House of Representatives elections in 2025: what do parties say about migration and asylum?

• VVD: Refugees can only come to the Netherlands through

  resettlement programmes
  . The annual number of refugees to be resettled will be based on
  capacity
  , and can therefore also be zero. According to the VVD, refugees may only come to the Netherlands through the UNHCR. The UNHCR determines which refugees are eligible to come to the Netherlands. The Netherlands decides how many people are allowed to come. Refugees who are allowed to come to the Netherlands through UNHCR can then travel to the Netherlands safely - by plane. Asylum seekers who do come to the Netherlands uninvited are stopped at the country's borders and sent back.

• NSC: Refugees should be received primarily in their own region. The NSC supports the implementation of the

  European Migration Pact
  and fast European procedures and greater border control.

• GL-PvdA: The Netherlands must offer asylum seekers fast and careful procedures. The party remains committed to the

  Refugee Convention
  and supports the European Migration Pact. According to the GL-PvdA, the ideal approach would be to settle asylum claims through UN resettlement programmes.

• BBB:Asylum applications should be processed outside Europe as much as possible. Only people in danger can be granted asylum in the Netherlands.

• SP: Refugees should preferably be received in their own region. But refugees also have the right to apply for protection in the Netherlands. According to the SP, the asylum procedure should not take longer than six months. And Europe must immediately stop

  pushbacks
  and human rights violations at Europe's borders.

• D66: The party favours the new European migration pact and wants to distribute refugees fairly among all EU countries. The EU must ensure refugees can come to Europe through safe and legal routes, which is why the party is in favour of increasing the number of people who can come to Europe each year through the

  UNHCR
  resettlement programme.

• CDA: The CDA wants asylum applications to be processed outside the EU. Refugees should only be allowed to come to Europe by invitation. This includes coming to the Netherlands through UNHCR. The party supports the European migration pact and in the future wants UNHCR or a European organisation to assess and coordinate the entry of refugees to Europe.

• CU: Refugees must be given protection in Europe. Asylum procedures can start partly outside Europe, but always with respect for human rights.

• PvdD:The Netherlands and Europe must provide more safe routes. The party opposes the European Migration Pact because it could lead to many human rights violations such as detention at the border. The pact also means concluding deals with countries known to have human rights violations.

• SGP: Asylum applications should only be made in the region where refugees themselves come from. This should take place under the responsibility of the Dutch government and with respect for human rights. The party wants to amend the Refugee Convention to limit the influx.

• Volt: The party recognises the right to seek asylum in Europe and the Netherlands. As agreed in the Refugee Convention. But the Netherlands must also work to implement/develop the European Migration Pact, with refugees fairly distributed among EU countries.

• DENK: According to the party, the Netherlands needs to receive refugees and adhere to human rights and international treaties. The party favours migration deals with countries outside Europe only if human rights are guaranteed.

• JA21: Wants to revise international treaties and move asylum procedures to countries outside the EU. Only selected

  UNHCR refugees
  will still be allowed to come.

• PVV: PVV wants to completely abolish the right to asylum. The Netherlands should no longer accept asylum seekers. According to the PVV, the Netherlands should withdraw from the international treaties regarding asylum and refugees.

• FvD: Refugees can only apply for asylum through the Dutch

  consulates
  in conflict regions. The party opposes the migration of refugees to the Netherlands. Migration must stop, and the Netherlands must denounce international treaties regarding migration and asylum.

• VVD: The VVD wants reception centres with few amenities. This means that refugees living in the reception centres only receive the basics, such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. People with residence permits will not be given priority in social housing. In addition, the VVD wants stricter reception centres for asylum seekers who cause a nuisance or commit a crime.

• NSC: The reception centres need to be more plain according to this party. They want to stop emergency reception centres and provide better distribution of refugees who need temporary protection due to large-scale violence.

• GL-PvdA: Municipalities must provide small-scale reception centres for refugees. In addition, the

  Dispersal Act
  must be implemented quickly and properly and it is important that there is sufficient support in the neighbourhoods where the reception centres will be.

