Information on temporary protection in the Netherlands

Netherlands

Manuscript completed in June 2022

Neither the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) nor any person acting on behalf of the EUAA is responsible

for the use that might be made of the information contained within this publication.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2022

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ISBN 978-92-9487-778-9 doi: 10.2847/902224 BZ-07-22-452-EN-N

Print ISBN 978-92-9487-757-4 doi: 10.2847/146557 BZ-07-22-452-EN-C

Cover page photograph, Joel Carillet © iStock, 2022

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Contents

General information

Entry in the Netherlands

Temporary protection

International protection

Annex I. Repository of sources

General information

Language

Administrative settings

Population

Emergency contacts

In the Netherlands, the common official language is Dutch. However, in

some regions other regional languages and dialects are spoken. Over

90 % of the total population can speak English and more than 70 % can

speak German.

The Netherlands is divided into 12 provinces. The four largest cities in

the Netherlands are Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.

The estimated population of the Netherlands is 17.5 million.

♦ Emergency number: 112

♦ Police number: 09008844

♦ Number dedicated to gender-based violence victims: 08000117

♦ Red Cross WhatsApp number: +31 648158053

♦ Dutch Council for Refugees hotline: +31 (0)203007000

Driving licence

Currently, Ukrainian driving licenses are valid in the Netherlands

for 185 days. The European Commission is reviewing the need for

coordinated emergency measures for Ukrainian driving licenses.

♦ Address: Zeestraat, 782518 AD

♦ The Hague

♦ phone: +31 703626095

♦ https://netherlands.mfa.gov.ua/

♦ In cases of emergency and for life-threatening

situations: +31 617474607

♦ Consular issues: +31 703607218

♦ email: [email protected].ua

Ukrainian embassy in the

Netherlands

If you are a Ukrainian citizen with biometric passport, you can enter

and stay in the Netherlands for 90 days within a period of 180 days

without a visa.

If you do not have a biometric passport or travel document,

you can go to a Dutch Embassy in a neighbouring country (e.g.

Poland, Romania, Hungary) to request documentation to enter the

Netherlands.

Refugees arriving in the Netherlands from Ukraine can register with

the local municipal authority. At the border, the Royal Military and

Border Police will direct the refugees to a municipality with suitable

reception facilities.

Health screening is not carried out systematically.

General restrictions due to COVID-19 measures apply when entering

the country.

The Netherlands offers COVID-19 vaccinations to displaced persons

entering the country.

Entry in the Netherlands

The temporary protection scheme for Ukraine entitles you to reception

and health care in the Netherlands. Minor children are also entitled to

education. Under temporary protection, you also have the possibility to

work.

You will receive temporary protection in the Netherlands if one of the

following situations applies to you.

♦ You are a Ukrainian national and

• you left Ukraine after 26 November 2021;

• you left Ukraine before 27 November 2021 and, at that

time, you were in the Netherlands for a longer period of

time because you had a residence permit or had applied

for asylum. In this case, you must prove that before 27

November 2021 you were in the Netherlands and not in

another EU country

♦ You are not a Ukrainian national and on 23 February 2022:

• you were a refugee recognised by Ukraine; or

• you had a valid permanent Ukrainian residence permit.

♦ Temporary protection will also apply to the following family

members:

• partner (married or unmarried) and in a long-term

relationship;

• unmarried children under the age of 18;

• family members who were living with the family and are

(largely) dependent on that family.

Temporary protection

Where can you register for temporary protection in

Netherlands?

If you are a displaced person in need of temporary protection and are

eligible for it, you can register at a municipality of your choice once

you arrive in the Netherlands. To complete the process, you will need

to provide a temporary address within the municipality where you wish

to register. You will be registered into the Personal Records Database

(Basisregistratie Personen, BRP) of the Dutch government.

Support through the temporary protection scheme is only available

if the requirements for registration are met. Aside from registering at a

municipality, you can register for temporary protection at the Dutch

Immigration Service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND) at a

location near you. To apply for residence in the Netherlands, you will

have to sign an application form. We call this document ‘M35-H’. The

IND uses this form for all asylum applications.

