Frequently asked questions about reception in the Netherlands following evacuation from Afghanistan

On arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and after registration, people with a Dutch passport who do not have accommodation will be taken to a reception centre near the airport.

People with a Dutch passport and their family members then have three options:

1. They arrange their own accommodation, for example staying with family or friends
2. They make temporary use of the reception facilities and arrange their own accommodation later.
3. They use the reception facilities in the Netherlands.

Yes, on arrival people can indicate whether they require medical or mental health assistance. Staff from the municipal health service (GGD) will be on hand to help.

People with a Dutch passport who do not have sufficient financial means are eligible for financial support from the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). This temporary scheme has been set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.

The scheme includes the following:

• a one-off allowance for initial expenses;

• a weekly allowance for food, clothing and other personal expenditure;

• payment of exceptional expenses;

• coverage for medical expenses under a scheme established for this purpose;

• insurance against the financial consequences of third party liability.

Family members, such as children or a spouse, who are not Dutch nationals will be issued with a short-stay visa.

Afghan nationals, whether or not they have a passport, will be given accommodation by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) will then process their applications for asylum.

COA follows the guidelines of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and works closely with the municipal health service (GGD). People with symptoms will be tested, and must self-isolate if they test positive.

Afghans who are eligible can be relocated to the Netherlands together with their core family members. Core family members are the head of the family, their spouse and any dependent, unmarried children under the age of 25. 

Nationals of other European countries will be received by their own embassy. They can then continue on to their own country.

Afghans will stay at a COA reception centre until they have been issued with residence permits and municipalities have found homes for them. Since there is a housing shortage, this may take some time.

Homes need to be found for residence permit holders as soon as possible. This is the responsibility of the municipalities. Municipalities can, for example, create homes quickly, and where necessary temporarily, in buildings belonging to:

• the Central Government Real Estate Agency;

• commercial parties (hotels). 

Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 will be assigned a guardian. 

• Children under 15 will be placed with foster families under the supervision of Nidos, the national guardianship institution for unaccompanied and separated children.

• If there is no foster family available or the child is 15 or over, they will be cared for by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). They will go to a small reception centre for young people with 24-hour supervision

Can minors have their family come to the Netherlands?

The parents and core family members of unaccompanied minors who arrived in the Netherlands in the period following the fall of Kabul on 15 August 2021 will be relocated to the Netherlands from Afghanistan.

Afghans arriving in the Netherlands but not relocated under the Dutch procedure can apply for asylum at the reception centre in Ter Apel.

A moratorium on decisions and expulsions currently applies to Afghanistan. This means that, in principle, no decisions will be made on applications for asylum submitted by people coming from Afghanistan but not relocated under the Dutch procedure. No one is being sent back to Afghanistan at this time.

As a rule, Afghans can submit their asylum application at the reception centre where they are staying. First they will be pre-registered by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The Royal Military and Border Police will then formally identify and register them. At the same time the IND will screen them for national security purposes.