When is someone granted asylum in the Netherlands?
People are granted asylum in the Netherlands if they are refugees. A refugee is someone who has reason to fear persecution in their country. For instance because of their ethnicity or because they belong to a particular social group, for example homosexuals.
Conditions for granting asylum
Asylum seekers are permitted to stay in the Netherlands if they are at risk of being persecuted in their own country because of their:
- ethnicity or social group;
- religion;
- nationality;
- political beliefs.
People are granted asylum if they are at risk of being subjected to torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment. They can also be given asylum if the situation in their country isn’t safe enough, for instance if there is a war.
Persecution
Sometimes people in another country are persecuted by members of the armed forces, the police or security forces, or by armed rebels. This can take many different forms, such as threats, beatings or rape. If the authorities of that country fail to protect their own population, its inhabitants can seek protection in the Netherlands.
Assessing asylum applications
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) decides who is granted asylum. The conditions for applying for asylum can be found on the IND website.
Rejected asylum seekers
An asylum seeker whose application has been rejected must leave the Netherlands.
Read more about the expulsion of rejected asylum seekers on this website.