Rights of third-country nationals from Ukraine
Third-country nationals with a temporary Ukrainian residence permit may remain in the Netherlands until at least September 4th, 2025. From that date onward, third-country nationals will gradually lose their rights to reception to shelter, residence, health insurance and employment.
If you are a third-country national with a temporary Ukrainian residence permit, you will receive notification from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) that you need to return. This can either be to your country of origin or another country outside the European Union.
You will receive either a letter from the IND or a decision from the IND that you must return.
You may have already received a return decision to leave the Netherlands before March 4, 2024. This decision is not valid, and therefore, you will soon receive a new return decision.
Freezing measure for third-country nationals to end as of 4 September 2025
Until the 4th of September 2025, all third-country nationals will continue to be entitled to reception and related municipal services and they may continue to work in accordance with the rules that apply to displaced persons on the basis of the Scheme for the Reception of Displaced Persons from Ukraine (Regeling opvang ontheemden Oekraïne).
The following applies as of the 4th of september 2025:
- Third-country nationals who have submitted applications for judicial review (and who have applied for interim relief): From the moment the court has processed your appeal case and declares your appeal unfounded, you lose all rights to shelter, residence, health insurance and employment. The moment this occurs varies per person because courts do not process all cases simultaneously.
- Third-country nationals who have not submitted applications for judicial review: You will receive a letter from IND stating that starting September 4th, 2025, you have four weeks to leave the Netherlands. During this period, you retain rights to shelter, residence but you are without health insurance and are no longer allowed to work.
- Third-country nationals with an open asylum application: You are entitled to reception at the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
- Third-country nationals with an open application for a regular residence permit: After September 4th 2025, you are responsible for your housing, income and health insurance. You are no longer entitled to reception and municipal services under the Scheme for the Reception of Displaced Persons from Ukraine (i.e. from 4 September 2025).
Third-country nationals must return to their country of origin as soon as all procedural steps have been completed.