Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy
A Government of Goa subsidy that reimburses office lease rentals for Goan Diaspora-led IT units operating in the state, covering up to 100% of rent in the first six months.
- Funding amount
- Varies by program
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa (Government)
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora sits within Goa's Information Technology Policy Schemes and has been run by the state's Department of Information Technology since 2018. Its purpose is straightforward: make Goa a compelling base for IT companies by cutting the cost of the office space they occupy.
The design leans on two levers at once — geography and people. Businesses led by members of the Goan Diaspora, and those that staff up with talent from Goa, are the ones the scheme is built to reward. What they receive is a share of rent already paid, not a cheque written in advance.
Rebates are released on an ongoing basis. There is no closing date to chase, and claims may be filed every quarter, every six months, or once a year, each time after the relevant expense has been incurred. How much comes back depends on payroll: the higher the proportion of Goan-origin employees or Goan graduates on the rolls, the larger the reimbursement.
Highlights
- Reimburses office lease rentals for IT units operating in Goa
- 100% reimbursement of lease rentals for the first six months of operation
- After that, the lower of ₹35 per sq. ft. or 80% of rent, for up to 2 years
- Rebate share scales with Goan-origin and Goan graduate employees on payroll
- Open to new and existing units registered in Goa, including LLPs and partnership firms
- Rolling applications — claim quarterly, half-yearly or annually
Who can apply
Both new and existing IT units qualify, provided the business operates in Goa and is registered in the state. The unit also needs to have been running for at least one year before it applies.
Eligible legal forms are:
- Proprietorship firms
- Private limited companies
- Public limited companies
- Registered partnership firms
- Limited liability partnerships
Further conditions apply:
- The CEO or Head of the company, or its majority stakeholder(s), must be of Goan Diaspora origin.
- Bank accounts held by the unit and/or its partners or directors must be Aadhaar-linked.
- At least 15 employees must be on the payroll, and a minimum of 60% of them must be of Goan origin.
- Those employees must have been on the company's rolls for at least one year.
- To claim for a specific office space, the unit must have operated from that space for more than one year.
Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy 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.
What the funding covers
Support takes the form of a reimbursement against lease rental that has already been paid, and the amount varies with the rent and the composition of the payroll.
- First 6 months of operation: 100% of lease rentals reimbursed.
- Thereafter: the lower of ₹35 per sq. ft. or 80% of total lease rentals, continuing for a maximum of 2 years.
The payout is calculated on a pro-rata basis against the percentage of Goan origin employees or Goan graduates on the company's payroll:
- Up to 30% Goan employees: 50% reimbursement
- 30% to 60% Goan employees: 75% reimbursement
- More than 60% Goan employees: 100% reimbursement
Taken together, these benefits lower running costs for IT units in the state while giving employers a direct financial reason to hire locally.
About the provider
Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy is offered by Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Every application moves through three timed checkpoints, each counted from the day the incentive application is received.
- Within 30 days (D+30): the application is scrutinised against a predefined checklist.
- Within 60 days (D+60): the file is placed before an Empowered Committee, which takes the approval decision.
- Within 90 days (D+90): applicants who are approved receive Sanction Orders and the rebate is disbursed. Those who are not approved receive a Regret Letter.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy, 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does this scheme actually reimburse?
For the first six months of operation the unit gets 100% of its lease rentals back. From then on, the reimbursement is whichever is lower between ₹35 per sq. ft. and 80% of the total lease rentals, and this continues for a maximum of two years. The final figure also depends on the share of Goan employees on the payroll, so the amount varies from unit to unit.
Is there a last date to apply?
No. Applications run on a rolling, always-open basis. You can submit a claim quarterly, twice a year, or annually — each time after you have incurred the relevant expenditure.
Which types of businesses are eligible?
Proprietorship firms, private limited companies, public limited companies, registered partnership firms and limited liability partnerships can all apply. On top of the entity type, the business must be registered in Goa, must have operations there, and must have been operational for at least one year before the application date.
What are the Goan Diaspora and hiring conditions?
The company's CEO or Head, or its majority stakeholder(s), must belong to the Goan Diaspora. On the staffing side, the unit must employ a minimum of 15 people, at least 60% of whom are of Goan origin, and those employees must remain on the company's rolls for at least one year.
Does the scheme take equity in my company?
No. This is a subsidy paid as a reimbursement of lease rental, so it is non-dilutive — no shares or ownership stake change hands. You first pay the rent and then claim the applicable share back.
Do I need DPIIT recognition or MSME registration to apply?
Going by the eligibility conditions as published, DPIIT recognition and MSME registration are not listed among the requirements. The conditions centre instead on registration in Goa, the eligible entity type, Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, Goan Diaspora leadership and the minimum payroll thresholds.
Can I claim for the office space I currently occupy?
Yes, but only if the unit has operated from that particular space for more than one year. This is separate from the overall requirement that the business itself has been operational for at least a year.
How do I submit an application?
Everything is handled online through the Goa Online portal. Register with your email ID and mobile number, verifying both through OTP. Complete the registration by filling in the mandatory fields, choosing a login name and password, accepting the declaration and terms, entering the captcha and signing up. Log in, open 'Services' in the top ribbon, go to 'IT Services' and pick this scheme. Fill in the application form, upload the required documents, and submit — a unique registration number will be generated, so note it down for future reference.
How long does approval take once I apply?
Three deadlines apply, all counted from the date your application is received. Scrutiny against the predefined checklist happens within 30 days. Approval by the Empowered Committee is decided within 60 days. Sanction Orders and disbursement for successful applicants — or a Regret Letter for unsuccessful ones — are issued within 90 days.
What does my bank account have to look like?
The bank accounts of the unit, and/or of its partners or directors, need to be linked to Aadhaar. This is a stated eligibility condition, so it is worth sorting out before you file your first claim.
Who is eligible to apply for Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy?
Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
Who offers Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy?
Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy is offered by Department of Information Technology, Government of Goa, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.
How do I apply for Lease Rental Rebate Scheme for Goan Diaspora — Up to 100% Lease Subsidy?
Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.
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