What you need to know when the IND sends you a letter about the expiration of temporary protection

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) sends a letter asking if you want to start an asylum application. You choose whether you want to apply for asylum or not. Send your answer to the IND within two weeks. There is already an additional letter in the envelope you receive from the IND. You can use this to send back your answer.

You have three options for responding to the letter:

1. Continue: this means you want to start the asylum procedure. In this case, the IND will schedule an initial interview.

2. Do not continue: this means that your right to temporary protection ends as soon as the

   

   Council of State
   makes a decision on the Temporary Protection Directive.

3. Failure to respond: if you do not respond, you will receive a second letter from the IND. Your right to temporary protection ends as soon as the

   

   Council of State
   makes a decision.

If you do not receive a letter, call the IND: 088 043 04 30 or look at 'mijn IND'.

You can get help with your asylum application from your contact at Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland (VWN). You can also attend a consultation hour in your area or schedule an online consultation hour.

You will also receive a lawyer from the Legal Aid Board. You do not have to choose your own lawyer. This lawyer is independent and not from the government. You can also discuss with your lawyer whether or not you want to start your asylum application.

The IND invites you for an interview. You may have already received this invitation. If you are from a safe country of origin, you will be invited first.

During the asylum procedure, the IND will have a conversation with you. This interview will be about who you are, where you come from and why you are applying for asylum. An independent lawyer will help you prepare for the interview. After the interview, the IND will decide whether you will be granted asylum in the Netherlands. The decision is in a letter, which will be sent to your lawyer.

Reception centre

If you start the asylum procedure, you will move to another reception centre location. This reception centre belongs to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). You will no longer stay in the reception centre for Ukrainian refugees.

If your asylum application rejected and you do not receive a residence permit, you may stay in the Netherlands until your temporary protection ends. It is not yet clear when the temporary protection ends. That depends on the decision of the Council of State.

The moment your temporary protection does end and your asylum application is rejected, you are no longer entitled:

• Living allowance

• Place in a reception centre

• Medical care

• Education

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) helps you return to your country of origin. The IOM provides information and advice.

You can also use the remigration support provided by the Repatriation & Departure Service (DT&V).