Moving or Leaving

You are allowed to leave the Netherlands or your place in a reception centre for up to 28 days a year, without losing your right to, for example, living allowance. For instance, to collect items in the Ukraine, or to go on holiday. You can find more information on this at refugeehelp.nl/leaving-the-netherlands-temporarily.

Please note: if you are staying in a municipal reception centre, In that case, additional rules apply. The municipal reception centre provides emergency shelter which is currently in high demand for various groups of refugees.

• Always give the caretaker of the place where you are staying advance notice of your departure. 
• Your accommodation will only be reserved for you for a maximum of 14 nights when you are away. 

Returning after a trip within the EU 
Refugees from Ukraine who have a different nationality (a passport from a 3rd country) will not receive a return or entry visa from the IND in order to return to the Netherlands. This applies even if you have proof of residence! Make sure you have the right papers when you leave, because only refugees with a biometric, Ukrainian passport with proof of residence (sticker + O document) will be able to travel to and from countries within the EU without restriction.

Public transport

When you arrive in the Netherlands, the Dutch Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS)) provides free transport if you show your Ukrainian passport and a German, Belgian, French, or Austrian train ticket which is less than 24 hours old. Read more about how public transport in the Netherlands works at refugeehelp.nl/public-transport.

Shared transport

You can also rent a shared car, scooter or cargo bike. Visit www.amersfoort.nl/deelmobiliteit.

Driving licence

Anyone who has a valid Ukrainian driving licence and comes to live in the Netherlands can drive in the Netherlands as long as they are covered by the Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine.

Don't have a driving licence yet? You can take driving lessons at any approved driving school at your own expense. After passing the theory and practical tests, you will be able to apply for a driving licence from the municipality from 1 August 2024. For more information, see Applying for your first driving licence | Municipality of Amersfoort.

Car from Ukraine

All cars brought from Ukraine must have Dutch registration plates. Then there are obligations such as the annual APK (General Periodic Inspection) of your car, compulsory third party insurance (WA) and the payment of road tax. 

It can take a lot of time to arrange all this. That is why it is best to start straight away, as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands. This web page from the Tax Administration shows you step by step what to do. You can find information in your own language on this RefugeeHelp webpage. There are many questions and answers about getting a Ukrainian vehicle registered in the Netherlands on the website of the central government. This information has been translated into Ukrainian by the Ukrainian embassy on their website.

Parking

In the centre of Amersfoort and the districts directly surrounding it, you can only park for a fee. Unfortunately, residents of reception centres cannot obtain a parking permit. You can

• opt for paid parking in a car park or at a parking space in the vicinity of the reception location
• park in a neighbourhood where (as yet) no paid parking applies. At amersfoort.nl/wonen-en-parkeren you can find out where these are.

If you move away from Amersfoort, you must report this to the municipality. Even if you move within the municipality of Amersfoort.

• If you are staying in a reception centre, you should report this to your caretaker, who will help you with this.
• If you are staying with a host family, report this via Report a change of address. Don't have a DigiD? Then make an appointment with civil affairs.
• If you receive living allowance from the municipality, you can also email leefgeld@amersfoort.nl. Give your BSN, name and address where you are registered in the BRP of Amersfoort of all family members who move. And if you move within Amersfoort, you also provide your new address.
• Do not forget to tell your child's school that your child will no longer be attending because you are relocating. Mail for children aged 4-10 years to aanmelden.oekraine@meerkring.nl and for young people aged 11 and over at secondary school to opvangvo@hetelement.eu.

Moving to another municipality in the Netherlands

If you are relocating to another municipality in the Netherlands, do not forget to register in the Personal Records Database in your new municipality.

Returning to Ukraine

Ukrainian refugees who want to return to Ukraine from the Netherlands can get assistance with doing so from the national government's Repatriation and Departure Service [Dienst Terugkeer en Vertrek (DT&V)]. Read more at refugeehelp.nl/back-to-ukraine.

Refugees from Ukraine who have a passport from a third country are often unable to return to Ukraine because the Ukrainian embassy is currently not renewing any expired, temporary residency permits.

Continuing your journey to a country outside the EU

Refugees from Ukraine who wish to continue their journey to another country outside the EU can contact IOM Nederland on +31 88 746 44 66 or +31 70 318 1500.

Continuing your journey to a country inside the EU

A refugee from Ukraine can travel within the EU on their own initiative.