You travel back to the European country responsible for your asylum application

You will be given assistance with your journey to the country that is to examine your asylum application. This journey is known as ‘overdracht’ (transfer). This must take place within 6 months, provided the other country accepts the request to examine your asylum application.

There are three ways to travel to another European country:

1. You can make your own way back. If you wish to do so, you can contact

   the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V)
   .

2. Someone working for the Dutch government brings you back. This happens if you do not leave voluntarily.

3. Someone working for the government of the other European country collects you. This happens if you do not leave voluntarily.

If the IND is unable to transfer you to the country responsible for processing your asylum application within six months, the Netherlands will then become responsible for processing your asylum application. This six-month period may be extended by a further six months if the transfer cannot take place because you are in prison for committing a criminal offence.

In some other situations, this period may even be extended to three years. For example, if you or a family member has gone into hiding. Those three years are counted from the moment the other country accepts the request for transfer. The Netherlands may therefore still transfer you to the other country up to three years after that date.

Until you return to the country that will be processing your asylum application, you are entitled to a place in a reception centre in the Netherlands. You will be staying at a Dublin accommodation centre ('Dublinonderdaklocatie', DOL). This is a basic reception location by the