Salary Reimbursement Scheme

The Salary Reimbursement Scheme is a financial support initiative by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Government of Goa, operated through the Start-up Promotion Cell (SPC) / Goa Startup Mission. Its goal is to encourage startups to hire local talent by partially offsetting salary costs. Under the scheme, startups can claim reimbursement for up to 25 employees per month for three years. For fresh IT graduates, 50% of the salary is reimbursed, capped at ₹10,000 per month per recruit. For startups where at least 60% of the workforce comprises locals, up to 25% of the local workforce's salary can be reimbursed, capped at ₹25 lakh per year. The scheme is valid for expenses incurred during the Goa Start-up Policy 2017 period. Disbursement is guaranteed within 60 days after SPC approval, but the benefits are discretionary and not an entitlement.

• Salary reimbursement up to ₹90 lakh over 3 years
• Reimbursement for up to 25 employees
• 50% fresher salary reimbursement (max ₹10k/month/recruit)
• 25% local workforce salary reimbursement (max ₹25 lakh/year)
• Available for 3 years
• For Goa-certified startups

Startups must be certified by the Start-up Promotion Cell (SPC) with a valid certificate number. Employees claimed for reimbursement must be hired for a minimum of 12 months. For fresher salary reimbursement (clause 3.1), the employees must be IT professionals and have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Directors' bank accounts must also be Aadhaar-linked. Only digitally paid expenditures incurred after the notification of Goa Start-up Policy 2017 and within its validity period are considered. There are no restrictions on industry or entity type, but the startup must be based in Goa.

Salary Reimbursement Scheme is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Salary Reimbursement Scheme accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

Startups can get significant financial relief. For hiring fresher IT professionals, they receive 50% salary reimbursement, capped at ₹10,000 per month per recruit, for a maximum of 25 people per month, for up to 3 years. For startups with 60% local workforce, they can get 25% of the local workforce's salary reimbursed, subject to a cap of ₹25 lakh per year, also for up to 25 people, for 3 years. The program ensures prompt disbursement within 60 days of SPC approval. The total benefit can reach up to ₹90 lakh over the three-year period.

Salary Reimbursement Scheme is offered by Goa Startup Mission, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Upon receipt of a complete application, the SPC thoroughly inspects and verifies its contents. Based on the provided documents, the SPC scrutinizes and performs due diligence on the expenses incurred. Following evaluation, the SPC recommends the application for sanction of reimbursement. Approval or rejection is notified within 45 days from the date of receipt by the SPC. Only 100 startups per year can avail benefits, selected by the SPC according to its guidelines.

Before you apply to Salary Reimbursement Scheme, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Salary Reimbursement Scheme is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹15,000 – ₹75L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.