IND will assess asylum applications differently
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The assessment of asylum applications in the Netherlands is changing. The personal assessment becomes more important and you, as an asylum seeker, must prove your story with documents as much as possible.
Your asylum application will still be assessed according to the rules in the Refugee Convention
Your documents become even more important for your asylum application
It is already important that you submit documents with your asylum application that prove your story. After the policy change, the IND will look at these documents differently. If you submit original and official documents, the IND will believe your story faster.
If you do not have original and official documents, there are a number of things you can do to make your story believable to the IND:
Explain why you do not have some documents. You will do this during the 2nd interview with the IND.
Also show that you did your best to get the documents. You can do this, for example, by showing emails or letters to family or the government in your country of origin asking for documents.
Your personal situation will play a bigger role
The IND is also adjusting the policy for groups and countries of origin. Not the group to which you belong, but you as a person will become more important during the assessment of your asylum application. Above all, the IND wants to know why you are at risk in your country of origin. The IND already knows about the general situation in your country. Therefore, during your interviews with the IND, tell them what has happened to you personally.
Contact VluchtelingenWerk Nederland if you would like to know more
This change is not due to the plans for a stricter asylum policy agreed upon by the 4 parties that want to govern the Netherlands together. The IND is adjusting the assessment of asylum requests because there is too much difference between the assessment of an asylum application in the Netherlands and other European countries.
When the new policy will take effect and how it will work in practice is not yet entirely clear. If you have questions or want to know more about the new way of assessing, contact your contact person at