You must register in Ter Apel to apply for asylum
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In order to apply for asylum in the Netherlands, report to the application centre in the village of Ter Apel. Here you apply for asylum with the IND and the Dutch police register your application.
You arrive at the location and start preparing your asylum application
Once you have registered in Ter Apel, you can start preparing your asylum application. The
During the OVA phase, the IND will ask you questions about yourself and your asylum application. The IND uses this information to determine which asylum procedure applies to you.
The OVA phase lasts for a maximum of 3 days.
Would you like to find out more about preparing for the asylum procedure?
You fill in details about yourself and your application
The IND requests information that is relevant to your asylum application. For example:
Your name;
Your date of birth;
Your nationality.
Your documents.
Your family.
Your place of residence.
How you travelled to the Netherlands.
Whether you have been to other countries before.
Why you are applying for asylum.
The IND asks you to enter details about yourself and your asylum application on a tablet. Are you travelling with family members? If so, you will also need to enter details on the tablet about the family members travelling with you. Are you unsure what to enter? Or are you having difficulty using the tablet? If so, an IND member of staff can help you.
Are you under 18 and have you come to the Netherlands without your parents? If so, your
Your details and identity will be verified
In Ter Apel, the IND will check your details and verify your identity. The IND will also assess your safety and health. The IND will take a passport photo of you and take your fingerprints. Do you come from a country where
Your details will be recorded in a national system in the Neterlands. This system is called the
After the OVA phase, you will sign your asylum application. This application sets out the reasons why you are seeking asylum. Please check carefully that the information is correct before you sign. You will be given a copy of your asylum application.
Your clothing and luggage may be searched
During the OVA phase, the IND may inspect your clothing and luggage. This may be done, for example, to verify your identity, to find documents that are important for your asylum application, or for security reasons.
Sometimes documents or belongings are temporarily set aside. Always ask why this is happening and ask for written confirmation. Keep this confirmation safe. You can collect these items again later using the confirmation.
The contents of your mobile phone, laptop or tablet cannot be accessed without good reason. If you are asked to hand over or show your mobile phone, laptop or tablet, ask whether you are obliged to do so. Also ask whether you can speak to
Submit your documents as early as possible
Do you have any documents that are important for your asylum application? If so, please submit them to the IND as soon as possible.
For example:
Your passport or identity card.
Documents relating to your trip.
Documents relating to your family.
Evidence showing why you need protection.
If possible, make a copy or take a photo of the documents you are submitting first.
Will the IND take your original documents? If so, you will be given a written receipt. This receipt will state which documents the IND has taken. Keep this receipt in a safe place.
You will have a final interview with the IND during the OVA phase
Once you have completed the questionnaire, you will have a brief interview with an IND member of staff. This is known as the 'eindgesprek OVA' (OVA final interview). During this interview, you will be given information about the next steps in your asylum procedure. You will also be given some documents. For example:
The
A list of documents seized by the IND for investigation.
Information about the next steps in your asylum procedure.
A form stating that you must be present during your asylum procedure.
A temporary certificate proving that you have applied for asylum in the Netherlands.
Check carefully that the details on the documents are correct. If anything is incorrect, please mention it during the interview.
You will first be issued with a temporary certificate and later a W-document
During your OVA final interview, you will be given a temporary certificate confirming that you have applied for asylum in the Netherlands. This certificate is valid until your
A W-document is a card containing your passport photo, personal details and your
You will receive a letter when the W-document is ready for collection.
You can get an explanation about the asylum procedure
During your asylum procedure in Ter Apel, you can receive general information about the asylum procedure. This is known as legal counselling.
The IND provides this information. The IND explains your rights and obligations, and outlines the asylum procedures available. The IND does not provide personal legal advice regarding your own asylum application.
Do you have any questions about your own situation? If so, please discuss them with your lawyer or with VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN).
In the border procedure, you are immediately assigned a lawyer. That is why you do not receive legal advice from the IND in this context.
The COA will arrange your place in a reception centre
If you apply for asylum in the Netherlands, you are usually entitled to a place in a reception centre. The
The COA can check whether you fall into the group eligible for a place in a reception centre. Are you entitled to reception? If so, the COA will provide you with a place to sleep, food, medical care and support.
Sometimes there are not enough places in reception centres in Ter Apel
Sometimes there are not enough places to sleep in Ter Apel. In that case, you may be taken to another reception centre for the night.
In the morning, you are usually taken back to Ter Apel. There, you will continue with the OVA phase.
The IND will then determine which procedure applies to you
After the OVA phase, the IND will determine which asylum procedure applies to you. Your application may, for example, be processed under the standard asylum procedure. Sometimes the IND processes your application more quickly. In that case, you will be placed in the
The IND may also investigate whether another
Sometimes, the IND first assesses whether the Netherlands will consider the contents of your asylum application. This is known as