• BBB: BBB opposes the Dispersal Act. Municipalities should decide for themselves whether to take in refugees.

• SP: The SP wants to provide small-scale reception centres for refugees (a maximum of 100 residents). No commercial reception centres in hotels. The wealthiest municipalities should also contribute to reception locations.

• D66: According to D66's election programme, care must be taken to ensure that the Dispersal Act is enforceable. In addition, attention must be paid to support and better communication with residents.

• CDA: The CDA supports the Dispersal Act. Refugees should be accommodated in small-scale reception centres and quickly move on to municipalities.

• CU: The CU supports small-scale reception centres, including for families. According to this party, municipalities should continue to contribute to the Dispersal Act.

• PvdD: The Netherlands must offer refugees proper reception centres with attention to children, care and education. Municipalities with high capacity should also participate.

• SGP: The SGP wants to make reception centres for refugees more plain. There will be fewer basic facilities in the reception locations. Municipalities should only receive refugees if there is capacity.

• Volt: Volt is in favour of the Dispersal Act. The party wants to link this to European solidarity. In other words, refugees should be distributed fairly among EU member states.

• DENK: DENK supports small-scale reception centres with good facilities. The party also opposes the idea that helping refugees without identity documents would become punishable. The party is in favour of the Dispersal Act.

• JA21: JA21 opposes the Dispersal Act. Municipalities should not be required to accommodate refugees. They also favour plain reception centres with fewer facilities.

• PVV: No more reception centres in the Netherlands. Asylum seekers will be sent back at the border.

• FvD: FvD wants to close all reception locations in the Netherlands. The reception centres for refugees should be in the home region. In addition, the party wants to abolish the

  Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)
  .

Find out more on RefugeeHelp about living in reception centres.

• VVD: VVD wants stricter controls on who applies for family reunification. The party believes there should be better arrangements where only the nuclear family (parents and minor children) come to the Netherlands.

• NSC: The party wants more control over family reunification. It believes that only parents and their minor children should be allowed to come to the Netherlands. For other family members, they want additional conditions, such as own income and housing.

• GL-PvdA: There is nothing explicit about family reunification in the GL-PvdA election programme. But the rules should be in line with international law. However, in previous debates, the party showed that it supports the right to family reunification.

• BBB: The BBB wants stricter rules for family reunification. Their programme calls for a

  dual-status system
  . This will distinguish between recognised refugees and people who are only receiving temporary protection. For both groups, only the nuclear family (parents and minor children) are entitled to post-travel. For beneficiaries of subsidiary protection there will be additional conditions: only after two years may family members come to the Netherlands, and only if sufficient income and suitable housing are available.

• SP: The SP's election programme says nothing about family reunification. In , the SP criticised the long waiting times for family reunification. According to the party, people should get clarity sooner so that families do not remain separated for an unnecessarily long time.

• D66: There is nothing specific about family reunification in the D66's election programme.

• CDA: the party wants to introduce a Dual-Status system. CDA's election programme states that the party wants to limit family reunification to the nuclear family for permanent refugees: only the partner and minor children are allowed to come. To become a permanent refugee you must have a residence permit for 5 years to be eligible to apply for an indefinite residence permit. For people receiving temporary protection, there are additional conditions. Their family members may come to the Netherlands after a waiting period and when they have income and housing.

• CU: The Christian Union's election programme states that families belong together and that family reunification should be possible as soon as someone receives a residence status or settles in the Netherlands for a longer period of time. The starting point is the nuclear family (partner and minor children). There may be exceptions in some cases, such as foster children or adult children with care needs.

• PvdD: The PvdD wants to make family reunification broader. Their programme states that non-traditional family ties, such as queer families and broader family ties outside the nuclear family, should be eligible for family reunification. In recent House debates, the PvdD voted against a proposal to extend decision deadlines for post-return travel.

• SGP: The SGP wants to tighten the rules for family reunification. The programme states that post-travel should only be possible for the nuclear family (partner and minor children). The conditions for reunification should be no different than in European countries close to the Netherlands. In addition, the SGP wants to prevent unaccompanied minor refugees (AMVs) from allowing their families to come to the Netherlands later. To this end, they want to introduce stricter rules and controls.

