A woman on her phone in a reception centre
Information
This is where you stay during the asylum process
Last updated: 7/16/2024, 1:29 PM

During the asylum procedure, you stay in different reception centres of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). Sometimes there is not enough space in normal reception centres. You may have to stay in a temporary reception centre. If your request for asylum is approved, you may stay in the Netherlands. You will then qualify for a home.

During your registration you will stay at the reception centre in Ter Apel

This is called the central reception centre. There is only one central reception centre in the Netherlands. At the moment there is often not enough space at the central reception centre in Ter Apel. Therefore, during registration you are sometimes taken to a

temporary reception centre
in Zoutkamp. You will be brought back to Ter Apel or Budel to complete your registration.

Your stay after the application

After you report to the police (

Department of Aliens Police, Identification and Human Trafficking, AVIM
), you will be taken to a reception centre at another place in the Netherlands.
COA
will arrange transportation to the
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
if necessary. You may be moved between different reception centres in the Netherlands.

Due to crowding, there is not enough space in the normal reception centres. Therefore, sometimes you are taken to a temporary reception centre. There are fewer facilities in the temporary reception centre than in a normal reception centre. You may change temporary reception centres.

Read more about living in a temporary reception centre here:

I am staying in a temporary reception centre
Due to crowding, there is not enough space in the normal reception centres. Therefore, sometimes you are taken to a temporary reception centre.

You may be able to lodge with family or friends during the asylum process. Read more here about

You may now temporarily stay with acquaintances if you have sought asylum
This article explains how your COA lodging arrangement works for people who have applied for asylum. Your potential guest must register with COA to stay with you.
.

These organisations are present in the reception centre

In the reception centre, the

COA
,
Trigion
,
Asylum Seeker Healthcare (GZA)
and
VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)
are usually present. Sometimes the same organisations are not present in temporary reception centres as in a normal reception centre.

MyCoa
On COA's website you can find information about which organisations are present at your reception centre and the opening hours

Here is what you can do if you are unhappy with the reception centre
On this page you can read about what you can do if you are dissatisfied with COA's reception centre. For example, you can talk to COA or the municipality, complain or protest.

You have no right to a house as an asylum seeker in the Netherlands

Only when you get a residence permit because your asylum application has been approved can you get a home. But even then it can take a long time. Because there are many people who are waiting for a home. Dutch people as well. So you end up on a waiting list. Until you have a home, you will live in a COA reception centre.

Your stay after the asylum procedure

After the asylum procedure, you go to an

asylum seekers' centre (AZC)
. You go to an AZC if:

  • You have received a residence permit and are waiting for housing. You are entitled to a reception centre until the municipality has found a home for you.

  • You are in the Extended Asylum Procedure (VA).

  • The IND has rejected your asylum application. You may stay in an AZC for another 28 days.

Please note: If you are between 13 and 18 years old and do not have any parents or guardians with you in the Netherlands, you go to a special reception centre for children. If you are younger than 13 and do not have any parents or guardians with you in the Netherlands, you will go to a foster family.

Nidos
will arrange a foster family for you.

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