Frequently asked questions

The Regional Benefits Office (Regionale Sociale Dienst) will send an invitation to attend an intake interview to Ukrainians who are currently living in municipal or private accommodation. They can apply for the living allowance during this interview. We will also continue to hold weekly consultations at the refugee centres, so that newcomers can also apply for the living allowance. The municipal coordinators will register them for this.To apply for a living allowance, refugees must bring the following documents for themselves and each family member under the age of 18:
 

• a copy of their registration with the municipality.
• their social security numbers (BSN) and that of their children.
• their own and their children’s passport or temporary proof of identity. A certificate from the consulate will suffice for this.
• a bank account number at a Dutch bank, with a debit card. The living allowance will be deposited into this bank account. Ukrainians cannot get their living allowance in cash. Those who do not have a Dutch bank account can get a prepaid bank card from the Regional Benefits Office. 

​​​​​​From the 1st of February, the amount for food (previously €205 per person) will depend on the size of your family. The larger the number of people in your family, the lower the amount per person:

• If your family consists of 1 or 2 people, you will receive €215,06 per adult or unaccompanied minor and €178,36 per minor per month.
• If your family consists of 3 people, you will receive €171,99 per adult and €142,57 per minor per month.
• If your family consists of 4 or more people, you will receive €150,45 per adult and €124,97 per minor per month.
• Are you living in a municipal reception facility?If so, the municipality may choose to provide you with meals. In that case, you will not be given money for food.

The amount for clothing and personal expenses (previously €55 per person) is being increased to €56,12 per person per month.

Are you staying in private accommodations, such as with a host family? If so, you will receive an additional amount for accommodations of €93 per person per month (previously €215 per adult and €55 per minor).

The living allowance continues for the time being. The rules governing the reception and living allowance provided to Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands are about to change. These changes will be introduced in two phases, in December 2022 and February 2023.

Living allowances are paid into a bank account at a Dutch bank. Ukrainians can go to a bank and open an account based on proof of registration in the municipality, a social security number and an ID. A bankcard is then sent by post within a few days, as is the PIN code.

Once it has been established that a person is entitled to a living allowance, he or she will receive the first amount several days later. From then on, the living allowance will always be credited to the respective person’s account at the beginning of the month (on about the tenth day at the latest).

Ukrainians aged 18 and over are entitled to a living allowance. Once they reach this age, they have to apply for the allowance themselves.

No. However, they can ask the refugees to contribute towards household expenses. But refugees are not obliged to contribute, but they can do so voluntarily.

They must inform the authorities if their situation changes. This mainly concerns the following changes:

• starting or stopping work;
• changes to the composition of family;
• moving house, be it to another refugee centre or to another municipality.

They can do so using a change form. The form is issued when they apply for a living allowance. It is also available at the municipal refugee centres and at the Regional Benefits Office (Regionale Sociale Dienst).

Yes, it is obligatory to register in the Persons Database as soon as possible.

Yes, if Ukrainians are staying in the Netherlands, they are obliged to register. However, given their situation, we are not enforcing the obligation to register within five working days of arrival.

Yes, that is permitted. We recommend being lenient in this respect. However, the photo on the document must correspond with the person recording their residence and address.

No, but income from work is a reason to stop the living allowance. As of 1 February, the living allowance will be stopped not only for the refugee, but for the entire family once an adult family member starts working or receives benefits, such as unemployment benefit.This also applies to minor income, such as earnings from doing a paper round. Refugees must report this income to the municipality. The living allowance will stop on the first day of the following month. In addition, any allowance paid out without proper grounds will be reclaimed.

The new regulations state that municipalities must start communicating more clearly from 1 December 2022 about registration in the Key Register of Persons and de-registration upon relocation, house rules in the reception centres and where refugees can go for legal assistance regarding their asylum application.

To be able to work, refugees need a social security number (BSN). So only refugees who are registered in the Persons Database are allowed to work. As it stands now, refugees from Ukraine are not allowed to work as self-employed persons. For more information, click on the website of the Central Government(externe link).

Refugees from Ukraine who do not have Ukrainian nationality have to apply for a work permit. Those who can prove that they fall under the special rules for refugees from Ukraine (temporary protection) can work without a permit. These special rules apply to people without Ukrainian nationality who had international or national protection in Ukraine or had a valid residence permit for Ukraine as of 23 February 2022.

There are various organisations that can help to find work. For instance:

• Midden-Utrecht Werkt Door [Central Utrecht at Work](externe link)
• Refugee Talent Hub

At this point in time, there are no special rules for refugees from Ukraine who would like to study. They have to pay the same tuition fees and are subject to the same admission requirements as before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. This may change in the future, but the government has not yet announced anything on this matter. However, money has been made available for Ukrainian students who were already studying in the Netherlands on a student visa. More information about education and free courses is available on the refugee help website(externe link).

Yes. The living allowance stops when paid employment starts.

From the 1st of February, when a person of 18 years or older is working, the living allowance for their entire family will be stopped. This will also happen if a person 18 years or older receives benefits from the Dutch government, such as an unemployment or occupational disability benefit. This also applies to minor income, such as earnings from doing a paper round. Refugees must report this to the municipality. The living allowance will stop on the first day of the following month.

There was a transitional period for employers until 15 April 2022. Until then, they could still inform the UWV about the employment of a refugee who had been employed since 4 March 2022. For more information about applying for a work permit, visit this web page(externe link).

On 4 March, the EU implemented the Temporary Protection Directive. This means that people fleeing the war in Ukraine are given protection in European Union Member States. Under the Temporary Protection Directive, Ukrainian refugees have access to the jobs market without requiring a work permit. As the employer, you do need to register your new employee with the UWV in good time.

There are two ways to open a bank account:

1. Visit a branch of the bank. You can find the addresses of their branches on the bank’s website or using Google Maps. Take your passport and an extract from the Persons Database with you and write down the address where you are staying just to be sure. A member of staff at the bank will help you with the application. You will be sent a bank card and your PIN code (separately) in a few days.

2. Go to the bank’s website. Rabobank(externe link) and ABN Amro(externe link) have a special website page where you can open an account.

Banks charge fees for having a bank account, but they are not high. More information about this is available on the bank’s website.

Yes, it has been possible to do so at ABN Amro and Rabobank since December 2022. This means you can now open a bank account even with your normal Ukrainian passport (without a microchip).

A Dutch bank account has many advantages: you can use it to pay for purchases, withdraw money, transfer money to another person, receive your salary, put money in a savings account and view and manage your expenses and income. You can also use the bank’s app to do your banking via your phone. Pre-paid BNG bank cards only allow you to receive your living allowance from the Regional Social Services (until 1 May 2023), pay for purchases and withdraw money from an ATM.

Once you have opened a new bank account, you must hand in your BNG bank card at the Regional Social Service, Kromme Rijn Heuvelrug. You have to do so in person before 1 June, so don’t send it in by post! The address is: Het Rond 6E, 3701 HS Zeist. Please note: only hand in the BNG bank card once you have received the bank card for your new bank account and started using it.

Your living allowance will be deposited into your Dutch bank account on the first day of the following month. So if you open a Dutch bank account on 16 March, you will receive the living allowance in this bank account on 1 April. Make sure that you have a Dutch bank account before 30 April.