• Volt: Volt believes that everyone who has the right to asylum also has the right to have their family come to the Netherlands. The type of residence status does not matter. The party wants applications for family reunification to be processed more quickly and easily, so that families do not remain separated for an unnecessarily long time.

• DENK: DENK is in favour of the right to family reunification and against restrictions that keep families separated longer.

• JA21: JA21 wants to limit the rules for family reunification. According to the party, family reunification should only apply to refugees who are granted residence permits for personal reasons. Minors granted residence permits should be allowed to apply for family reunification only for their parents. For people with temporary protection, the rights to family reunification will lapse. The party also wants to prevent unaccompanied minor refugees from being able to bring their families to the Netherlands later via post-travel.

• PVV: The PVV wants a complete stop to family reunification. Their programme states that the Netherlands must refuse asylum seekers at the border and that family members no longer have the right to post-travel. The party wants to withdraw from international treaties that protect this right. The PVV also states that families should be deported if a minor or parent misbehaves.

• FvD: The party does not want to support family reunification, but rather to limit or, in some cases, stop the possibilities for it. FvD wants a complete asylum freeze where new asylum seekers will no longer have the opportunity to come to the Netherlands, including through family reunification. The party wants international treaties to be terminated that protect family reunification.

Read more about family reunification and family formation on RefugeeHelp.

• VVD: Refugees must respect Dutch norms and values. The VVD wants newcomers to quickly learn Dutch and start working. Municipalities can also make this compulsory, for example through language lessons, training or volunteer work. Those who do not participate will receive fewer provisions. For example, no benefits.

• NSC: NSC wants newcomers to quickly learn Dutch, work and have their qualifications recognised more quickly. It is mandatory to pass the

  language level B1
  .

• GL-PvdA: Integration starts already during the procedure. GL-PvdA wants to invest in free language classes, recognition of qualifications and quick access to work. They also want to combat discrimination and ensure newcomers have equal rights to healthcare and education.

• BBB: Integration is an obligation. Newcomers must adapt to Dutch values. BBB believes newcomers should be given language lessons and work, even in smaller municipalities. Those who do not participate should be held accountable.

• SP: SP believes integration begins with security: a home, healthcare and language lessons. Newcomers must get honest work and be protected from exploitation. SP wants integration to be regulated by the government again, not by commercial agencies. Language and work from day 1. Government must take more responsibility.

• D66: D66 wants newcomers to receive language lessons and work or an internship from day 1. They also want to crack down harder on discrimination. Integration is a two-way street for D66: newcomers participate, and the Netherlands must ensure that they have opportunities from day 1 to learn the language, get an education and find a job.

• CDA: CDA emphasises living together. Language and work are central. Therefore, newcomers must learn Dutch, go to school or work, and participate in the neighbourhood or in an association. Municipalities are given room to help status holders based on their talents. Municipalities will make agreements and report on the progress of status holders.

• CU: Integration requires commitment from both government and society. Values and language are central. CU wants status holders to combine language lessons with work or education. To address this quickly, the party wants small-scale reception centre. So that people in reception centres from day one have the opportunity to participate in integration activities and learning Dutch. Municipalities should be responsible for the integration of refugees. Churches and volunteers should also help with this.

• PvdD: PvdD wants newcomers to receive a humane reception. They should be able to receive language lessons and healthcare and have equal opportunities in school and work. Integration should not create additional barriers or sanctions. Focus is on equality and protection of vulnerable groups.

• SGP: Integration means adapting to Dutch norms and culture. SGP also wants newcomers to learn the language. There must be clear agreements with status holders around their integration. So integration means clear duties and stricter requirements if people do not participate.

• Volt: Volt wants newcomers to receive language instruction and guidance from day 1. They advocate quick access to employment. To help newcomers integrate, residents in the neighbourhood could help with courses and day activities.

• DENK: DENK wants newcomers to be actively supported from day 1 with personal guidance, quick procedures and management access to work. The party wants municipalities to be given more resources to offer small-scale and language-rich civic integration programmes, so that newcomers integrate and participate in society faster and better.

