Coming to the Netherlands and reception

You can find frequently asked questions about travelling from Ukraine to the Netherlands on the Netherlands worldwide website. It is not safe to travel to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be reached day and night on +31 247 247 247.

Ukrainians with a biometric passport can travel freely to the Netherlands. They can stay in the Netherlands without a residence permit for 90 days during the visa-exempt term. You do not have to register at the application center in Ter Apel. This is also not necessary if your visa-exempt term (or short-stay visa) has already expired. Please read more about staying longer in the Netherlands according to the Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine.

You do not need to report to the IND when you arrive in the Netherlands. Do you not yet have a place to stay? Special emergency reception centres are being opened by some Dutch local councils. You can ask for assistance at all local councils.  At Utrecht Central Station and Amsterdam Central Station are support centres for the initial reception. The Red Cross is also helping people who need a place to stay. Ask them a question in Ukrainian, Russian or English via Whatsapp: +31 6 48 15 80 53.

You do not apply for asylum at the reception centre. At some of the reception centres the IND will have a contact person who you ask any questions. The reception centres offer a place to sleep for every refugee from Ukraine. Everyone who is entitled to stay in Ukraine is now entitled to reception by a local council. This applies to:

• Someone with Ukrainian nationality
• Someone with another natonality and a residence permit in Ukraine. For example, a Syrian with an asylum permit. Or a student or employee from Nigeria with a temporary residence permit. Someone with a temporary residence permit needs to be registered at a Dutch town hall before 19 July 2022 to be entitled to reception.

You are entitled to medical care in the Netherlands, even if you are not insured for it. For example, a visit to the general practitioner, obstetrician or hospital. From 1 July 2022, this care will be covered under the new Regulations on Medical Care for Displaced Persons from Ukraine (RMO). Your doctor or practitioner will request reimbursement for the costs. You do not have to pay for care that is reimbursed. Have you found work in the Netherlands? In that case, you must currently take out health insurance. This will no longer be necessary from 1 August 2022. From that date you will be covered by the RMO as well, as long as you fall under the Temporary Protection Directive. Have you already taken out health insurance? You will shortly receive a letter from your insurer about this. Read more information about health care in the Netherlands in Ukrainian, Russian or English.

Are you Ukrainian and do you want to return to Ukraine? Or are you non-Ukrainian and do you want to return to the country of which you have the nationality? Then you can get help with this from the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V). It does not matter whether you are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive or not.