The Netherlands will also check if you are a danger to public order. For

this reason, everyone over the age of 12 must fill in a criminal record

certificate. In this certificate you need to indicate if you have ever

committed an offence or a crime.

If all is in order

, you will receive a confirmation that you are allowed to

live and work in the Netherlands.

What documents do you need for registration?

To register for temporary protection, you will need:

♦ a passport or other proof of identity, such as a birth certificate;

♦ if you are not a Ukrainian national, a Ukrainian residence

permit that was valid on 23 February 2022.

If you do not have any proof of your identity or nationality, you can

seek assistance from the Ukrainian embassy. The Ukrainian embassy

can provide you with a certificate that you can use to register for

temporary protection. You can request this document during the walk-

in opening hours at the embassy in The Hague.

What is the procedure to access temporary

protection in the Netherlands?

As soon as a foreign national registers for temporary protection at a

municipality, they are registered in the Personal Records Database.

The Immigration Service (IND) is notified and will provide the data of

the foreign national to the registry office. This data will be shared with

the registry office and marked as ‘note in connection with the right of

residence’. This will indicate to the registry office that the data being

shared concerns a person from Ukraine.

What documents do you receive as a beneciary of

temporary protection?

If the requirements for registration are met, you will receive proof

of registration through a supplement with a stick

er in your passport.

The sticker shows that you can stay legally in the Netherlands under

temporary protection. The IND will also issue residence documents to

the persons who do not have a valid identification document within the

provisions of the Dutch aliens act (Vreemdelingenwet).

Duration of the temporary protection

The provisions of the temporary protection directive apply for 1 year after

initial activation in March 2022. This means that currently, temporary

protection is granted until March 2023. After this, there are legal

possibilities to extend temporary protection for another full year, in two

tranches of six months.

Your rights as a beneciary of temporary protection in

the Netherlands

♦ Accommodation

♦ Access to labour market

♦ Access to medical care

♦ Social welfare assistance and means of subsistence

♦ Education

♦ Additional support

More information about these rights

Accommodation

Initial reception

Reception is organised by municipalities, that are organised through 25

so-called ‘Safety Regions’.

You are welcome to find accommodation on your own upon arrival, in a

municipality of your choice. If you cannot find your own accommodation,

you can travel to the four centres below. Dedicated staff at those centres

will help you to find accommodation in that particular municipality or

somewhere else.

♦ Utrecht, Jaarbeurs, Hal 7

♦ Amsterdam, RAI Convention Centre

♦ Maastricht, MECC Evenementencentrum

♦ Eindhoven, Microlab Strijp-S

Special emergency reception centres are being opened in certain

locations, for example in Groningen, Utrecht, Amsterdam and

Maastricht. You can also ask for assistance at all other local councils.

The Red Cross is also helping people who need a place to stay. You

can contact them and ask questions in Ukrainian, Russian or English via

WhatsApp: +31 648158053.

Many other private initiatives provide shelter and accommodation

for Ukrainians. For a list, visit Refugee Help at www.refugeehelp.nl.

Information is provided in Ukrainian, Russian, English and Dutch.

Long-term accommodation

Currently, there are no provisions for long-term accommodation.

The accommodation currently provided by the Dutch government is

temporary, but private initiatives may be available for a longer period of

time. The Dutch government is working on longer-term accommodation.

Access to labour market

If you have temporary protection you can work without a work permit

(in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or shortened twv). This means that

an employer does not have to request a work permit for you. However,

employers must notify the Dutch Social Security Institution

(Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, UWV) at least two

working days before the initial working date. The work permit exemption

applies to all employee jobs. This means that you will need an

employment contract with an employer.

The following conditions apply.

♦ You need to have an employment contract with an employer.

♦ You need to be registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP).

♦ You need to have obtained the residence permit.

