Information about the asylum procedure in the Netherlands is carefully explained in Dutch, English, French, Farsi, Dari, Somali, Arabic and Tigrinya on the website of the Dutch Council for Refugees.
Additionally you may find information about the asylum procedure in the Netherlands on the website of the Government of the Netherlands as well as the website of the IND.
Rights and Obligations
As a registered asylum-seeker in the Netherlands, you have certain rights and obligations.
Most importantly, asylum-seekers are entitled to reception.
This right to reception is stipulated in the Regulation for Provisions for Asylum-Seekers and Other Categories of Foreign Nationals (Rva), and includes housing, a weekly allowance, access to healthcare and education for children. The right to reception also comes with certain obligations. Please find the overview of the rights and obligations of asylum-seekers below.
Rights
- Asylum-seekers receive housing in one of the reception centers for the duration of their asylum procedure.
- Asylum-seekers receive weekly allowances, in order to buy groceries and clothing, among other things.
- Asylum-seekers have access to healthcare, and are insured for most medical expenses as well as against consequences of legal liability.
- Children are entitled to education.
- Asylum-seekers are allowed to work for 24 weeks per year.
- Asylum-seekers are entitled to legal assistance by a lawyer during the asylum procedure. Asylum-seekers do not have to pay for their lawyer.
- Once an asylum-seeker has been granted refugee status and a residence permit, the asylum-seeker will be offered housing outside the reception center.
Obligations
- Residents of a reception center need to comply with the house rules of the reception center. They will receive these rules upon their arrival in the center.
- Residents must report to COA and the Aliens Police regularly for in-house registration
- Asylum-seekers in the Netherlands must undergo medical, tuberculosis screening and possible follow-up treatments upon arrival.
- Asylum-seekers residing in reception centres need to be registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database six months after their asylum application
Please find more information on the rights and obligations of asylum-seekers in the Netherlands on the website of COA.
Related information
Browse the ‘Where to seek help?’ section to find information about helpful services in the Netherlands
About UNHCR in the Netherlands