Asylum application — refugee or subsidiary protection

You want to apply for an asylum residence permit because you need protection.

Positive decision: You will get an asylum residence permit. Your decision states the reason (status) for which you get a residence permit: Refugee Person with subsidiary protection Family member

You are a refugee under the Geneva Convention. You have well-founded reasons to fear persecution in your country of origin because of the following reasons: Your race. Your religion. Your nationality. Your political opinion. You belong to a certain social group. Subsidiary protection You have well-founded reasons to fear serious harm when you return to your country. The following situations are considered serious harm: The death penalty or execution. Torture or other inhumane or degrading treatment in your country of origin. Serious and personal threat to your life because of random violence. This is because of an armed conflict in your country of origin. Family member Your husband or wife, partner, father, mother or minor child has recently received an asylum residence permit in the Netherlands.

Applying for asylum is free of charge.

After arriving in the Netherlands, you will first report in person at an application centre (in Dutch: aanmeldcentrum or AC). The AC is a building where your asylum procedure begins. You will go to AC Ter Apel if you enter the Netherlands by land (via Belgium or Germany). Or if you are under 18 years of age and have travelled to the Netherlands without parents or guardians. You will go to AC Schiphol if you enter by plane or boat. This only applies if you have not yet passed border control.

Are you at AC Schiphol? Then your asylum application will start in the border procedure.

During the screening process, the government checks your identity and data. Checks are also carried out about safety, health, and vulnerability.

This phase lasts a maximum of 3 days.

The IND requests the following information: your personal details your nationality your documents your passport photo, fingerprints and signature (biometrics) information about your living environment information about your family members your travel and stay in other countries the main reason for your asylum application

You will be given a temporary document (a form) confirming that you have applied for asylum in the Netherlands.

During the OVA phase, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) will assess if you are entitled to reception. If so, the COA will provide a place to sleep, food, medical care and support.

Are you under 18 years of age and did you come to the Netherlands without parents? Then a guardian from the NIDOS Foundation will help you with this.

During your asylum procedure in Ter Apel, you can make free use of legal counseling.

The Legal Aid Board (in Dutch: Raad voor de Rechtsbijstand or RvR) will arrange a lawyer for you. This is usually free of charge.

An independent and impartial interpreter will translate the interview into a language you understand.

The IND must decide within 6 months. We can extend the decision period by a maximum of 6 months if the decision takes more time.

In Ter Apel, you will start the Reception and Preparation for Asylum Application (OVA) phase at the IND.

the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) will assess if you are entitled to reception

The Legal Aid Board (in Dutch: Raad voor de Rechtsbijstand or RvR) will arrange a lawyer for you.

The NIDOS Foundation is an organisation that helps children without parents during the asylum procedure.

These are IND employees who give a general explanation of the asylum procedure.

Information from VWN about applying for asylum in the Netherlands on Refugeehelp.nl