Emancipation Loans for Young People in Catalonia: 2025 Guide

Introduction: An opportunity to access your first home

Access to housing remains one of the main challenges for young people in Catalonia. Often, young people can afford a mortgage but lack the necessary savings to make the down payment. For this reason, the Generalitat (Catalan government) has created Emancipation Loans for Young People, a new line of financing that makes it easier to purchase a first home without the need for a down payment.

What are Youth Emancipation Loans?

Youth Emancipation Loans are public aid intended to finance up to 20% of the value of a home (with a maximum of €50,000), which allows covering the amount that banks normally do not assume in a mortgage.

This is an interest-free loan (0% APR) that works to make purchasing as easy as possible:

• No down payment.
• No repayment until the mortgage is paid off.
• Grace period of up to 30 years, plus an additional 5 years to repay the loan.

Financial institutions participating in the program

To cover the remaining 80% of the home's price, beneficiaries must obtain a mortgage from one of the participating banks:

• Arquía
• Banco Sabadell
• Bankinter
• BBVA
• CaixaBank
• Imagin
• Caja de Ingenieros
• Caja Guissona
• LABORAL Kutxa

In addition, the incorporation of Banco Santander is being negotiated.

The entire program is managed by the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF), which will be responsible for granting loans directly to applicants.

Emancipation Loan repayment conditions

One of the most notable features of the Youth Emancipation Loan is its flexibility. The borrower won't repay the loan until the primary mortgage payment is completed.

• Total lack: Neither principal nor interest is paid during the term of the mortgage (up to 30 years).
• Additional 5-year term to repay the loan amount, once the mortgage is finalized.
• Interest-free throughout the entire process.

Requirements for accessing the loan

Young people wishing to access this aid must meet the following requirements:

• Be between 18 and 35 years old (inclusive).
• Be registered in Catalonia.
• The home must be the applicant's first home and intended as a habitual residence .
• The household income must not exceed 6.5 times the IRSC (Catalan Sufficiency Income Indicator).

Income limit examples:

• One person: up to €80,963.31 per year.
• Two people: up to €83,467.33 per year.

Steps to apply for Youth Emancipation Loans

The process to access the loan is simple and completely digital:

1. Online application through the Institut Català de Finances (ICF) website, available from June 30.
2. Once the loan is approved, the applicant must contact one of our collaborating banks to formalize the mortgage.
3. Finally, the mortgage and the Emancipation Loan will be formalized simultaneously.

You can consult all the details on the official website of the Generalitat de Catalunya:

Requirement to convert the home to social housing

A specific condition of this program is that all homes financed with this loan will permanently become Publicly Affordable Housing (VPO). This means:

• The home will be subject to limitations on future sales or rentals.
• It will be legally protected to prevent speculation and guarantee its use as a permanent residence.

Advantages of Youth Emancipation Loans

• Finance up to 20% of the home's value without prior savings.
• No interest is paid.
• The loan is not repaid until the mortgage is paid off.
• More equitable access to property ownership for young residents in Catalonia.

This model solves one of the biggest obstacles to youth emancipation: the initial down payment on housing.

Economic impact of the program

The Catalan Government, through the Catalan Housing Agency, will invest €500 million over five years to facilitate access to housing for thousands of young people. This will result in:

• Thousands of purchase transactions would not be feasible without this assistance.
• Activation of the real estate market under fairer conditions.
• Increase in the subsidized housing stock in Catalonia.

Frequently asked questions about Emancipation Loans

When does the loan repayment begin?
After fully paying off the mortgage, there's a 5-year period to repay the principal interest-free.

Can I sell the house in the future?
Not without restrictions. Once it becomes a public housing development, it will be subject to specific regulations governing the price and conditions of transfer.

What happens if I don't meet the requirements after signing?
The grant may be revoked if the residence is not maintained or if information is falsified during the process.

Conclusion

The Youth Emancipation Loans represent an ambitious and realistic measure to facilitate access to home ownership for those under 35 in Catalonia. Their design allows them to overcome the initial savings barrier without taking on unreasonable debt.

Before starting the purchasing process, it's important to seek professional advice to review all the legal and technical aspects of the home.

Are you going to buy a home with the help of the Youth Emancipation Loan? Remember that you will need:

• The energy certificate.
• The habitability certificate.
• In many cases, a complete renovation is required to adapt the home to your needs.

Check out our services and request a quote without obligation. Our technical team will advise you throughout the entire process to ensure your first home meets all the guarantees.