KOMPASS Grant: 90 Percent Subsidy for Solo Self-Employed, but Rationed

The ESF Plus program KOMPASS reimburses solo self-employed people for 90 percent of their continuing education costs, meaning a maximum of 4,500 euros for course costs of up to 5,000 euros. The program runs until February 29, 2028, and AI training also falls under it as a digitalization skill. The catch in summer 2026: demand has outpaced the plan, and according to the official program page the issuance of qualification vouchers is limited nationwide from May to presumably October 2026. Anyone who wants the grant currently needs patience and a clean backup plan for the timeline.

Who counts as solo self-employed under KOMPASS?

• Main occupation: at least 51 percent of income comes from self-employment, based on the most recent income tax assessment.
• At most one full-time equivalent: anyone employing more staff is excluded, trainees do not count.
• At least two years on the market: calculated from founding, as of the date the voucher is issued.
• Also with a GmbH: one-person GmbH shareholders working at least 20 hours a week also qualify, as do shareholders with a stake of 25 percent or more.

Which continuing education courses are eligible?

The official KOMPASS rules require at least 20 clock hours, a group format with at least two participants, and a self-study share of at most 50 percent. Subject-specific skills are just as eligible as cross-cutting topics, and the FAQ explicitly names digitalization, so AI courses fit in if they are professionally relevant. Excluded are pure coaching, product and manufacturer training, one-on-one tuition, and providers without a German company seat. As a result, a large share of the advertised AI crash courses fail to qualify: a two-hour compact course simply does not reach the 20-hour threshold.

How does the grant process work?

The path leads through the Z-EU-S funding portal and one of the more than 30 KOMPASS contact points nationwide: free consultation, a provider-neutral qualification recommendation, then the digital qualification voucher. Only after that may a booking be made, a binding registration before the voucher is issued destroys the grant entirely. The continuing education must be completed within six months and the reimbursement claimed with the approval authority within seven months. Important for liquidity planning: you pay for the course upfront and get the 90 percent reimbursed, and the voucher is not yet a legally binding grant commitment.

What to do while vouchers are rationed?

Three things. First, go to the consultation anyway, because the waiting line runs through the contact points, and anyone not on it will get nothing even from autumn onward. Second, plan the continuing education to start after the voucher is issued, not before. Third, know the alternatives: for self-employed people based in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state's consulting or AI grant may also fit depending on the project, our article AI grants for small businesses gives an overview. And if it is unclear which AI skill would actually advance your own work, a brief assessment helps more than the next best course, that is what our AI consulting is for.

Frequently asked questions about the KOMPASS grant

How much exactly is the KOMPASS grant?

KOMPASS reimburses 90 percent of the pure qualification costs up to 5,000 euros net, meaning a maximum of 4,500 euros. At least 10 percent remains as a personal contribution, and VAT as well as travel, accommodation, and exam costs are not reimbursed. Per person, at most one qualification voucher is available within twelve months.

Is KOMPASS still running in 2026?

Yes, the program has been extended until February 29, 2028. However, due to high demand the issuance of qualification vouchers is limited nationwide from May to presumably October 2026, and according to the program page timely voucher issuance is not guaranteed in all cases. Consultation at a contact point remains possible and is the sensible first step.

Are AI courses eligible under KOMPASS?

Yes, AI training counts as a professional digitalization skill among the eligible content. However, the course must meet the format rules: at least 20 clock hours, group instruction, and at most half self-study share. Compact hour-long workshops and pure self-study courses do not qualify, nor do pure product training courses from individual manufacturers.

May I book the course before the voucher arrives?

No. A binding booking before the qualification voucher is issued completely destroys the grant entitlement, as the official FAQ explicitly emphasizes. Non-binding inquiries and obtaining offers are allowed, registration only happens once the voucher is in hand.