To encourage employers to hire more status holders, the subsidy scheme Support for Employers Hiring Status Holders (SOWIS) was opened last year. For 2025, a new application round is being prepared, which will open on June 2, 2025. Eligible employers can already register via the subsidy portal.

The SOWIS subsidy scheme provides employers with financial support to guide status holders in the workplace and helps bridge language and cultural differences. After the first application round opened in September 2024, several changes were made for the second application round. More status holders will be eligible, and the application period will be extended from 1 to 4 months. This year, 3 million euros have been allocated.

The SOWIS subsidy can be applied for status holders who started working after December 2, 2024, or for status holders who have not previously been employed. The subsidy can be requested for up to four status holders, up to an amount of 24,000 euros.

Read more information about the SOWIS scheme.