Legal counselling for asylum seekers
Starting 12 June 2026, asylum seekers in the Netherlands will have access to legal counselling. With this new service, the Netherlands is fulfilling its obligations under the European Pact on Asylum and Migration, which states that asylum seekers must have access to free legal assistance from the start of their asylum procedure.
Legal counselling is intended for the initial phase of the asylum process: from the moment a person applies for asylum until a lawyer or other authorised person takes over legal representation. During this period, asylum seekers can contact us with general questions about the procedure, their rights and obligations, and the steps they can expect to take.
For general information
For example, applicants may have questions about how the process works, what is expected of them, and what options they have if their application is approved or denied. Legal counselling provides general information and explanations on this topic. At the same time, the scope of legal counselling has been clearly defined. This is not about advocating for the interests of individuals. Legal counselling staff do not provide advice on individual cases, do not evaluate asylum applications, and do not represent asylum seekers. That role is reserved for lawyers and other legal representatives. For this reason, legal counselling is organised as a separate service within the IND. Employees who perform this task are not involved in processing asylum applications and do not have access to applicants' files.
Assignment
The minister has instructed the IND to organise legal counselling. Starting 12 June, a separate service desk will be set up in Ter Apel for this purpose. Asylum seekers are given the opportunity to use the facility but are not required to do so.
Approximately 30 employees have been trained to carry out the work. The team consists of employees with diverse backgrounds, including legal knowledge, experience in customer service, and expertise in communication skills. Over the past few weeks, they have received training in communication skills, integrity, privacy, and working with vulnerable populations.
Because legal counselling is a new responsibility for the IND, this service is being developed in phases. On 12 June, a procedure will be in place that meets European requirements. At the same time, it remains to be seen in practice how often legal counselling will be availed of and where the greatest need for information lies. These experiences are used to further improve our services where necessary.