum of all sources does not exceed the amount of the individual investment item.

The purchase of vehicles is not explicitly excluded, but the programme excludes assets related to fossil fuels. If you plan to buy a vehicle, check eligibility before submitting the application.

Loan conditions

Item	Condition
Loan amount	EUR 1,000 to 50,000
Interest rate	the base rate for Croatia on the date the application is received, reduced by 2.5 percentage points, at least 0.5%, fixed for the entire repayment
Drawdown period	6 months from the disbursement of the loan
Grace period	up to 1 year
Repayment period	1 to 5 years, including the grace period
Repayment	quarterly instalments
Collateral	promissory notes (zadužnice) of the borrower and the owners, and other instruments depending on the risk assessment
Fees	no approval fee; changes to the conditions after the decision are charged according to the HAMAG-BICRO Ordinance on Fees (Pravilnik o naknadama)
Disbursement	to the borrower’s special-purpose account
Type of aid	de minimis aid under Regulation (EU) 2023/2831
Programme duration	until the funds are used up, 31 December 2029 at the latest

How is the interest calculated?

The interest is calculated as the base rate for the Republic of Croatia, published by the European Commission, reduced by 2.5 percentage points. It cannot be lower than 0.5%. The base rate for Croatia from 1 July to 31 October 2026 is 2.71%, so the calculated interest is 0.21%, and the lowest permitted rate, 0.5%, applies. The interest would be higher than 0.5% only if the base rate rose above 3.0%. It is set on the day the application is received and remains fixed until the end of repayment.

Calculation example

Loan amount	Quarterly instalment after the grace period	Total interest (approximately)	Maximum possible write-off (30%)
EUR 10,000	about EUR 632	about EUR 160	up to EUR 3,000
EUR 30,000	about EUR 1,895	about EUR 470	up to EUR 9,000
EUR 50,000	about EUR 3,158	about EUR 780	up to EUR 15,000

Write-off of up to 30% of the principal: how to achieve it

The borrower can obtain a write-off of up to 30% of the disbursed principal if it repays the loan regularly and additionally employs a person from one of these groups:

• a person with a disability;
• a person over 55 years of age;
• a long-term unemployed person (under 25 years of age and unemployed for at least 6 months, or aged 25 and over and unemployed for at least 12 months);
• a young person up to 29 years of age without work experience under an employment contract.

For the write-off, these conditions must also be met:

• before being employed, the new person was unemployed for at least 30 days and did not work in the same entity in the 6 months before the loan application was submitted;
• the employment contract is permanent and full-time, and is concluded only after the loan has been approved and disbursed. A person employed in the entity at the time the application is submitted is not considered a new employee;
• the person is employed for at least 12 months continuously, during the drawdown or repayment of the loan;
• HZZ employment aid is not used for the same person in the same period;
• the person is a national of a member state of the European Economic Area or of Switzerland, or a third-country national with approved long-term residence or permanent residence in Croatia;
• the total number of employees at the time the write-off is requested is at least equal to the number of employees at the time of the application.

The write-off does not apply to the self-employed owner, only to the additional person. The written request for the write-off is submitted during repayment, once the conditions have been met. Only the remaining, unpaid part of the principal can be written off, so it is good to plan the hiring as early as possible after the loan is disbursed.

Application documents

According to HAMAG-BICRO’s List of Documents (applicable from 31 March 2025), the following are attached to the online application:

• HAMAG-BICRO forms: a statement on de minimis aid and state aid received, a statement on small business entity status, a table of credit indebtedness (no older than 2 months) and a statement of compliance with the “do no significant harm” (DNSH) principle;
• a business plan on the HAMAG-BICRO form, in Excel;
• offers, pro forma invoices, bills of quantities or purchase contracts for the planned investment;
• letters of intent or (pre-)contracts on business cooperation or the purchase of products;
• evidence of other sources of financing, for example other loans, leasing or own funds;
• a Tax Administration certificate of no outstanding debt or an accounting ledger card, no older than 30 days, and certificates of regular repayment of existing liabilities;
• financial documentation according to the form of taxation: annual financial statements and the gross balance sheet, income tax returns with annexes, or forms KPR and PO-SD for lump-sum taxpayers;
• an electronic record or certificate from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) on the employment status of the majority owner;
• evidence of belonging to a vulnerable group, if you rely on it: a certificate from the register of persons with disabilities or a copy of an identity card or passport, and for persons without completed secondary education, an HZMO electronic record.

A person who submits the application as a natural person, before setting up a company or a sole proprietorship, attaches to the application a statement on aid received, a statement on small business entity status, a statement of compliance (DNSH), a business plan, offers, letters of intent and evidence of other sources of financing. The HZMO certificate is submitted after the loan is approved, or after the entity is registered. The loan application form is generated automatically when the online application is completed.

How to apply: the procedure step by step

• Eligibility check: young company or vulnerable group status, activity, purpose and obligations. We can do this with you, see how to contact us.
• Preparation of documents: business plan, offers and forms.
• Online application: registration and submission of the application in the HAMAG-BICRO online application system. The application has been received when a confirmation with a classification and registry number arrives by e-mail.
• Processing and decision: HAMAG-BICRO assesses the application against the programme objectives and the financial sustainability of the investment. There is no automatic entitlement to the loan.
• Agreement: after a positive decision, you open a special-purpose account, and HAMAG-BICRO sends the agreement and the collateral instruments, which you return certified by post.
• Disbursement and use: the funds are paid into the special-purpose account and used for their intended purpose within 6 months of disbursement.

