News item | 03-20-2026 | 3:30 PM
Asylum seekers with a greater chance of receiving an asylum permit are allowed to work after 3 months. The Council of Ministers agreed to this on the proposal of Minister Vijlbrief of Social Affairs and Employment. Now people who are in the asylum procedure are only allowed to work after 6 months. This does not apply to people with a small chance of receiving an asylum permit. People from safe countries, for example, are no longer allowed to work at all due to the new rules.
Minister Vijlbrief: “It is important that people with a high chance of asylum can participate as quickly as possible. A job helps with integration. Work ensures that you learn the language faster and can participate in society. They also receive wages earlier and thus contribute to the reception costs. In addition, it is beneficial for employers that people can get to work as quickly as possible, especially in a tight labor market.”
EU asylum and migration pact
The European Asylum and Migration Pact will enter into force on June 12, 2026. It has been agreed that asylum applications with a lower chance of admission will be processed more quickly. For example, because someone comes from a safe country. This makes it clearer more quickly whether or not someone will be granted asylum here.
Permanently abolish the 24-week requirement
The so-called ’24-week requirement’ will also be removed from the rules. Asylum seekers were only allowed to work 24 weeks per 52-week period. In 2023, the judge ruled that this was not allowed and the UWV has no longer applied this requirement since then. The employer must apply to the UWV for a work permit in order to allow an asylum seeker to work. This causes the number of asylum seekers with a job to rise sharply. From approximately 600 permits granted in 2022, to more than 30,000 applications in 2025.
Implementation
The coalition agreement stipulates that asylum seekers with a good chance of receiving a residence permit will be given the right to work after 3 months of the asylum procedure. The new rules will be included in an Order in Council (AMvB). The adjustments will be shared with the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is done via a so-called preliminary procedure. The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment then sends it to the Council of State for advice. The rules will be adjusted as soon as possible so that the waiting period also increases from 6 to 3 months.
