Information for Ukrainians in the Netherlands

Ukrainian women who have come to the Netherlands to seek asylum want to get settled, feel safe, and start a new life as soon as possible. Many of them have children who need care and support. We hope the information below will answer some of the questions the women might have.

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STAYING IN THE NETHERLANDS AS A UKRAINIAN

According to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Ukrainians with a biometric passport do not have to apply for asylum in the Netherlands. Please check what options there are for Ukrainians who want to stay longer in the Netherlands.

NOTE: The IND is constantly updating this information. Please keep an eye on this page for updates.

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NEW SCHEME FOR RESIDENCY IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands and other EU countries are working on a scheme, especially for Ukrainians who want temporary protection. It is also being examined what the scheme means for non-Ukrainians with a Ukrainian residence permit who are now in the Netherlands. Because this is a new scheme, new arrangements will be made. For example, for:

• Living in the Netherlands.
• Access to health care services.
• When you are allowed to work or study.

More information will be available soon. Keep an eye on this page for updates. Until then, you do not have to worry about your right to stay in the Netherlands.

Applying for asylum is not mandatory: Ukrainians with a biometric passport can travel freely to the Netherlands and stay in the Netherlands without a residence permit for 90 days during the visa-exempt term. Are you in the Netherlands in your visa-exempt term, on a short-stay visa, or with a residence permit? Then you are allowed to stay in the Netherlands. You do not have to apply for asylum. You also do not have to extend your visa-exempt term or short-stay visa. There are no consequences if you stay longer in the Netherlands. You can also get a sleeping place in one of the reception centres of the municipalities.

Do you want to apply for asylum, now or later? Then you have to wait a while before the IND considers your application. The IND will not decide on asylum applications from Ukrainians in the coming months.

Flexible handling of residence permits for Ukrainians

Do you already have a residence permit in the Netherlands, or did you apply for one? Or are you considering applying for one of the existing residence permits? The IND is handling this flexibly in some cases.

Applying for a residence permit without a provisional residence permit (MVV)

As a Ukrainian, you may temporarily be allowed to apply for a residence permit without the MVV. This means you do not need to have traveled to the Netherlands with the MVV. You must however meet the following conditions:

• You have legal residence in the Netherlands with a short-stay visa or visa-exempt term. You cannot return to Ukraine because of the situation.
• You and your sponsor meet all the conditions for the residence permit, except for the basic civic integration exam abroad. You do not need to have passed this exam.

Check the conditions for the different residence permits on the IND’s website, as well as how to apply and how much it costs.

Exemption from collecting the MVV for Ukrainians in the Netherlands

Have you applied for the MVV in Ukraine? Or has your sponsor applied for you in the Netherlands? You temporarily do not need to collect this MVV from the Dutch Embassy if you meet the following conditions:

• You have received a positive decision on your MVV application.
• You are in the Netherlands on a short-stay visa or in your visa-exempt term.

You will soon be able to collect your residence permit at the IND desk. Information on how this can be done will be provided as soon as possible. Keep an eye on this page for updates.

Staying in the Netherlands after residence permit has expired

Apply for an extension of your residence permit if it will expire (soon). Is extension not possible? The Dutch Government understands that you cannot return due to the situation in Ukraine. This will also have no consequences if you apply for a visa or residence permit in the future.

Assessment of applications for residence permit and naturalisation

Have you applied for a residence permit or extension? The IND takes the situation in Ukraine and your personal situation into account when assessing your application. This also applies if you are currently unable to send documents about your identity or marriage due to the situation. Have you applied for naturalisation? The IND knows that it is not possible at this moment to renounce your nationality.

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UKRAINE: EFFECTS ON STAY OR APPLICATION FOR UKRAINIANS

​This page will be updated with the latest information about the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for your stay and applications.

How to contact the IND

If you’d like to speak to someone in person, call the IND and don’t go to the IND desk. Please call 088 043 0430 (standard charges apply) and press number 9. If you are calling from abroad, please call +31 88 043 0430.

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EMPLOYMENT

Ukrainian nationals who flee the fighting for the Netherlands will have the right to work and send their children to school on their arrival under a new agreement reached between the EU leaders.

The emergency mechanism aims to provide immediate support to ‘displaced persons who are not in a position to return to their country of origin’ with reduced border formalities and without applying for asylum.

Ukrainian citizens will be given residence rights in the EU, including the right to work and to benefit of housing, medical assistance, and education for children.

These rights will be initially guaranteed for a year and can be extended for up to three years. The European Commission can also propose to end the scheme if the situation allows ‘safe and durable return to Ukraine.

Besides Ukrainian citizens, non-EU nationals or stateless persons benefiting from international protection in Ukraine (for example refugees or asylum seekers), as well as their family members, will be eligible for the scheme. However, other people who were in Ukraine for a short period, for example, students or temporary workers, and are able to return safely to their home country will not be covered by these measures.

Housing

Meanwhile, the Dutch government has urged regional safety boards to identify housing for Ukrainian refugees as a matter of urgency, as people started to arrive.

The Dutch local authorities association VNG is compiling a register of locations identified so far and a number of private initiatives, such as Onderdak Ukraine, RoomforUkraine, and Takecarebnb, offering accommodation to Ukrainians are also springing up.

Renée Frissen, director of OpenEmbassy, a group that helps newcomers, especially those from a refugee background, integrate in the Netherlands, told DutchNews.nl they are now building a network of Ukrainian-speaking people who can help those arriving dealing with healthcare, jobs, and childcare. The group is also encouraging Ukrainians to apply for highly skilled migrant visas (the EU Blue Card, in Dutch: Europese Blauwe Kaart), to work for example in start-ups.

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WHERE TO LOOK FOR SUPPORT

VluchtelingenWerk

VluchtelingenWerk (the Dutch Council for Refugees) supports refugees and asylum seekers from the moment they are received in the Netherlands until they have found their way independently.

War Child Holland

War Child’s programme works to rebuild hope and confidence for the hundreds of refugee children who arrive at the Netherlands’ borders.

Samen Hier

Samen Hier is a nationwide movement of citizens and organisations that wants to change the way in which people on the run come to the Netherlands as well as the reception of refugees, through the implementation of community sponsorship.

COA

The COA is short for Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers (the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers). The COA provides asylum seekers with accommodation.

ASKV Refugee Support

ASKV Refugee Support is an Amsterdam-based organisation that provides legal assistance and social support to rejected asylum seekers in the Netherlands. It supports undocumented asylum seekers by providing shelter, legal and social assistance, daytime activities, and vocational training.

Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine in the Netherlands and beyond.

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