News item | 08-06-2023 | 11:55
On 4 September, the Temporary Protection Directive (RTB) for third-country nationals with a temporary residence permit in Ukraine expires. As a result, from that moment on they no longer have the same rights as refugees from Ukraine. To prevent additional pressure from building up in the already overcrowded asylum reception centre, the IND is already processing some of the asylum applications from third-country nationals from Syria, Yemen and safe countries. In addition, the government is once again encouraging voluntary departure while third-country nationals are still using the reception facilities for refugees from Ukraine. Third-country nationals with ongoing asylum applications will be transferred to COA reception in phases after the RTB has expired. This reduces the extra burden on asylum reception. State Secretary Eric van der Burg (JenV) wrote this to the House of Representatives today.
Phased transition to the COA
Third-country nationals who decide to go through the asylum procedure, or whose asylum application is still being processed on 4 September, also retain the right to reception after that date. Most third-country nationals are now staying in a reception location of the municipality, they have to move to a COA reception location. Transfers from the reception for refugees from Ukraine to COA locations will take place gradually from the week of July 24 to the week of October 16. Relocations to COA locations means that different rules apply.
Host households where third-country nationals reside have the option of continuing this under COA regulations as long as the third-country national’s asylum procedure is ongoing. If the guest household wants to stop providing reception, third-country nationals can go to a COA reception location.
Stimulate voluntary departure
In order not to further increase the pressure on the asylum chain, the cabinet is encouraging voluntary departure. Third-country nationals who decide not to continue their asylum application, or whose asylum application has already been rejected, are no longer entitled to reception from 4 September and are obliged to leave the Netherlands. Between 1 June and 1 August, they can make use of the remigration policy of the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V). Under strict conditions, they receive support and a financial contribution upon departure. If you register in June and leave within a month, the financial contribution is €5000 per person. If you register in July and leave within a month, it will be €2000 per person. From 1 August 2023, regular departure support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other NGOs will apply.
This concerns approximately 4,500 third-country nationals with a temporary residence permit in Ukraine, who were registered in the Netherlands in the Personal Records Database (BRP) before 19 July 2022. For example, they studied or worked in Ukraine. It was previously said that the RTB for this group would expire on March 4, 2023, this was extended by 6 months at the time.