RefugeeHelp - how and where to change hryvnia to euro in the Netherlands

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On this page you will find how to exchange money and open a bank account.

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Currency exchange

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Last updated: Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Here you can find information on how to exchange your money.

Can Ukrainian refugees exchange the cash they brought with them into euros?

Until December 15 2022 refugees with an Ukrainian nationality or with a residence permit can exchange up to 10,000 hryvnia into euros free of charge. This can only be done once. You can do this at any GWK Travelex branch.

Go to site

What money can they exchange?

Only banknotes in denominations of UAH 100 or more will be accepted. Coins will not be accepted.

Who can make use of this scheme?

This scheme is available to people aged 18 and over who have:

a valid Ukrainian passport or identity document, or
a valid Ukrainian residence document (valid on February 23, 2022), or:
Ukrainian nationality and a Dutch residence document or alien’s identity card, or
an expired Ukrainian passport or identity document (laminated), bearing a validity sticker issued by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

The aim of the IND is to provide everyone who falls under the Temporary Protection Directive with a residence document by October 31, 2022. As of that date, only individuals with a temporary residence document from the IND will be able to exchange money under the regulation.

If you have a handwritten (Cyrillic) passport, it is not possible to use this regulation.

Do people have to show ID at the GWK Travelex office?

Yes, in order to change Ukrainian hryvnia into euros, people must identify themselves using one of the identity documents listed above.

Visit the website below to find a GWK Travelex branch near you.

Go to site

Is it possible to exchange the maximum amount of money multiple times?

People aged 18 or over can exchange up to 10,000 hryvnia cash. You can do this only once.

My Ukrainian passport or identity document has expired. Can I still benefit from this scheme?

Yes, but only if your document bears a sticker from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). In this case the procedure is more extensive, so you can change your money at a GWK Travelex branch only between the hours of 08.00 and 18.00. Please note that different branches can have different opening hours. See the GWK Travelex website for more information on opening hours.

Do I have to pay a fee?

No, the exchange of hryvnia into euros is free of charge under this scheme.

Is the exchange rate fixed?

No, the Ukrainian central bank can reset the exchange rate every week.

Is enough money available so that all Ukrainians in the Netherlands can make use of this scheme?

The Dutch government expects that up to 75,000 Ukrainians in the Netherlands will want to make use of this arrangement. This is based on experience in Poland, where 10% of Ukrainian refugees have used a similar scheme.

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Where can I ask questions?

Contact a GWK Travelex location in your neighbourhood.