⏱ APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30/06/2026 — 15:00
Starting a Business 2026 Eligible KADs: KAD Check before applying through OPSKE
The KAD is not a formal detail. In Starting a Business 2026 an incorrect or incompletely declared KAD can lead to rejection of the application, even if you meet all the other requirements. See the official list, check if your KAD is eligible, and do a free pre-check before submitting to OPSKE.
Before reviewing amounts, scores, or supporting documents, you must first confirm that your activity can be included in the “Starting a Business” 2026».
The KAD check is the first eligibility filter of the application.
If the KAD is not correct, has not been declared in the correct analysis or there is an ineligible activity in the AADE image,
the file may be weakened or rejected, even if the interested party is a graduate and meets the basic criteria of the program.
The KAD as the first eligibility filter in Starting a Business 2026
In the “Starting a Business 2026” program, eligibility is not determined only by the degree, the start date or the amount of the subsidy.
One of the first control points is whether the actual activity of the business corresponds to an eligible KAD of Annex II.
Therefore, the KAD check must precede the application to the OPSKE.
If the activity is not correctly declared, if there are ineligible secondary KADs or if the history of changes to the AADE creates a problem,
the file may be weakened or rejected before the business plan is substantially evaluated.
What are the eligible business activities in Start Business 2026
Business activity codes are the Activity Code Numbers declared in the AADE and describe what professional activity a business is or is going to be engaged in. In the Start Business 2026 Action, only specific business activity codes are eligible for funding.
The official call specifies that the eligible categories of business activities are listed in detail in the table of Annex II – Eligible Activities (BAC) and are those that are reflected at their maximum level of analysis under the field “Activity Description”.
This is one of the most common points of error. Many interested parties only know their general KAD and make the application with it, leading to a problematic declaration. The correct matching is made based on the exact code as shown in Annex II and in the AADE change certificate.
Which categories of KADs does Start a Business 2026 cover?
The Start a Business 2026 action includes a wide list of
eligible KADs, with thousands of complete activities distributed across many
industries and basic categories of professional activity.
The eligible list of the Start a Business 2026 action
includes more than 4,900 complete KAD registrations,
which are distributed across approximately 68 industries and
17 basic categories of activity.
According to the analysis of the eligible list, the KAD cover indicatively
activities from the following sectors:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Information and technology services
- Manufacturing and production activities
- Education and training
- Health and related services
- Construction and technical professions
- Creative professions and content services
- Wholesale trade and selected support services
The check should not be done only based on the general business idea.
It needs to be matched with the exact KAD, the actual activity,
the degree, the start date and the business plan.
Popular KAD activities that do not seem to be clearly covered by the eligible list
Popular KAD activities that do not seem to be clearly covered by the eligible list
Many interested parties consider investing in sectors such as catering, cafes, retail, e-shop resale, transport, agricultural production or vehicle trade. However, the eligible KAD list of the program does not cover all market activities. Therefore, the check should be done on the exact KAD and not only on the general business idea.
Catering, cafes, bars & catering
The basic KAD of classic catering, such as restaurants, cafes, bars, refreshment centers and catering, do not seem to be included in the eligible list. Only specific intermediation activity for food and beverage sales services appears.
Retail trade & e-shop resale
The list includes a large number of wholesale trade activities, but classic retail trade does not appear as a general eligible category. For e-shops, special attention is needed to the exact KAD.
Trade, maintenance & repair of vehicles
The basic category for trade, maintenance and repair of cars or motorcycles does not appear to be included. Such business ideas need a separate check before the application can proceed.
Agricultural production, livestock farming & fishing
Primary crop and animal production, as well as fishing, do not appear to be covered as basic eligible activities. Otherwise, specific services or processing activities may be considered.
Transport, taxis, trucks & buses
The basic land, water and air transport do not appear to be included in the eligible list. However, there are some specific activities of storage, transport support or courier services.
Finance, insurance & gambling
Financial and insurance activities, as well as gambling and betting activities, do not seem to be included.
Critical point: In several sectors there is a big difference between production, processing, wholesale, retail, service, intermediation or simple resale. For this, the general description “I want to open a business” is not enough. The exact KAD, the relevance to the degree and the structure of the business plan must be checked.
Do you have a business idea in a sector that you are not sure if it is covered?
Activities that require special attention before applying
There are activities that often raise questions, because they are not always covered
clearly or need careful matching with the correct KAD.
In these cases, a general description of the business is not enough.
- Restaurants, cafes, bars and catering
- Retail trade and e-shop for resale of products
- Vehicle-related activities
- Agricultural production or primary activity
- Transport and distribution services
- Financial, insurance or related activities
For such cases, the check must be done before applying to the OPSKE,
in order to avoid incorrect selection of activity or incompatibility with the
terms of the call.
