For a long time, the Dutch government has been seeking restrictions for refugees from Ukraine who have citizenship of third countries. And now it has become known that such people will have to leave the state. Find out more about the deadlines for fees and how you can stay in the Netherlands despite the new rules

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The Netherlands has limited the length of stay on its territory for refugees from Ukraine who do not have Ukrainian citizenship. According to Dutchnews, the decision applies to about 2,900 people who temporarily stayed in Ukraine in connection with their studies or work.

Who is at risk of expulsion?

The restrictions will affect only refugees from Ukraine who do not have Ukrainian citizenship. The largest group of these refugees are students from Nigeria, Morocco, Tanzania and India.

The EU has extended protection for Ukrainians and foreigners with permanent residence permits in Ukraine until 4 March 2025. However, this does not apply to people with temporary residence permits in Ukraine, the court noted.

Third-country nationals who lived in Ukraine and came to the Netherlands after russia's military aggression must return to their countries by 4 March 2024 or apply for asylum through the normal system.

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How did we get to this point?

A local court recently overturned the decision of Dutch Minister of Justice Erik van der Burgh to revoke the residence rights and benefits for refugees without Ukrainian citizenship, which he issued in September last year.

Now the official must return to the previous instructions, which granted people living in Ukraine on temporary visas the same rights as Ukrainian citizens.

It is worth noting that the decision to grant refugees from Ukraine a special status with immediate access to work, healthcare and education was initially made after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine.

In July 2023, the Minister of Justice cancelled this measure for refugees without Ukrainian citizenship due to concerns that it made the Netherlands too attractive to third-country nationals.

The Council of State later stated that there were no legal grounds for the minister to postpone the expiry date of their rights to September 2023.

Assistance to refugees

It is worth noting that situations with the cancellation of temporary protection status and expulsion of citizens from countries are by no means rare. Sometimes it happens legitimately, and sometimes by mistake. To avoid getting into such a situation, we advise you to seek legal assistance from quality specialists.

You can hire a lawyer in two clicks by following this link. By using the services of legal professionals, you will be able to prepare a high-quality appeal if the above situations occurred by mistake or in violation of the law.

If third-country nationals decide to return to Ukraine, it is important to keep in mind their own safety, as the war in this country is still ongoing. To prevent unexpected expenses in case of unforeseen situations, we recommend taking out an insurance policy that also covers military risks. You can apply for it here.

We remind you! Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the European Union has hosted more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees. Despite the large number of displaced persons, EU countries continue to accept citizens in need. Read our article to find out which countries still provide temporary residence on their territory and what conditions they offer.

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