The Netherlands

If you decide to return to Ukraine for a short visit from the Netherlands you will retain your temporary protection status in the Netherlands.

You are advised to inform the municipality where you are staying that you are leaving the Netherlands only for a short visit to Ukraine. According to Dutch policies, municipalities are allowed to end your living allowance and your place in reception center if you are outside of the Netherlands for more than 28 days.

Each municipality may have different rules, with some municipalities ending your place in the reception center after 14 days. Should you lose your place in a reception facility because of a longer stay abroad, you can reapply for Temporary Protection status and for a place in a reception center upon your return to the Netherlands.

Please note that if you do not have a proof of residence (TPD sticker or letter from the IND), you may also travel to Ukraine and return to the Netherlands without losing your right to temporary protection. However, if you travel without a proof of residence and encounter difficulties to re-enter the European Union, the IND will not give you a visa or other support to travel back to the Netherlands.

For persons who do not hold Ukrainian nationality, the situation is different. While you will still retain your temporary protection status in the Netherlands when returning to Ukraine for a short period of time, rules may differ per nationality for re-entering the European Union when traveling back to the Netherlands.

If you decide to leave the Netherlands and return to Ukraine permanently and if you deregister from the Citizen Service Registry (BRP), your Temporary Protection Status in the Netherlands will be terminated. Should you decide to return to the Netherlands, you will be able to apply for temporary protection again – please see the below question on permanent return.

If you decide to return to Ukraine permanently, the municipality will de-register your Civil Service Number (BSN) from the Civil registry (BRP). From that moment on, your right to allowances, your right to accommodation in a reception center and all other services in the Netherlands will be ended.

If you are receiving any allowances you will have to terminate some of these yourself, please check for each benefit how you will have to terminate this here. In addition, if you took any insurances in the Netherlands, you would have to terminate them yourself and lastly, some banks require you to terminate your account as well. It is advised to contact your insurance company and/or your bank accordingly.

Please note: If you have left the Netherlands permanently and later decide to return to the Netherlands for protection, you are allowed to reapply for protection. If protection is granted, you will again receive the assistance from the Netherlands.

Leaving the Netherlands permanently will mean that you lose your protection status in the Netherlands. If you have left the Netherlands permanently and later decide to return to the Netherlands for protection, you are allowed to reapply for protection. You will have to report your arrival at central registration locations or the municipality for registration.

Please note that the central registration locations are not always open; some are closed over longer periods of time. If there are no registration locations open, you can still apply for temporary protection in the Netherlands. In such situation, you can register and apply for protection at the municipality where you find accommodation. Up to date information on registration and registration locations can be found on the RefugeeHelp website.

Please note that when you have left the Netherlands permanently and deregistered from the Civil Service Registry (BRP), you will have to register again regardless of still possessing your old temporary protection documents (sticker/O-document).

For persons who do not hold Ukrainian nationality, the situation may be different. The Netherlands only grants temporary protection to some categories of persons who do not have Ukrainian nationality. Some categories of persons are excluded from temporary protection status in the Netherlands. Please see the website of the Dutch immigration authorities (IND) for more information: Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine | IND. In addition, rules may differ per nationality for re-entering the European Union when traveling back to the Netherlands.

In case you have left the Netherlands and you have not de-registered at the municipality, it is still possible to inform the municipality and the IND of your permanent return to Ukraine.

The process of de-registration differs per municipality. Some municipalities allow deregistration via an online system (if you have a DigiD). Other municipalities require a signed letter to be delivered to the municipality or a notification by e-mail. Please consult the website of the municipality where you are registered.

You can inform the IND of your permanent return to Ukraine by filling in a declaration of voluntary return and sending it to the IND by post. The form will state that you no longer wish to receive a residence permit in the Netherlands. You can access this form and instructions on where to send it to the website of the IND.

The Dutch government offers support for persons who wish to permanently return to Ukraine and who do not have identification or travel documents. More information and the application form for support can be found on the website of the DT&V. The Dutch government does not offer support for temporary return to Ukraine.

Ukrainian citizens can enter Ukraine with one of the following documents:  

1. Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (International passport)
2. Diplomatic passport of Ukraine
3. Service passport of Ukraine
4. Seaman’s identity card
5. Crew member’s certificate

The internal passport (ID card) is not included in this list. Therefore, it cannot be used to return to Ukraine. Instead, it is necessary to issue either an international passport or a certificate for returning to Ukraine. The conditions and deadlines for the production of these documents vary. 

A certificate for returning to Ukraine grants the right to enter Ukraine. This document is issued by diplomatic missions or consular institutions of Ukraine abroad. A certificate for returning to Ukraine is issued by a foreign diplomatic institution (embassy/consulate of Ukraine abroad) on the day of application. The production of this document is usually a paid service. Valid for 30 days. 

Contacts of the Ukrainian Embassy in the Netherlands:

netherlands.mfa.gov.ua 

(+31) 703 62 60 95, (+31) 703 60 72 18 M-F 14:00-15:00 

Address: Zeestraat, 782518 AD The Hague 

The Dutch government offers support for persons who wish to permanently return to Ukraine and who do not have identification or travel documents. More information and the application form for support can be found on the website of the DT&V: Assistance for those returning to Ukraine / Допомога з поверненням в Україну | News item | Repatriation and Departure Service (dienstterugkeerenvertrek.nl). The Dutch government does not offer support for temporary return to Ukraine.

Please note: it is possible to receive a Laissez-passer from the Ukrainian authorities in case of return, please consult the consular services at the embassy.

If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in the Netherlands with a visa, you can return to Ukraine using your residence permit in Ukraine. If your residence permanent permit in Ukraine has expired, you should contact the Ukraine authorities in the Netherlands to verify whether you need to extend your resident permanent. The contact details are as follows: 

Contacts of the Ukrainian Embassy in the Netherlands:

netherlands.mfa.gov.ua 

(+31) 703 62 60 95, (+31) 703 60 72 18 M-F 14:00-15:00 

Address: Zeestraat, 782518 AD The Hague 

The Dutch government offers support for persons who wish to permanently return to their country of nationality/origin. Please see the DT&V website for more information.

The Dutch government does not offer support for returns to Ukraine for persons who do not have Ukrainian nationality.

The certificate issued abroad will not be recognized – you need to obtain a disability certificate issued in Ukraine. It can be done on arrival or remotely – please check the instructions on the governmental portal.

Please note that even if your disability certificate obtained in Ukraine has expired, the document is automatically extended and is considered valid until 6 months after the end of martial law in Ukraine.

Everyone in the Netherlands has the right to obtain a copy of their health records. The first copy is provided free of charge, subsequent copies may be obtained by paying an administrative fee. You can collect your health record by asking your general practitioner (‘huisarts’), in the hospital where you received treatment or in the Arene app. Please contact your general practitioner or (if relevant) the hospital where you received treatment.

Please discuss your wish and plans to return to Ukraine with the school where your child(ren) is/are enrolled. The school will be able to inform you of the steps to take for deregistration and of the documents and reports the school may or may not be able to provide.

Please note that all children in the Netherlands between the age of 5 and 16 are legally obliged to attend school; and parents are obliged to enroll children in school and to ensure that their children receive education. Your child should thus remain enrolled in school until leaving the Netherlands. More information on what information the school documents should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.

If you are a child living in the Netherlands without your parents or other family members, please discuss your wish to return to Ukraine with your contact person or guardian at NIDOS. If you do not have a NIDOS guardian or contact person, you can reach the NIDOS helpline for children by calling 088-5011200.