Can a government grant agency charge me a fee to claim a government grant?
No. Legitimate government grants are applied for through official portals at no upfront cost to you. Any fee to claim or activate a grant is a scam.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Government grant programmes are funded by public money specifically to support businesses, researchers, or individuals — not to generate revenue through application fees. Eligibility criteria, application processes, and deadlines are published on official government websites. Successful applicants receive funds without paying any portion upfront.
Grant fraud typically works by impersonating a government agency, claiming the victim has been pre-selected for a grant, and then charging a processing, insurance, or tax fee to release the funds. The 'grant' is fictional, and the fees — paid by wire transfer or gift card — go directly to the scammer.
Some variations use legitimate-sounding grant names or mimic real programmes that actually exist. The test is simple: if money is requested from you before you receive the grant, it is a scam. Real grants involve an application review, approval notification, and fund disbursement — all without you paying a processing fee.
If you are interested in genuine grant opportunities, research them exclusively through official government portals and consult your local small business development centre or equivalent authority.
Common red flags
- Told you have been pre-selected or already approved for a grant
- Required to pay a fee before funds can be released
- Contact arrived unsolicited by phone, text, or social media
- Grant name cannot be verified on the official government website
- Fee must be paid by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- Agent pressures you to act quickly before the grant expires
What to do now
- Do not pay any fee
- Search for the grant name on the official government website independently
- Report the contact to the government agency being impersonated
- Report to your national consumer protection or fraud authority
- If you paid fees, contact your bank or card issuer about a chargeback
- Warn small business networks or community groups about the scam
Frequently asked questions
Are there any legitimate grant application fees?
Some private foundations charge small processing fees, and these are disclosed upfront on official application portals. Government grants do not charge fees. When in doubt, contact the agency directly to verify the programme exists.
I applied for a real grant and received a request for a fee — is this normal?
No. If you applied through an official portal and are now being asked for a fee by someone contacting you directly, your application information may have been exposed or the contact is fraudulent. Contact the granting agency directly to verify.