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Employers who ask for money in exchange for a contract are taking advantage of your situation

Published at: 19/10/2026, 08:00

Some employers exploit refugees by demanding money in exchange for a permanent employment contract. Refugees pay this money in the hope of bringing their families to the Netherlands. RefugeeHelp strongly advises against this.

Even if you have a contract, there is no guarantee that your family will be allowed to come to the Netherlands

As a result of the

, new rules on family reunification have been in place since last June. Anyone with a
is now subject to an income requirement. This means you must earn enough money to bring your family to the Netherlands. For some refugees, this is a reason to want a permanent contract. However, having a permanent contract does not automatically mean that your family is allowed to come to the Netherlands. That is just 1 of the conditions.

Do you hold a residence permit as a person granted subsidiary protection? If so, as of June 2026, you will first have to wait 2 years before the IND processes your application for family reunification. And even then, it may take some time. The IND may still reject your application, even if you have a job, earn enough and have a permanent contract. A well-paid contract therefore offers no guarantee.

You could lose a lot of money without your family coming to the Netherlands

If you pay for a contract, you’re taking a big risk. You could lose a lot of money without your family being allowed to come to the Netherlands. Your employer is also more likely to take advantage of your situation.

Are you affected by this?  

Is an employer asking you for money in exchange for a contract or for work? If so, contact VluchtelingenWerk or another organisation that can help you, such as FairWork

or the
. These organisations help people who are facing exploitation at work or other forms of abuse.


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