♦ Your employers must notify the employee insurance agency (UWV).

Persons with temporary protection can also apply for voluntary work. In

that case, the employer has to fill in a volunteer declaration.

Persons with temporary protection can also enrol for an internship. In this

case, an agreement must be made between the intern, the employer and

the study programme.

Social welfare and means of subsistence

Adults and children who are registered under the temporary protection scheme are

entitled to a monthly subsistence allowance for food,

personal items and clothing.

Persons staying in private homes (relatives, friends), outside of government shelters,

are entitled to an additional financial allowance, meant to cover public transport or to

visit family members. You will receive the allowances through the municipality where

you have registered.

Public health

♦ Medical care/medical prescription

For refugees from Ukraine, health care, such as a visit to the doctor, is fully covered

through the Regulation Medical Care for Ukrainians (Regeling Medische zorg

Oekraïners, or RMO). The moment you are registered in the BRP, you will receive a

national identity number (Burgerservicenummer, BSN). This number is necessary so that

health care providers can find you in all the relevant systems. The care package is

broader than what is reimbursed on the basis of the subsidy arrangement mentioned

below. Coverage is broader, for example, as regards reimbursement for dental care in

the event of acute pain, contraception, abortion care, glasses and hearing aids (with

permission), and certain medicines.

For more information (in English, Ukrainian and Russian) on health insurance, visit

https://www.government.nl/documents/leaflets/2022/07/27/information-for-refugees-

from-ukraine-in-the-netherlands-about-health-insurance.

If you work in the Netherlands, you are temporarily not required to have health

insurance and are covered by the RMO. This applies at least until 1 March 2023. As a

result, you do not have to pay health care premiums or make other co-payments.

If you do not have a BSN number yet, health care is covered by the subsidy

arrangement for urgent medical care for the uninsured. As a refugee you do not have to

pay for anything. The Subsidy Scheme for Medically Necessary Care for Uninsured

Persons reimburses medically necessary care in the basic package. There are

exceptions: for example, dental costs for adults are not paid.

Visit https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/zorgverzekering/vraag-en-antwoord/

wat-zit-er-in-het-basispakket-van-de-zorgverzekering for information about the 'basic

coverage plan', which care is covered and what is and is not reimbursed. The website is

only available in Dutch but has been automatically translated into English.

For detailed information on health care and health insurance, including COVID-19

vaccinations, mental health support and support in case of domestic and sexual

violence, visit https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-help.

In case of health issues, go to a general practitioner (GP) first. This also applies if you

are pregnant, need medical advice or have psychological problems, such as sleeping

problems, fears and long-term depression. The general practitioner is the only person

who can refer you to a specialist, usually in a hospital.

Go to your local pharmacy to obtain prescriptions provided by the GP or to receive

advice on (minor) health problems. Professionals at pharmacies can also answer

medicine-related questions.

Psychosocial support

In the Netherlands, if you have psychological issues such as sleeping problems,

fears and long-term depression, you should always visit a general practitioner

first. Only the general practitioner can refer you to a specialist, usually in a

hospital. More information is available at https://www.government.nl/topics/

mental-health-services. You can find information on mental support and help to

process traumatic events at https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-help/health-care/im-

portant-information-on-medical-care-for-refugees.

Disabilities

Support to persons with physical disabilities is regulated by the law on social

support (Wet Maatschappelijke Ondersteuning, WMO). Refugees can apply for

support at the WMO-counter of their municipality. The process includes the fol-

lowing step:

♦ Report: report your request for help and support to the WMO counter

of your municipality. At most municipalities you can fill out an online

form.

♦ Interview & Research: the municipality will schedule an interview and

conduct a research on your situation.

♦ Recommendation: the municipality will provide a recommendation,

detailing the help required.

♦ Agreement:

you can agree with the decision, after which further steps

will be planned.

Other options for support include the general practitioner or an inclusion

organisation (see https://www.mee.nl/).

