March 19th 2026

Five tips & tricks about the new subsidy scheme for employers

• legislation and regulations
• legislation and regulations
• labor market
• subsidy

🔔 Update: the first round of the SOWIS scheme took place in 2025. A new subsidy round starts on June 8, 2026 , but there are a number of changes:

• Employers can submit an application annually .
• The amount per status holder has been reduced from €5,000 to €3,000.
• Employers making use of the scheme for the first time receive a one-off additional contribution of €3,000. This contribution is intended for the development costs of a work-study program for status holders.

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 Do you want to make use of the new subsidy scheme Support for Employers Employing Status Holders (SOWIS)? Refugee Talent Hub is happy to help you get started. Here are our tips & tricks.

1. Start on time!
 The success of your grant application begins with good preparation. Think in advance about how you want to organize the support. This will give you time to draw up a well-substantiated activity plan, which is an important part of your application. Since the 'first come, first served' principle applies, it is important to submit your application as soon as possible once the application period begins.

2. Create a detailed activity plan
 One of the most important requirements for the SOWIS scheme is the activity plan. In this plan, you indicate how you organize the guidance, how you instill the (organizational) culture, and how you ensure the learning of the Dutch language and professional terminology in the workplace. A number of examples:

•  Create a detailed job description: what specific tasks will the new colleague perform? What components will the onboarding program consist of?
•  Describe how you will structure a buddy program: how often do the buddies see each other? What themes are discussed in the buddy program? How do you find suitable mentors?
•  Indicate how you plan to teach technical terms: are you going to set up a program to introduce technical terms? Or are you engaging an external language school for this?

3. Ensure you have the correct documents
 To submit your grant application, you will need a few important documents. Make sure you have your Chamber of Commerce registration number, the size of your organization, information about your sector, a completed activity plan, and the BSN numbers of new colleagues ready. Carefully check that everything is filled in correctly to avoid delays.

4. Inform your new colleague
 When applying for the subsidy, it is important to properly inform your new colleague about the guidance that will be provided. Explain why you, as an employer, consider this guidance important or necessary and what you want to work towards together. Also, check whether the new colleague is open to the proposed guidance, such as attending professional terminology training. If the guidance depends on receiving the subsidy, state this clearly. This helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that both parties know exactly what to expect.

5. Ask for advice!
 Contact Refugee Talent Hub or viewour knowledge base to read more about working with and supporting people with a refugee background. Here you will find various dossiers where you can search for information, inspiration, and suggestions to help you draft your activity plan and handle other practical matters. Additionally, there are many other parties that can assist you, such as municipalities and regional employer service points , which can support you with applying for the subsidy. You can also consult the Ministry's guidance document , which offers useful tips, tools, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the subsidy application. View the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment's webpage here for more general information about the subsidy.

 Read more:

• Practical tips for employers on subsidies, support, and other resources for hiring newcomers
•  Using the SOWIS scheme for language training? Read more here .
•  Everything about laws and regulations for employers