Your child may attend school even if your asylum application has been rejected
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Has your asylum application been rejected, or do you not have a residence permit? Your child is allowed to attend school in the Netherlands. In this article, you can read about the rules that apply and what changes when your child turns 18.
Children retain the right to an education after being rejected
If an asylum application has been rejected, it may be unclear whether a child is still allowed to attend school. Children under the age of 18 have the right to an education in the Netherlands. This right is not revoked by the rejection. Children may attend school even without a residence permit.
Children must attend school starting at age 5
Children may attend primary school starting at age 4. Starting on the first school day of the month after a child turns 5, the child must attend school. The child is then
After compulsory education, young people under the age of 18 who do not have a
The compulsory qualification requirement does not apply to young people who have completed
Children retain the right to an education as long as they are in the Netherlands
Children in families who must leave the Netherlands following a rejection may continue to attend school as long as they remain in the Netherlands. If a child is subject to compulsory education, the requirement to attend school remains in effect.
The fact that a child attends school does not mean that the entire family is entitled to remain in the Netherlands. However, a child’s personal circumstances may be relevant to the family’s residence status. For example, the following factors may be considered:
The child's age.
How long the child has been living in the Netherlands.
How the child has developed socially and emotionally.
How the child has adjusted to life in the Netherlands, for example at school and with friends.
And how the child can adjust to the country where the family has to move.
Do you recognise one or more of these situations with your child? If so, you can discuss this with your lawyer.
Different rules apply to education for those aged 18 and older
The rules are different for children who turn 18. Compulsory education and the requirement to obtain a qualification end at that point.
Did your child start an educational programme before turning 18? If so, turning 18 does not automatically mean your child has to stop. In some situations, your child can continue the educational programme.
To enrol in a new educational programme, your child must be 18 years of age or older and be authorised to reside in the Netherlands. This may still be the case even after an asylum application has been reject, e.g. if your child is permitted to await the outcome of a proceeding in the Netherlands. In that case, enrolment may still be possible. The school may ask for a document proving that your child is authorised to reside in the Netherlands.
A child can go to school even without a BSN
Not every child whose asylum application has been rejected has a
If a child already has a BSN, it remains valid. The rejection of an asylum application does not change that. A child can attend school even without a BSN. The school can obtain an education number from DUO.
Parents can get help if a school refuses to enrol a child
A school does not always have room for every child. For example, the school may be full. In some municipalities, schools have agreements on how places are allocated. For example, a child may be given priority at a school in their own neighbourhood or at a school where a sibling already attends. If more children have applied than there are places available, a school may use a lottery system to determine which children get a place.
These rules apply to all children, regardless of their immigration status. This means that a child retains the right to an education even after an asylum application has been rejected.
Are you having trouble finding a school for a child subject to compulsory education? If so, parents can ask for help from the
A school does not automatically report a pupil's immigration status to the immigration authorities
A school is not required to report to the immigration authorities that a child or family does not have a residence permit.
A school must also comply with privacy regulations. The school may not simply share information about a child or the parents with other organisations. Therefore, parents can still enrol their child in school even after an asylum application has been rejected.