♦ Refugees with special care needs

The Regulation on Medical Care for Asylum Seekers (Regeling Medische zorg

Asielzoekers

- RMA) also applies to refugees from Ukraine who need long-term

care that cannot be paid for by the local authorities or through a different

subsidised program and when a stay in an institution is necessary (for example

in case of a physical disability). A general practitioner can make the request and

the cost can be paid via RMA. You do not have to contribute anything.

♦ Medical devices

The basic health insurance package includes medical devices needed for

treatment, nursing, rehabilitation and other care. Simple walking aids, such as

crutches, are not reimbursed by the basic health insurance package. Contact

your municipality (and ask for the ‘WMO-loket’) if you need permanent aids,

such as a wheelchair. It is also possible to buy or hire permanent aids yourself,

for example via the following websites:

♦ new devices: www.thuiszorgwinkel.nl

♦ second-hand devices: www.marktplaats.nl

♦ COVID-19

Information on what the Dutch government is doing to control COVID-19 is

available at https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/coronavirus-covid-19

Information about COVID-19 vaccinations in the Netherlands is available at

https://prikkenzonderafspraak.rijksoverheid.nl/en.

♦ Vaccinations for children

In the Netherlands, children aged 0-18 years are vaccinated free of charge

against a number of infectious diseases. Ukrainian refugee children must be

vaccinated against polio, measles and rubella as soon as possible upon arrival

in the Netherlands.

More information about health risks and vaccinations (in Dutch only) and links

to other web resources are available at https://www.pharos.nl/infosheets/

oekraiense-vluchtelingen/.

ets

If you have a pet with you, you need to register it as soon as possible. To do

so, contact the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority at https://

english.nvwa.nl/news/news/2022/03/09/import-rules-for-pets-from-ukraine.

Upon your arrival in the Netherlands, you should also take your pet to a

veterinarian as soon as possible. If needed, your pet will be chipped, registered

and vaccinated against rabies.

Make sure to isolate your pet from other animals and people until you have

visited the veterinarian.

Hulp voor Dieren uit Oekraïne (Help for Animals from Ukraine, https://www.

hulpvoordierenuitoekraine.nl/nl/) can help with finding a shelter for your pet.

This can be at regular shelters or free foster homes where you and your pet can

stay.

You are not supposed to bring your pet to any kind of shelter. Just sign up on

the website first. Under the heading ‘shelter’ you will find several registration

forms. You will need to fill out one form per animal, providing various information

about the pet (e.g. medical history, behaviour of the animal, preferred shelter

(only the animal, or together with your pet).

General information is also available at https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-help/

pets/what-to-do-with-pets-from-ukraine.

Access to education

Childcare/nursery

Children of refugees from Ukraine between 0 and 4 years can attend a day-care

centre. Children from 4 to 12 years old can go to an after-school programme.

There may be costs associated with this. The municipality can sometimes grant

compensation for these costs. For specific information, contact the local

authority where you live. No childcare allowance can be requested, as refugees

from Ukraine do not have a residence permit as such.

More information (in Dutch only) is available at https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/

onderwerpen/opvang-vluchtelingen-uit-oekraine/ondersteuning-in-nederland/

kinderopvang.

Primary and secondary school

Children in compulsory school age are entitled to education regardless of their

legal status.

Parents can enrol their child in the nearest school. If the child does not speak

Dutch, the school might place them at first in an international transition class

(children between 12 and 18 years). There are specialised classes for younger

children as well within regular schools. It is preferable that Ukrainian children

can go to the existing “newcomer” education. This type of education is designed

to offer education to foreign pupils. The current facilities for newcomers consist

of newcomer’s classes and schools in primary education and international

transition classes (ISKs) in secondary education.

If the family is still at a temporary accommodation, the municipality will help with

temporary enrollment in schools.

More information on the Dutch educational system is available at https://www.

refugeehelp.nl/get-help/education/dutch-educational-system.

University

The Dutch higher education system may be different from what you are used to.

If you are older than 18, it is no longer compulsory to go to school.

