News item | 28-11-2025 | 13:45
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians have fled to the European Union. The Temporary Protection Directive (RTB) gives the displaced persons a residence status. The RTB ends on March 5, 2027. At that time, the 135,000 Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands will receive a residence permit for three years.
With the document, Ukrainians have certainty about their stay in the Netherlands and can continue to contribute to society. This document gives displaced people the same rights and obligations as Dutch people and, for example, they will also pay rent or contribute to their healthcare costs. This way, Ukrainians can take out health insurance and study. We will further elaborate in the near future how exactly we will organize these rights, obligations and facilities included in the transition document. Municipalities, the IND and other implementers are very important partners in this.
Return program
With the long-term plan, the government is committed to voluntary return. To this end, the Netherlands is developing a return program that is in line with the reconstruction of Ukraine. The Netherlands offers people who want to return practical help with arranging travel documents and transport. In anticipation of the return program, the Return and Departure Service offers support.
Target group flexible arrangement
The government is combining a number of schemes in the field of financing for shelter. The scheme applies to various target groups, such as status holders, displaced Ukrainians and emergency seekers. To support municipalities in creating units for these groups, the government has substantively developed and completed a target group flexible reception scheme in consultation with the VNG, with the aim of being able to introduce it on May 1, 2026. In coordination with the VNG, the points from the implementation scan have been incorporated where possible and we have agreed to monitor the implementation of the scheme and evaluate it after a year.