Conditions for working if you have a W-document

• You have a valid

  W-document
  .

• Your asylum application has been pending for 6 months. You count from the time you signed your asylum application (the

  M35-H form
  ) in Ter Apel.

• Your employer has a work permit (TWV) to employ you.

• Your residence in the Netherlands is legal.

• You are entitled to reception under the

  Regulation for Provisions for Asylum Seekers and Other Categories of Foreign Nationals (Rva)
  .

• The work you do must be done under 'market conditions'. This means that the same conditions apply to you as to others doing the same job. The hours you work, the salary you earn and the leave days you are entitled to must conform to what has been agreed with others.

• If you are a minor, you are allowed to work, just as Dutch minors may under certain conditions. There is, however, a ban on

  child labour
  in the Netherlands.

In some cases, you are not allowed to work. This applies even if your asylum application has been pending for more than 6 months.

This applies, for example, if:

• You come from a safe country.

• You lied on your asylum application.

• You have received a transfer decision. A transfer decision means that another EU country must decide on your asylum application.

Your employer applies for the work permit (TWV) from the

The UWV checks whether you are allowed to work. The UWV does this when your employer applies for a TWV.

If an employer lets you work without a TWV, this is punishable. Your employer may then be fined. You cannot be fined yourself. If your work permit expires, your employer must apply for a new work permit.

Working as a self-employed person with a TWV

With a TWV, you are also permitted to work as a

The same applies here: your asylum application must have been under consideration for at least 6 months. Only then can the UWV issue the TWV to your employer.

In practice, you need a

You get a BSN when you register in the

Working without a BSN and receiving a wage

Sometimes an employer may want to draw up a contract even if you do not yet have a BSN. A BSN is not always compulsory. However, in practice, you almost always need a BSN to be able to work in the Netherlands.

Do you not have a BSN, but do you have a

Please note: not every Yoursafe account is suitable for receiving wages.

Do you have a basic Yoursafe account? If so, this account is usually not suitable for receiving wages.

Do you have a limited Yoursafe account? If so, you will need to provide your employer’s bank account number to the COA. The COA can then register this account number with Yoursafe.

Do you not have a BSN but still want to work? Then ask a COA member of staff for help.

Sometimes you may need a

Are you staying in the COA reception centre? Then you must report your income to COA. You then have to contribute to the costs of the reception centre. You can keep 25 percent of your income yourself, up to a maximum of € 285 per month.

If you earn more than the amount you have to pay for childcare, you get to keep the rest of the income as well.

You are allowed to work at the asylum seekers’ centre (AZC)

You may also work at the asylum seekers’ centre. You may work up to 25 hours a week. You do not need a TWV for this.

You will receive a small payment for this. This is between €0.56 and €1.10 per hour. You may receive a maximum of €14 per week.

You’re allowed to do voluntary work

You are allowed to do voluntary work. You may also do this during the first six months of your asylum procedure.

Do you not have a residence permit yet? In that case, the organisation where you are volunteering will need a volunteer certificate from the UWV.

Internships and work experience

You may only do an internship in the following situations:

• You are enrolled on a vocational training programme and have a vocational training agreement.

• You are studying for a higher professional education (HBO) qualification and have an internship agreement between the university of applied sciences, your employer and yourself.

The employer does not need a TWV for this. You are not allowed to undertake an internship outside these rules. Nor are you allowed to work in a work experience placement.

Have you received a negative decision on your asylum application? If so, it is important that you lodge an objection or appeal in good time.

Are you allowed to await the outcome of the objection or appeal procedure in the Netherlands? If so, you are residing in the Netherlands lawfully. During that period, you are usually allowed to continue working, provided you were already permitted to do so.

Your W-document must still be valid, though.

Different rules apply in the event of an appeal. If your application is rejected and you subsequently lodge an appeal, you will usually no longer be allowed to work. The TWV will then be withdrawn.

There is one exception. The court may grant an interim order. This must clearly state that you are permitted to remain in the Netherlands and/or to continue working.

Apply for this interim order in good time. Following a negative decision on appeal, you must do so within 24 hours.