Most common mistakes

• The investment is already completed. Equipment already purchased and completed investments cannot be financed.
• A loan for business premises. The purchase, construction and fit-out of real estate are not eligible.
• The owner is not employed in the company or sole proprietorship. The majority owner must be employed full-time for the entire duration of the agreement.
• Applying in the first year of HZZ aid. The application should be submitted only once a year has passed since the agreement with the HZZ was signed.
• A person hired too early for the write-off. The employment contract with the new person must be concluded only after the loan has been approved and disbursed.
• Too much working capital. Working capital can make up at most 30% of the loan.

A comparison of the micro loan with the small loan, the HBOR (Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development) loan for young people, women and start-ups, and a bank loan on the same example of EUR 50,000, together with our experience with HAMAG applications, can be found in the article HAMAG loans in practice: experience and comparison with HBOR and banks.

If you do not meet the conditions

If your company does not meet the conditions for a micro loan, there are other sources. SP ZPP loans are intended for farmers, and an overview of HBOR programmes, including loans for entrepreneurship of young people, women and start-ups, can be found in the article HBOR loans for entrepreneurs 2026. Read more about all HAMAG-BICRO loans and our support on the page HAMAG-BICRO loans: advice and application. A comparison of all programmes, with interest rates, write-offs and status on the date of the check, can be found in the guide HAMAG loans 2026: all HAMAG-BICRO loans.

How Omnia Solutions can help you

Omnia Solutions is a Zagreb consultancy specialising in EU funds and favourable loans. We help start-up entrepreneurs and small companies from the eligibility check to the submission of the application.

• Eligibility check of the company, the owners, the activity and the purpose of the investment.
• Preparation of the business plan on the HAMAG-BICRO form.
• Preparation of the documents and the online application, and communication with HAMAG-BICRO during processing.
• Planning the principal write-off, that is, the hiring of a person from the target group.

Frequently asked questions about the HAMAG-BICRO micro loan

What is the Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion?

It is a HAMAG-BICRO loan of EUR 1,000 to 50,000 for micro and small business entities that are young companies up to 3 years old or whose majority owners belong to vulnerable groups. It is financed by the European Social Fund Plus, with an interest rate of at least 0.5% and the possibility of a write-off of up to 30% of the principal.

Who can apply for a HAMAG-BICRO micro loan?

Micro and small entities that operate in Croatia, are majority-owned by a natural person and whose majority owner is employed in them full-time, if they are a young company up to 3 years old or their majority owners are persons with disabilities, persons aged 55 or over, young people aged 18 to 29 or persons without completed secondary education.

What is the interest rate on the micro loan?

The base rate for Croatia reduced by 2.5 percentage points, and at least 0.5%. With the base rate of 2.71% (valid from 1 July to 31 October 2026), the interest rate is 0.5%. It is set on the day the application is received and is fixed for the entire repayment.

Can I apply for the loan if I am only setting up a company or a sole proprietorship?

Yes. The application can also be submitted by a natural person who intends to set up an entity, and the loan agreement is signed with the registered company or sole proprietorship. That person must not currently hold more than 30% of shares in other entities, nor may they have held such shares for more than 3 years in total, unless they belong to one of the vulnerable groups.

Can a company older than three years apply?

Only if its majority owners are persons with disabilities, persons aged 55 or over, young people aged 18 to 29 or persons without completed secondary education.

For which activities is it not possible to request a micro loan?

For agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport and storage, accommodation, real estate activities, financial activities, insurance and cryptocurrency trading, renting and leasing, employment activities, other sports activities (NKD 93.19), activities related to fossil fuels and tobacco, and activities on HAMAG-BICRO’s List of Excluded Activities.

How is the write-off of up to 30% of the principal achieved?

With regular repayment and the additional employment of a person with a disability, a person older than 55 years, a long-term unemployed person or a young person up to 29 years of age without work experience, on a permanent and full-time basis, for at least 12 months. The employment contract is concluded after the loan has been approved and disbursed, and only the unpaid part of the principal can be written off.

Can I apply for a micro loan if I am using HZZ self-employment aid?

Not in the first year of using the aid. That year is counted from the signing of the aid agreement, regardless of the payment date. After that, the application can be submitted.

Can I use the loan to buy or fit out business premises?

No. Investments in real estate are not eligible, and according to HAMAG-BICRO’s answers, this also includes works such as new windows and doors for business premises. The loan finances equipment and other fixed assets, and working capital of up to 30% of the loan amount.

How is the micro loan application submitted?

Exclusively online, through the HAMAG-BICRO online application system. The application must include a business plan on the HAMAG-BICRO form, offers for the investment, the prescribed forms, and financial and tax documentation.

Sources

• HAMAG-BICRO: Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion programme (September 2026)
• HAMAG-BICRO: Micro Loan for Growth and Inclusion programme page
• HAMAG-BICRO: Maximum loan amount increased (24 September 2026)
• HAMAG-BICRO: Questions and answers, Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion
• HAMAG-BICRO: List of Documents, Micro Loans for Growth and Inclusion (31 March 2025) and forms
• HAMAG-BICRO: List of Excluded Activities
• HAMAG-BICRO: Application procedure
• European Commission: reference and discount rates (base rate for Croatia)
• Omnia Solutions: Maximum micro loan amount increased to EUR 50,000

The conditions are summarised from official sources as of 20 October 2026 and may change. The decision on the loan and the write-off is made by HAMAG-BICRO.