Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine
- Requirements Temporary Protection Directive
- Register at your town hall
- Documents you need
- Applying for residency under the directive
- Application costs
- Decision on your application
- Proof of residency
- Validity proof of residency
- Travelling outside the Netherlands
- Working and studying in the Netherlands
- See also
Requirements Temporary Protection Directive
The Temporary Protection Directive entitles you to reception and health care. And education for minor children. As well as the possibility to work in the Netherlands. If you are covered by the directive, you may stay in the Netherlands until 4 March 2027. You will be covered by the directive in the Netherlands if one of the following situations applies to you.
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You have Ukrainian nationality
open minus- You left Ukraine after 26 November 2021 and went to a different EU country.
- You left Ukraine before 27 November 2021. And at that time you had been in the Netherlands for a longer period of time. For example, because you had a residence permit or had applied for asylum. You can prove that you were in the Netherlands before 27 November 2021 and not in another EU country.
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You do not have Ukrainian nationality
open minus- On 23 February 2022, you had international protection in Ukraine, for example as a recognised refugee. Or you had some other form of temporary (national) protection, because you are not safe in your country of origin.
- On 23 February 2022, you had a valid permanent Ukrainian residence permit. You left Ukraine after 26 November 2021 and went to a different EU country. And you did not return to your country of origin after 23 February 2022.
Read more information about the right of residence for non-Ukrainians with temporary Ukrainian residence permit (third-country nationals).
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In Ukraine you had a family life with someone covered by the directive
open minusThis family life already existed on 23 February 2022 in Ukraine. And it still exists. By family life we mean any of the following situations:
- You are married.
- You are a partner (unmarried) and you have a long-term relationship.
- You are a child under the age of 18 and you are not married.
- You are a family member and you were living with your family. You are (largely) dependent on this family.
Family reunification is not possible for family members who are not covered by the directive.
Register at your town hall
Are you covered by the directive? Then you need to go to your local town hall to register in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). Registration means that you pass on your personal data and (temporary) address to the local council (gemeente). How you register depends on your local council. For more information about this, please contact the council where you want to register.
Arrival at airport
Are you arriving in the Netherlands by plane? The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) will check your documents at the airport. Are you entitled to temporary protection according to the KMar? Then you can go to a local town hall to register.
Can the KMar not confirm from your documents that you are entitled to temporary protection? Then the IND at Schiphol Airport may check whether you are entitled to temporary protection. You have an interview with the IND and you are temporarily accommodated at the Schiphol Judicial Complex. Does the IND confirm that you are entitled to temporary protection? Then you can go to a local town hall to register.
Documents you need
The local council must know who you are and where you come from. That is why it needs a number of documents from you to be able to register you. These documents are:
- A passport or other proof of identity.
- A Ukrainian permanent or asylum residence permit that was valid on 23 February 2022 (if you are not Ukrainian).
The local council will check whether you have the correct documents. Do they have doubts about your documents? Then the local council will contact the IND. It may be that additional research will be done, to know for sure who you are and where you come from. You then cannot yet register at the town hall. Not even if your family members do have Ukrainian nationality.
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Proof of nationality from Ukrainian embassy
open minusDo you have Ukrainian nationality, but you cannot prove this with documents? Then you may be able to get proof of your identity and nationality from the Ukrainian embassy (Zeestraat 78, The Hague). The embassy will check if you have Ukrainian nationality. If so, you will receive proof together with your photo. With this, the local council can register you in the BRP.
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No documents
open minusIf you are not Ukrainian and do not have any documents, try to have as many documents as possible brought to the Netherlands. Without documents, you do not come under the directive. Then you must leave the Netherlands and return to the country of your nationality. You can ask the Repatriation and Departure Service (in Dutch: Dienst Terugkeer en Vertrek or DTenV) for help with your return.
Applying for residency under the directive
Your application for residency under the directive officially starts when you register at your town hall. Then you still need to sign the application form at the IND. This form is called an M35H and is an official asylum application. You can fill out this form at the IND when you collect a proof of residency. Or at Schiphol, if you come to the Netherlands by plane. You cannot apply for residency under the directive in Ter Apel.
No regular asylum application
An application for residency under the directive is not the same as a regular asylum application in Ter Apel. You have different rights. For example, you are immediately allowed to work in the Netherlands. You cannot submit another asylum application as long as you come under the Temporary Protection Directive.
Child born in the Netherlands
Did you have a baby in the Netherlands? Please register your baby at the local council (in Dutch: gemeente) where you are also registered. Was your child born after you filled out your application form at the IND? Then you must report your child’s birth to the IND. To do so, please send form M35-J to the IND, Postbus 17, 9560 AA Ter Apel.
Application costs
Applying for residency under the directive is free of charge.
Decision on your application
As long as the Temporary Protection Directive applies to you, the IND will not decide on your asylum application. Because we do not take a decision, you will also not receive an asylum permit. And you cannot submit another asylum application. During the application process, a sticker or card is proof of your residency. You are allowed to live and work in the Netherlands with your proof of residency.