Are you not sure if your KAD matches with Start Business 2026?
Do a first check before applying.
🔎 Search for Eligible KADs – Starting a Business Annex II
Enter your KAD or a keyword from the activity description. The list is based on Annex II of the official call.
Real-time KAD check for eligibility
Search by — eligible codes
If the list does not appear, refresh the page.
Why the KAD is critical before applying
In all NSRF programs, the KAD is a control point. In I Start Business 2026, however, the control is even stricter, because the call sets a condition for exclusive activity in eligible KADs.
In practice, this means that the company must engage only in activities that are eligible, throughout the entire period from the start (or establishment) until the repayment of the investment. There is no “mixed” situation with an eligible and a non-eligible KAD.
A misdeclared or ineligible KAD can lead to:
- Immediate rejection of the application at the eligibility stage
- Delays in the evaluation due to requests for clarifications
- Problem in disbursement during the implementation of the business plan
- In serious cases, withdrawal of subsidy after approval
Free KAD & Eligibility Check
Send us your KAD, the start date (if any) and a brief description of the activity. We will return a written eligibility comment to you within 24 hours.
Under establishment of a business: what to look out for in KADs
If you have not yet started in the AADE, you are in the under establishment category. In this case, you have an advantage: you can plan the business correctly from the beginning, without being burdened by a past in the AADE.
According to the invitation, businesses in under establishment must be established after the date of submission of the application and no later than 365 days from the electronic notification of the final approval. At the same time, they must operate exclusively in eligible KADs throughout the implementation period until repayment.
Checkpoints for under recommendation
| Point | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choice of KAD | Choose a KAD included in the list of eligible ones (Annex II). |
| KAD resolution | Use the highest possible resolution (usually eight digits). |
| Exclusivity | Do not declare non- eligible KADs. (e.g. OPS-ADE questionnaire, notification, installation approval, AEPO). |
Newly established business from 01/01/2025: what applies to the KADs
For newly established businesses — those that started from 01/01/2025 until the submission date — the KAD check is stricter. The invitation requests continuous operation exclusively in eligible KADs from the start date in the AADE, not only at the time of submission.
Checkpoints for newly established companies
| Point | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Start date | From 01/01/2025 until submission. |
| KAD from the start | Exclusively eligible, from day one. |
| Current image AADE | There should be no ineligible KADs today. |
| Change history | Check all KAD additions/deletions after the start. |
| Employment | It should not have existed at the start or during implementation. |
| Other program | There should be no inclusion or application for evaluation from 01/01/2025. |
Documents you should have available
- Printing of the KAD from the AADE (current image)
- Certificate of changes (history since inception)
- Description of actual business activity
- Professional area details
- License or notification where required
- Affidavit of non-license obligation (where not required)
⚡ Mini KAD Checker
Answer 5 quick questions and get an indicative assessment of whether your KAD needs further checking. It takes less than a minute.
Check your KAD status in 60”
Indicative estimate — does not replace a full check.
Main KAD vs Secondary KAD — what counts
One of the most common misconceptions is that “one eligible KAD is enough” in the business. In Start Business 2026, this is not the case.
The funding application states the investment KAD — that is, the KAD that corresponds to the specific subsidized activity. This must be eligible and at the maximum resolution. However, the invitation requests exclusive activation, which means that the secondary KADs of the business are also checked.
| Scenario | KAD Image | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| A | Primary eligible, no subs | ✓ Clear image |
| B | Primary eligible, all subs eligible | ✓ Clear image |
| C | Primary eligible, one sub ineligible | ✗ Problem — requires deletion of ineligible before submission |
| Δ | Primary ineligible, secondary eligible | ⚠ Complex — requires change of primary KAD and history check |
Changing or adding a KAD before applying — what applies
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive: “Can I add/change a KAD now and apply?” The answer depends on the category of the business.
A) For a business under formation
There is no history in the AADE, so you can choose the right KAD from the beginning. The application is made with the programmable KAD, the start is after approval within 365 days, based on the KAD declared in the application.
B) For a newly established business that has already started
What can be done:
- If you have always had an eligible KAD from the beginning and you want to add another eligible one: usually it does not create a problem.
- If you have an ineligible secondary KAD: it must be deleted before submission, and there must have been no substantial activity.
- If you had an ineligible main KAD from the beginning: here the situation is very complex — a careful legal and documentary assessment is required before deciding whether to apply.
The 5 most common mistakes with KADs
These are the mistakes we see most often in client requests that come to us for a second opinion. All are avoidable with proper pre-checking.