Only if you do not have a job and apply for benefits, you can be obliged to

obtain a diploma until you are 27. It is important to know that you can practice

many professions only if you have obtained a specific diploma.

Vocational education & university

Depending on the secondary school you attended, you can continue studying in

the Netherlands at different levels. There are three educational levels:

♦ senior secondary vocational education (MBO), for those with a VBMO

diploma;

♦ higher professional education (HBO), for those with a HAVO diploma;

♦ university education/Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (WO), for those with

a VWO diploma.

Students from Ukraine can enrol in Dutch universities if:

♦ they meet the requirements of the course they wish to enrol in;

♦ pay the applicable tuition fee.

Currently, there are no provisions for financial support.

Recognition of education titles

If recognition of an education title is needed to enrol in some form of

education, the institution involved can ask for advice at one of the two

following institutions:

♦ Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB)

♦ Nuffic

If recognition of an education title is needed to pursue or continue a career

in a regulated profession, please contact the authority which is qualified to

assess the rules for that particular profession.

Relevant information is available at https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-

databases/regprof/index.cfm?action=regprofs&id_country=10&quid=1&m

If recognition of an education title is needed to access the labour market,

contact one of the two following institutions:

♦ Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB)

♦ Nuffic

Additional support platforms

The RefugeeHelp website offers additional information related to:

♦ Additional support for clothing and food

♦ Care for babies and pre-school children

♦ Connectivity

♦ Leisure time and sports activities

Information for LGBTI persons from Ukraine is available in English and

Dutch at https://www.coc.nl/algemeen/oekraine

Information on temporary protection in a specific country is available at

https://whoiswho.euaa.europa.eu/.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection can stay in the Netherlands as long as the

temporary protection directive is activated (currently until March 2023).

If you are not eligible for the temporary protection, you can ask for internation-

al protection (asylum) at the central reception centre in Ter Apel. In this case, a

regular asylum procedure will take place. Among other things, this means that

you will be placed in an asylum centre.

International protection

EUR O P E AN UNION

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General information

Service

Website

Ukrainian Embassy in the

Netherlands

https://netherlands.mfa.gov.ua/

Temporary protection

Information related to the

registration for temporary

protection

https://ind.nl/en/news/ind-

process-for-refugees-from-

ukraine

Accommodation

Information on housing and

accommodation

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/housing

Public health

Information on how to get

medical care and related costs

https://www.zorgverzekeringslijn.

nl/ukrainian/

Information on the basic health

insurance package

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ond

erwerpen/zorgverzekering/vraag

-en-antwoord/wat-zit-er-in-het-

basispakket-van-de-

zorgverzekering

Information on mental health

https://www.government.nl/topic

s/mental-health-services

Annex I – Repository of sources

EUR O P E AN UNION

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Information on health

insurance for refugees from

Ukraine

Information on COVID-19

https://www.government.nl/topic

s/coronavirus-covid-19

Available in English or Dutch

Access to education

Information on education in the

Netherlands

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/education

Video on the Dutch education

system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=uuJ82w2CnJk

Available in English

Additional support

Clothing and food

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/goods

Care for babies and pre-school

children

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/babies-kids

Internet and Wi-Fi

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/mobile-internet

https://www.government.nl/

documents/

leaflets/2022/07/27/

information-for-refugees-from-

ukraine-in-the-netherlands-

about-health-insurance

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Leisure time and sports

activities

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/activities-buddies

Information for LGBTI persons

from Ukraine

https://www.coc.nl/engels

Available in English and Dutch

Pets

https://english.nvwa.nl/news/new

s/2022/03/09/import-rules-for-

pets-from-ukraine

Pet shelters

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

help/category/pets

Information platforms

RefugeeHelp is the online

starting point for Ukrainian

refugees in the Netherlands

and everyone who wants to

help

https://www.refugeehelp.nl/get-

helpç

More information on

temporary protection in a

specific country

https://whoiswho.euaa.europa.eu