• JA21: According to JA21, integration is primarily adapting to Dutch standards. JA21 wants newcomers to take compulsory language lessons, work or training. Those who refuse receive fewer amenities.

• PVV: The PVV wants an asylum freeze. Hard rules apply to people already in the Netherlands: no priority on housing or benefits, and those who misbehave must leave. According to the PVV, integration is above all fully adapting to Dutch norms and culture and not clinging to one's own culture. Those who do not speak the language will not receive social welfare.

• FvD: FvD wants an asylum freeze, and for many people to go back. They offer little room for integration programmes. Their emphasis is on return (remigration) rather than participation in the Netherlands.

Want to read more about civic integration in the Netherlands? Then read on at RefugeeHelp.

• VVD: Staying in the Netherlands without proper papers is punishable. The VVD wants people who have no right to stay to return quickly. Municipalities are not allowed to offer reception to refugees whose application for a residence status has been rejected.

• NSC: People without the right to stay should return. NSC wants better cooperation with countries of origin to arrange that. There is nothing about reception of undocumented migrants in the election plan.

• GL-PvdA: GL-PvdA wants people who are not allowed to stay to be given proper return arrangements. Municipalities should be able to provide reception for undocumented migrants so that people do not live on the streets.

• BBB: BBB's programme states that people who have been rejected must leave the Netherlands as well as the entire

  Schengen Area
  before being allowed to reapply. Furthermore, BBB wants undocumented residence to be criminalised. Knowingly renting out housing or offering work to undocumented migrants will also become punishable. Emergency assistance, such as providing food or medical care, will still be allowed.

• SP: SP believes returns should be done fairly and carefully. Undocumented migrants should not end up on the streets and should be given reception until return is possible. The SP also believes that undocumented migrants and their helpers should never be criminalised. The party wants people from countries considered safe to return more quickly.

• D66: D66 wants people without residence status to return more quickly to their country of origin. The party wants to make agreements about this with countries of origin, preferably together with other EU countries. D66 is against making residence without papers a criminal offence. People must be given realistic prospects for the future: assistance in returning or, if possible, building a life in the Netherlands.

• CDA: CDA wants the EU to make agreements with countries outside Europe to better regulate the return of undocumented migrants. People must cooperate with this. Those who refuse to do so can become punishable. People or organisations that offer help to undocumented migrants should not be punished.

• CU: Return should be improved through agreements with countries of origin. But at the same time, the CU believes that medical aid or food should always be available to refugees, including undocumented migrants.

• PvdD: The PvdD wants undocumented migrants to receive reception, healthcare and guidance and not to be punished. Help for them remains permitted. Children who have lived in the Netherlands for a long time should not be deported and stateless individuals should be given a residence permit.

• SGP: The SGP wants people without the right of residence to return quickly. This may include reception in special return centers and

  foreigner detention
  . Staying without papers should be punishable. At the same time, the party believes that humanitarian aid should always be allowed, but it wants strict action against those who knowingly enable undocumented stay. People from countries considered safe should be returned more quickly, and repetition in asylum applications should be limited.

• Volt: Volt wants undocumented migrants not to be criminalised and for reception, healthcare and support to be available. Municipalities will receive support for this, and the

  bed-bath-bread facility
  must return. The party wants reentry to be realistic, with proper supervision and as little incarceration as possible. Volt wants detention of children on return to be banned altogether.

• DENK: In the 2025 election programme, DENK says nothing explicit about return or undocumented migrants. In previous years, however, DENK spoke out clearly against criminalising undocumented migrants and their helpers. Instead, DENK believes there should be reception and basic rights so that people do not end up in vulnerable situations.

• JA21: JA21 wants a rejection on an asylum request to always mean return. Undocumented migrants should be criminalised and reception centres closed to them. Syrians and other groups should be actively sent back once parts of their country are deemed safe.

• PVV: The PVV wants a total asylum freeze and for undocumented migrants and their helpers to become criminals. The party wants to close all reception centres and return everyone without residency rights as soon as possible. Specifically, the PVV says that all Syrians should return and that male Ukrainians should also be sent back to help in their country.