1. Declaration of a general (four-digit) KAD instead of an exact one
The invitation explicitly requests the KAD in the highest resolution. A general KAD declaration usually leads to a request for clarification or rejection.
2. Adding an eligible KAD without a history check
For newly established companies, adding a KAD now does not retroactively correct the history. The image must be checked from the start date.
3. Parallel ineligible secondary KAD
Exclusivity requires a clear image. Even an “inactive” ineligible KAD can create a problem.
4. Wrong business premises for the KAD
The space must be an independent business premises, compatible with the activity. The invitation excludes the use of a residence or space of a first and second degree relative.
5. Omission of licensing control
Many eligible KADs require an operating license, notification or AEPO. The non-existence or non-initiation of the licensing process is a reason for a problem, even if the KAD is eligible.
Examples of real cases
Four typical cases we see in practice — and what we would advise in each.
A. Graduate without a start, clean profile
- University/Technical University degree after 2016
- Activity in an eligible KAD
- Not employed
- Independent professional space
B. Newly established 2025 with exclusively eligible KADs
- Start in March 2025
- Only eligible KADs from the beginning
- Clear AADE image
- Compatible professional space
C. Newly established with addition of eligible KAD later
- Start June 2025 with non-eligible
- Add eligible in November 2025
- Today main eligible
D. Eligible KAD, but wrong seat
- Eligible main KAD
- Seat = owner’s residence
- Activity requiring independent space
Is your case 🟡 or 🔴?
Don’t apply “blindly”. In complex cases, one wrong move now can disqualify the business for the entire duration of the program. Send us your details for a personalized opinion.
Checklist: check before applying
10 points you must have covered before clicking “submit” on OPSKE. Tick the boxes as you check.
📋 Pre-flight KAD Checklist
📚 Related pages for the Action
📋 Starting a Business 2026 — Complete Guide →
Requirements, subsidy amounts, eligible expenses, deadlines and submission steps.
🧮 Calculate your Score →
Free score calculator — see if you are eligible for the subsidy.
📌 See more about the Action on the specialized site
xekino-epicheirimatika.gr.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Start Up Business Action
Where can I find the official list of eligible Start Up Business Actions?
In Annex II – Eligible Activities (Start Up Business Actions) of the official call for proposals for the Start Up Business Action 2026. You can search directly on this page, via the Start Up Business Action Explorer. In the event of a modification of the call, the official text always prevails.
Can I join if I have an ineligible secondary KAD?
Not as it is. The invitation requires exclusive activity in eligible KADs. The ineligible KAD must be deleted before submission. In newly established businesses, it is also examined whether there has been actual activity in the ineligible KAD in the past.
If I add an eligible KAD now, can I apply?
For a business under establishment, yes — the correct KAD is declared from the beginning in the application. For a newly established company with a previous history of ineligible KADs, simply adding an eligible KAD is not enough — the picture from the start date is examined.
Does the KAD need to be relevant to the degree?
The invitation does not set as a formal requirement the relevance of a degree to a KAD. It is required separately: (a) the existence of an acceptable degree and (b) activity in an eligible KAD. However, relevance may affect the award of points through the experience/studies criterion.
Must the KAD be the main one or is it sufficient to be secondary?
The application states the investment KAD — the specific subsidized activity. This must be eligible and in the maximum resolution. At the same time, the overall picture of the business (main + secondary) must be exclusively in eligible KADs.
What if my KAD requires an operating permit?
A permit must be in force, or the issuance/renewal process must have begun in a documented manner (OPS-ADE questionnaire, notification, installation approval, AEPO). When a permit is not required, a solemn declaration with relevant documentation is submitted.
I started with the wrong KAD — can I save the application?
It depends on the case. If the start was after 01/01/2025 with a non-eligible KAD, the situation is complex and requires careful examination: history of changes, if there was real activity, invoices, VAT. In some cases there may be a solution, in others not. We recommend a free pre-check before proceeding with any action at the AADE.
How many KADs can be declared in the OPSKE?
One investment KAD is declared at the maximum resolution. At the same time, the company may have more than one KAD in the AADE (main + secondary) — as long as all of them are eligible according to Annex II.
Until when must the eligible KADs be maintained?
The company must operate exclusively in eligible KADs throughout the implementation of the business plan and until the investment is repaid. After repayment, any long-term commitments of the call apply.
Can I change my business location after submission?
Changes to the place of implementation after submission require a request for amendment and approval. It is not an automatic process. Therefore, we recommend finalizing the location before submission.
Book a free appointment for a KAD check
Do you have doubts? Arrange a short 15-minute conversation with our team. Together we will check your KAD, your history with the AADE and the conditions of the action — and we will tell you clearly whether it is worth proceeding with an application.
