The new group of Afghans will also get an accelerated asylum process

Last update: 1 March 2022

The new group of approximately 180 Afghans who arrived in the Netherlands this morning will also get an accelerated asylum process. This also applies to the Afghans who are still expected next week from Pakistan or who will be transferred to the Netherlands by way of Germany. The IND has a team available that will process all applications at the reception centre. 

The Afghans were received at the airport by staff of the IND and the COA. Then they travelled to the reception centre in Zoutkamp. Some of the Afghans who follow later will also be received in Zeist. The IND will carry out pre-registration at both centres.

Registration and identification

The next step is the registration and identification of persons transferred by the Aliens Police Department, Identification and Human Trafficking (AVIM). These persons will also be screened in the context of public order and National Security, the persons transferred will be informed of the asylum process and they will be allowed to use legal assistance. 

Short interview

Finally, the Afghans will be interviewed by an IND staff member. The interviews are generally short, because the Afghans have demonstrable ties with our country. A decision, and possible issue of residence documents, will follow shortly. This enables the Afghans to have the right papers quickly in order to build op a new existence in the Netherlands.  

2,310 Decisions

From August, the Netherlands has transferred approximately 2,360 Afghans who applied for asylum here. The IND took decisions on 2310 applications in the past period; the rest are still being processed.