• FvD: FvD wants an asylum freeze and for undocumented migrants to be sent back. According to FvD's election programme, staying without papers should become punishable. In addition, municipalities should no longer offer reception to these people. The party wants agreements with countries outside Europe to receive undocumented migrants there. They also propose guidance in returning so that migrants and their families return to their countries of origin.

• VVD: According to the VVD, refugees should receive protection close to their country of origin so that return is easier once the situation there improves. The Netherlands only helps those who cannot stay safely in the region.

• NSC: NSC believes that the current asylum system is overburdened. Therefore, the party wants to make procedures faster, strengthen European cooperation and organise reception primarily in the region.

• GL-PvdA: For PvdA-GroenLinks, reception in the region is not key. Their programme focuses mainly on safe and legal routes to Europe and respect for international treaties. Reception outside the EU is not mentioned as a solution.

• BBB: BBB clearly opts for reception in the region. The party wants refugees to be received close to their own countries so that they can return quickly as soon as possible. According to BBB, this should lead to less pressure on the Netherlands and the EU.

• SP: The SP actually sees reception in the region as an important part. According to the party, this is better for refugees themselves: they can stay closer to family and their country, and have more prospect of returning once the situation is safe. The SP does argue that the reception in the region must be dignified, with sufficient facilities such as education and care. The party also wants the EU and the Netherlands to financially support countries in conflict areas to make this possible.

• D66: The party wants more support for countries where refugees arrive first (such as Spain, Italy and Greece) and for a fair distribution of reception within Europe through the new

  European Migration Pact
  . In time, D66 wants to amend the Refugee Convention so that people can already apply for asylum outside Europe. The party also wants more
  resettlement
  through the UN refugee agency, with a maximum growing to 5,000 per year.

• CDA: The CDA wants asylum applications to take place outside Europe so that human smuggling stops and vulnerable people have a better chance of protection. The party supports the European migration pact and wants the EU to make agreements with countries at the external borders. These agreements must also deal with the causes of migration, although the CDA does not specify which causes they are. In addition, they want better border control and agreements on return.

• CU: To prevent people from having to make life-threatening journeys and becoming dependent on smugglers, the party wants asylum claims to be able to be made outside Europe. People will then be given a safe route instead of a risky crossing. There should be agreements with so many countries on Europe's borders to fight human smuggling, and cooperate in returning rejected refugees.

• PvdD: As most refugees end up in neighbouring countries, the party believes rich countries should share fairly in reception. The Netherlands should invest in humane reception in the region and safe routes to Europe. The party rejects migration deals with countries where human rights are violated.

• SGP:The party wants reception mainly in the region, with safe resettlement for those who need it. The Netherlands offers protection, especially to persecuted Christians, but asylum should in principle be temporary so that people return as soon as they can.

• Volt: Refugees should be distributed fairly in the EU, with humane reception and protection of human rights. Volt rejects deals with dictators or unsafe countries and opposes reception in centres outside the EU that resemble prisons. Instead, Volt opts for legal and safe routes, resettlement and more support for vulnerable groups.

• DENK: DENK opts for a two-pronged approach: the Netherlands must continue to receive refugees of its own accord, while at the same time working for humane reception in other countries and in Europe. That means support for organisations inside and outside the EU, agreements with countries to arrange migration fairly and safely, and always with human rights as the starting point.

• JA21: Refugees should be received primarily in their own region, close to conflict areas. The Netherlands should work with other countries to arrange reception locations and asylum procedures outside the EU. JA21 wants to make agreements with partner countries to make reception possible there.

• PVV: The PVV focuses on closing borders and ending reception in the Netherlands. The party wants all Syrians to return to Syria or other Arab countries and adult Ukrainian men to return to Ukraine. Furthermore, reception centres should be organised in the region. The party is in favour of banning immigration from Islamic countries.

• FvD: FvD especially emphasises the high costs and pressure on healthcare and housing in the Netherlands. The party wants an asylum freeze and reception only in the region. Asylum applications should be made outside the Netherlands.