Proof of residency
Are you 14 years of age or older? Then you need proof from the IND that you may live and work in the Netherlands. As proof you will be given a sticker in your passport or on a separate piece of paper. Sometimes you will be given a card, a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type O (O-document). Please make an appointment to collect your proof of residency. You must visit the IND within 4 weeks after you have registered with the municipality. On the day of your appointment, you must be registered with the municipality for at least a week.
No right to temporary protection without a proof of residency
The sticker is proof that you are allowed to live and work in the Netherlands. Are you not coming to the IND within 4 weeks to collect a sticker? Then the IND cannot check whether you meet the requirements of the Temporary Protection Directive. And then you cannot sign your asylum application. In that case, the IND may decide that you are not entitled to protection under the directive. What if you get this decision? Then you are no longer allowed to live and work in the Netherlands.
Children under the age of 14
Children under the age of 14 will not receive proof of residency. But the IND must put in the system whether they come under the directive. Children come under the directive if a parent comes under the directive. Please take your children with you to your first appointment at the IND. Does your child turn 14 while you live in the Netherlands? Please make an appointment to collect a proof of residency for your child.
Validity proof of residency
Stickers and cards for residence under the Temporary Protection Directive are only valid in the Netherlands. Does your sticker or card have a validity date that is not 4 March 2026? Read more on the page Extension sticker or card temporary protection Ukraine.
Protection ends after leaving the Netherlands
Are you leaving the Netherlands and do you apply for protection in another EU country? Then your temporary protection in the Netherlands will end. Have you deregistered from the local council (BRP) because you returned to Ukraine? If you want to apply for temporary protection in the Netherlands again, you must register with the local council again. And you must make another appointment with the IND.
Travelling outside the Netherlands
Travelling as a Ukrainian
Do you have Ukrainian nationality and do you have a valid biometric passport? Then you are allowed to travel in the Schengen area for 90 days within a 180-day period. This is your visa-exempt term. You can also travel to and from Ukraine.
After your visa-exempt period
Has your visa-exempt term come to an end? And do you want to travel within the Schengen area, or to and from Ukraine? You will need a valid travel document. And a proof of residency in the Netherlands. You may be asked to show this at border controls. You may also be asked about your right to stay in the Netherlands. The IND will not give you a visa to return to the Netherlands (return visa, in Dutch terugkeervisum or TKV).
Travelling as non-Ukrainian
Do you not have Ukrainian nationality? And do you want to travel within the Schengen area, or to and from Ukraine? You will need a valid travel document. And a proof of residency in the Netherlands. You may be asked to show this at border controls. You may also be asked about your right to stay in the Netherlands. The IND will not give you a visa to return to the Netherlands (return visa, in Dutch terugkeervisum or TKV). Travelling to your country of origin is at your own risk. You will not get a return visa for this either.
Stay longer than 28 days in country of origin
Are you a non-Ukrainian national? And are you returning to the Netherlands after an uninterrupted stay of 28 days in your country of origin? Then you no longer meet the conditions of the Temporary Protection Directive. Your right to temporary protection in the Netherlands may be terminated.
Returning by plane
Do you have temporary protection and have you been travelling outside the Netherlands? If you are returning to the Netherlands by plane, then the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) will check your documents at the airport.
Can the KMar not confirm from your documents that you are still entitled to temporary protection? Then the IND at Schiphol Airport will look again whether you are entitled to temporary protection. You have an interview with the IND and you are temporarily accommodated at the Schiphol Judicial Complex.
Can the IND confirm after the interview that are still entitled to temporary protection? Then you only need to go to the local town hall if you are no longer registered in the Personal Recods Base (BRP). Are you already registered, but no longer have proof of residency? Then make an appointment at the IND to collect your proof of residency.
Working and studying in the Netherlands
Working in the Netherlands
Everyone who comes under the Temporary Protection Directive can work in the Netherlands without a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or twv). This means that employers do not have to request a work permit for you. Employers should only notify the Employee Insurance Agency (in Dutch: UWV) that they are employing you. The work permit exemption applies to all jobs in employment. You need:
- An employment contract with an employer.
- Proof of residency showing that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. As proof, you will receive a sticker or card from the IND. Does your proof of residence say it was valid until 4 March 2023? Then you have received a letter about the extension of your sticker or card.
The requirements for the exemption also apply if want to work as a volunteer. The organisation where you want to work must then request a volunteer declaration from the UWV. You may also work as a trainee, when you, your employer and your school have signed a trainee contract. A twv is required if you want to work as a self-employed person.
Read frequently asked questions about work and income for refugees from Ukraine (in Dutch only).
Studying in the Netherlands
You may study in the Netherlands if you come under the Temporary Protection Directive. You must then be registered with the local council.
See also
