This is what the lawyer does for you during the asylum process

Last updated: 19/03/2025, 10:20

Everyone who applies for asylum in the Netherlands is entitled to a free lawyer. This lawyer helps you during the asylum procedure and gives you legal advice. Your lawyer also ensures that your rights are protected.

You are assigned a lawyer as soon as the asylum procedure officially begins

If you apply for asylum in the Netherlands, you will automatically get a free lawyer from the

Legal Aid Board.

You do not have to do anything for this yourself. You will see this lawyer for the first time before your asylum procedure officially begins. Your asylum procedure begins when you have your 2nd interview with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Your lawyer will contact you for the 2nd interview with the

IND

. The lawyer will then arrange a personal interview. This may be in your reception centre or at another place, such as an office or a room at the application centre. Sometimes you have this interview by phone or online. Together with your lawyer, you prepare for the interview with the IND. There is always an interpreter at your appointments so that you can understand each other and the lawyer can understand the reason for your flight.

Your lawyer protects your rights during the asylum procedure

Your lawyer is there for you and protects your rights during the asylum procedure. Lawyers in the Netherlands are independent of the government. This means that the lawyer does his best for you and not for the government. A lawyer may only share information about your case with the IND with your permission.

This is what the lawyer will do for you before your interview with the IND

Before you have the 2nd interview with the IND, the lawyer will do the following for you:

Explaining the asylum procedure

Preparing for the 2nd interview with the IND

Checking your documents

This is what the lawyer does for you during the asylum process

During the asylum procedure, the lawyer will do this for you:

Review the IND reports

Review the IND's decision

Discussing options with you after rejection

This is what the lawyer expects from you

The lawyer also expects several things from you, namely:

That you collect the important documents

That you prepare yourself well for the interviews with the IND

That you tell your lawyer if something goes wrong

How often do you see or speak to your lawyer

You will see your lawyer at least 3 times, namely before your 2nd interview with the IND, after your 2nd interview with the IND and when the IND has made a decision. Sometimes you will see the lawyer more often, it depends on how complicated your asylum procedure is.

To travel to the lawyer, you can ask the

Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA)

for a day pass for public transportation (OV). With this day pass you can travel to your lawyer free of charge. You always need a valid ticket when travelling to or from your reception centre.

If you are not satisfied with your lawyer, you can file a complaint

You may feel that your lawyer did not do a good job. For example, because you think your asylum application was rejected because of the lawyer's carelessness. Or because he did not respond or responded too late in your case. It is good to discuss this with your lawyer. If, after talking to your lawyer, you still think that the lawyer did not do their job properly, you can file a complaint. VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) can help you file a complaint.

This is what the lawyer does for you during the asylum process

You are assigned a lawyer as soon as the asylum procedure officially begins

Your lawyer protects your rights during the asylum procedure

This is what the lawyer will do for you before your interview with the IND

Explaining the asylum procedure

Preparing for the 2nd interview with the IND

Checking your documents

This is what the lawyer does for you during the asylum process

Review the IND reports

Review the IND's decision

Discussing options with you after rejection

This is what the lawyer expects from you

That you collect the important documents

That you prepare yourself well for the interviews with the IND

That you tell your lawyer if something goes wrong

How often do you see or speak to your lawyer

If you are not satisfied with your lawyer, you can file a complaint

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