The Netherlands are preparing to send Ukrainians back home: what changes are being introduced

The Dutch government plans to introduce a special temporary status for Ukrainian refugees starting in 2027, with the main goal of encouraging Ukrainians to return home once peace is established in Ukraine.

This was reported by NOS.

According to the proposal by acting Minister for Asylum and Migration Kaeizer, Ukrainians in the Netherlands will no longer be able to count on the current maximum support regime. The special status, which is to apply after the EU Temporary Protection Directive expires in March 2027, is intended specifically to facilitate the return of Ukrainians to their homes if peace is achieved.

One of the key elements of the new plan is reducing government spending on housing refugees. Therefore, Ukrainians who are employed will be required to pay rent for accommodation in municipal reception centers, as well as pay for their own health insurance.

Unemployed Ukrainians will have to apply for social benefits, just like other residents of the country.

According to the government, there are currently about 120,000 Ukrainians in the Netherlands, more than 60% of whom have permanent jobs. This is why the authorities consider mandatory payments fair and necessary.

The government notes that the changes are driven by several factors. First of all, there is the overload of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). It already has a large backlog of unprocessed applications and cannot handle even more asylum requests. In addition, officials cite the lack of budgetary resources to continue funding support for Ukrainians after the current EU program ends, as well as overcrowded refugee reception centers, which are already creating difficulties for municipalities.

At the same time, the government stresses that the policy is not intended to exert pressure, but rather to ensure a controlled and safe process for the return of Ukrainians when conditions allow it.

Final decisions on the model of support for Ukrainians after 2027 are to be made during next year’s budget negotiations. Only then will it become clear what the new status will look like and what rules will apply to Ukrainians in the Netherlands.

Earlier it was reported that the Czech Republic plans to change the rules regarding temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine. The country’s new government wants to drastically reduce social benefits for Ukrainians. The main reason for the possible changes is a sharp increase in the number of refugees, which is putting additional pressure on the state budget.