How to Apply for the SEAI Windows & Doors Grant (2026)

The 2026 SEAI windows and doors grant is the most generous it has ever been — up to €5,600 per home and (since 2024) available as a standalone measure, with no One Stop Shop required. But it's also the step in the process most homeowners get wrong. After fitting grant-eligible windows and doors on hundreds of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow homes, here's exactly how the application works, who does what, and the realistic timeline from your first quote to the grant landing in your bank account.

Critical point up front: you, the homeowner, apply for the grant — not the contractor. Airtight is an SEAI-registered installer, which is required for your application to be valid. But the application itself, the documentation upload, and the bank account that receives payment are all yours. We do not (and cannot) submit on your behalf.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility Before You Do Anything Else

Before requesting quotes, run a quick eligibility check. The four conditions are:

• Home built and occupied before 1 January 2011
• Adequate attic and wall insulation already in place
• Replacing single-glazed or otherwise inefficient existing windows/doors
• New products achieve a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (every window we fit qualifies as standard)

Unsure on any of the above? Walk through our dedicated 5-minute eligibility check — it covers special cases (pensioners, rentals, listed buildings, mid-renovation) that aren't obvious from the SEAI page.

Step 2: Get Quotes From SEAI-Registered Contractors

The grant only pays out if the work was done by an SEAI-registered contractor. SEAI publishes the full list at seai.ie — before signing anything, search the company name to confirm. Get at least two written quotes; the SEAI online application asks for them.

We're an SEAI-registered installer serving Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. Quotes from us are itemised by product (composite door / casement / sash etc.), include the U-value spec needed for the grant, and respond within 24 hours.

Step 3: Apply Online at seai.ie

The application lives on the official SEAI portal: seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/individual-grants/windows-and-doors. You'll be asked for:

• Your home address and Eircode
• Year of construction / first occupation
• Current BER (you may need to commission a pre-works BER if you don't already have one)
• Your contractor's SEAI registration number (we provide this)
• A copy of the quote and proposed window/door specification
• Bank details for the grant payment

The application is free to submit and takes most homeowners 15–30 minutes online. SEAI doesn't charge an application fee.

Step 4: Wait for the Grant Offer — Critically, Do Not Start Work

After you submit, SEAI reviews the application and emails you a formal grant offer letter. The wait is usually 2–4 weeks, occasionally longer at peak times. The offer letter states the maximum grant amount you're approved for and the works that qualify.

Do not start any work before this offer arrives. If your contractor begins installation before SEAI has issued the offer, you forfeit the grant entirely — no exceptions. This is the single most common mistake we see.

Once you have the offer, you typically have 8 months to complete the works and submit the claim. Most homeowners install within 1–2 months of receiving the offer.

Step 5: Have the Installation Completed

Once the offer is in hand, give your contractor the go-ahead. A typical full-house window install on a Dublin 3-bed semi takes 3 days on site. Make sure the actual installed products match the U-value spec quoted — SEAI inspectors sometimes verify this on a random sample of homes. Our quotes always state the U-value spec in writing, so there's no ambiguity at inspection.

Step 6: Post-Works BER Assessment

After installation, a registered BER assessor must visit your home to issue a new BER cert confirming the energy improvement. The cost is typically €150–€200, paid by you, and the BER is reimbursable as part of the grant. We can recommend assessors in your area who are familiar with the post-works process. SEAI explicitly requires this BER for grant payment.

Step 7: Upload Documents and Receive Payment

Log back into the SEAI portal and upload:

• Your contractor's final invoice (we issue this)
• Proof of payment (bank statement or receipt)
• The new post-works BER certificate
• Any photos requested by SEAI

SEAI reviews the claim. A small percentage of homes (typically 5–10%) get selected for a physical inspection before payment is released; this can add 1–2 weeks. Once approved, the grant is paid directly into your bank account, usually within 4–6 weeks of submitting the final claim.

Realistic End-to-End Timeline

End-to-end: typically 3–4 months from first quote to grant payment, sometimes faster if you already have a recent BER and can move quickly on contractor selection.

5 Common Mistakes That Delay or Forfeit the Grant

1. Starting work before the grant offer arrives — instant disqualification, no appeal. Wait for the formal email.
2. Choosing a non-SEAI-registered contractor — even if the windows hit the right U-value, the grant won't pay out. Always verify the contractor on seai.ie before signing.
3. Skipping or delaying the post-works BER — without it SEAI literally cannot pay the grant. Book the assessor as soon as installation is finished.
4. Insufficient attic / wall insulation — if your pre-works BER advisory report flags inadequate insulation, fix that first or bundle it as a separate SEAI grant.
5. Mismatched product spec — the actual installed window U-value must match what was quoted. Get this in writing from your contractor.

The Bottom Line

The SEAI windows and doors grant is genuinely straightforward in 2026 — the application is online, the criteria are clearly published, and the payment is reliable once the post-works BER is in. The hard part is the timing: wait for the grant offer before starting work, and use a registered contractor. Get those two right and the rest is paperwork.

For the full grant amounts by home type and our role as your SEAI-registered installer, see our main SEAI grant page. Unsure whether your home qualifies? Start with the eligibility check. Ready for quotes? Call 01 822 8982 or request a free survey.