Arrival, registration and stay of refugees from Ukraine

Refugees from Ukraine can register with their local municipal authority if they can show documents to prove their identity or that they are from Ukraine or were a legal resident there. This can be a passport, birth certificate or residence permit, for example. Once they are registered in the Personal Records Database, they are entitled to benefits and services in the Netherlands. These include accommodation, a subsistence allowance, healthcare and education.

If a refugee from Ukraine does not have the necessary documents, the municipal authority will start a procedure to verify their identity and country of origin.

All refugees from Ukraine must provide their fingerprints and their signature to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). All asylum seekers who arrive in the Netherlands are required to do so, but at the time of the large influx of Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this was often not done.

If you are a refugee from Ukraine and you applied for temporary protection in the Netherlands before January 2025, you will not have provided your fingerprints and signature to the IND yet.

You will receive a letter from the IND between September 2025 and February 2026, explaining how to make an appointment to do so.

You will have to come to the IND desk at Atoomweg 100 in Utrecht to have your fingerprints and signature recorded. The IND will also take a photo of you.

Please note: you must make an appointment within two weeks of receiving the letter from the IND.

Make an online appointment in Utrecht to provide fingerprints and signature (IND). 

If you are a refugee from Ukraine and you applied for temporary protection in the Netherlands in or after January 2025, you will already have had your fingerprints and signature recorded when you collected your proof of residency from the IND. In that case you do not have to make another appointment and you will not receive a letter from the IND.

If you are a refugee from Ukraine and you have temporary protection, you can travel freely within the European Union (EU).

You must have a valid travel document and proof you have temporary protection (sticker or O-document – you can obtain this free of charge). If the expiry date on your residence permit has passed, the permit is still valid in combination with a letter of extension from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Go to the IND website to find out what documents you need as a displaced person from Ukraine.

Children under 18 must have their own biometric passport.

You do not need to go through customs. If you are flying, you will however need to go through passport control.

When you return to the Netherlands, the Royal Military and Border Police will check your documents. If you cannot show that you have temporary protection, you will be interviewed by the IND at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

If you are travelling by car, bus or train, there may be checks at the border. Starting 9 December 2024, the Royal Military and Border Police is temporarily stepping up its checks at border crossings for a six-month period. The Royal Military and Border Police have the same powers as the Dutch National Police, which means they are authorised to stop you and check your identity.

You cannot take counterfeit items, protected plants or animals, or animal products such as cheese, meat or eggs into the Netherlands. Find out what items you can take with you into the Netherlands. Find out how much alcohol and tobacco you can take into the Netherlands.

Are you travelling with a dog, cat or ferret? If you want to take your pet abroad with you, it will need a pet passport. This applies to countries both in and outside the EU.

Yes, refugees from Ukraine who fall under the Temporary Protection Directive can use their Ukrainian driving licences throughout the European Union (EU). This applies to all types of driving licence (A, B, C and D),  even if they have expired. This also applies to two-year beginner’s licences that have now expired. These have been automatically renewed by the Ukrainian authorities. They will remain valid for the duration of the state of emergency in Ukraine. Driving licences in Cyrillic are also accepted.

If your driving licence has been lost or stolen, you may not drive at this time. The Netherlands is investigating whether these people can get a temporary driving license. This requires that the EU countries have access to the Ukrainian driving license register. The European Commission is discussing this with the authorities in Ukraine. The Commission website provides more information about travelling within the EU for refugees from Ukraine.

Professional drivers must have a valid certificate of professional competence (code 95) in addition to their regular driving licence in order to work as a driver in the EU. Currently, holders of a Ukrainian driving licence cannot obtain this qualification in the Netherlands. A temporary arrangement may be created in the future.

Yes, individuals covered by the Temporary Protection Directive, such as Ukrainians, can apply for a driving licence after successfully passing the theory and practical exams.

Cars and other motor vehicles brought from Ukraine must have Dutch registration plates. This applies to the vehicles of displaced persons from Ukraine who are entitled to temporary protection under the Temporary Protection Directive. The requirement came into effect on 4 March 2025. Owners of registered vehicles pay motor vehicle tax (MRB). The MRB rate depends on the vehicle. To get Dutch registration plates and start paying motor vehicle tax, first contact the Tax Administration and then the Netherlands Vehicle Authority (RDW).