Ukraine

Refugees from Ukraine seeking shelter in Rotterdam: almost all beds in the municipal shelters in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region are currently occupied. If you report to the emergency shelter location Max Euwelaan 1, Rotterdam. Link opens an external page, we will look for a place for you in the Netherlands.

When you apply for shelter, the municipality checks where there is room for you. Unfortunately, you cannot choose the municipality in which you wish to be housed.

You can, of course, make your own arrangements for accommodation. You will then have to pay any costs of accommodation yourself.

You are living with a host family in Rotterdam. This requires adaptation and mutual understanding. From you and from your host family.

It is a good idea to make arrangements with each other about how you will live together. And how you will contribute to the host family's household.

Have you been living with a host family for a while now? Then it is good to regularly discuss the agreements made. Do the arrangements still match your wishes and those of your host family? Maybe new agreements are needed?

You can contribute in different ways within the host family. By helping with the household, for example. You can also help with the extra costs incurred by the host family.

Below you can find a list of topics  you and your host family can make agreements for with each other. Perhaps not all topics apply to your situation. In that case, skip them. If necessary, add other topics to the list that are appropriate to your situation.

• Agreement document for refugee family and host family. Link opens an external page (PDF)

• If you are going away for 2 nights or less, please let the location manager know. Your room will remain available for you.
• If you are going away for more than 2 nights, you should discuss when you will return with the location manager. The location manager will check whether your room can remain available for you.
• If you stay away for more than 1 night and didn't let the location manager know, the manager may decide to give your room to other refugees.

Refugees from Ukraine can get temporary protection in the Netherlands through the European Union Temporary Protection Directive. You can find more information on IND.nl. Link opens an external page.

You can find more information about Temporary Protection and the relevant conditions on  Ukraine Temporary Protection Directive | IND. Link opens an external page.

You can find more information about possible assistance for returning to Ukraine at the Repatriation and Departure Service. Link opens an external page.

You can get additional support and a financial contribution for returning to your country of origin or a country outside the European Union. You can find more information at Repatriation and Departure Service. Link opens an external page (Dienstterugkeerenvertrek.nl).

You can find a flyer on Flyer Remigration Policy. Link opens an external page for more information on the remigration policy. It is also available in French. Link opens an external page, Arabic. Link opens an external page and Russian. Link opens an external page.

Travelling with your pet from Ukraine or Russia? See a vet and ensure that your pet gets the rabies vaccination.

You can find more information on NVWA.nl. Link opens an external page (English).

If it is life-threatening, call 112. You will then be put through to the control room of the police, ambulance and fire department.

For emergency care, you can go to Erasmus MC or Sint Franciscus Gasthuis (on the North bank of Rotterdam) or Maasstad or Ikazia Hospital (on the South bank of Rotterdam).

If you are staying at a municipal reception location, you can also go to the location manager or nurse.

This is how care works in the Netherlands: information video emergency care (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

If you are staying at a municipal shelter location, report to the location manager, nurse or security staff. They can contact the General Medical Practice Service Center ('huisartsenpost') for you.

If you are staying at someone's house, you must call the General Medical Practice Service Center yourself.

• General Medical Practice Service Rotterdam North
  • Kleiweg 500, 3045 PM Rotterdam
    Telephone number: 010 466 95 73
• General Medical Practice Service Rotterdam South
  • Maasstadweg 59a, 3079 DZ Rotterdam
    Telephone number: 010 290 98 88

This is how care works in the Netherlands: informative video on general practitioner care (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

You can find more information about this on RefugeeHelp - Healthcare - Health insurance. Link opens an external page.

Medicine is prescribed by a doctor. With the prescription written by the doctor you can get your medicine at the pharmacy.

This is how care works in the Netherlands: informative video on medicine use (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

If you are staying at a municipal shelter location, you can go to the location manager or the nurse.

If you are staying at someone's house, you can contact a midwife practice in the area yourself.

How care works in the Netherlands: pregnancy information video (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

For information about the coronavirus check the website Coronavirus (COVID-19) | GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond. Link opens an external page.

If you are staying at a municipal shelter, you do not have to do that yourself. If you have a request for care, report it to the location manager or the nurse. 

Are you staying at someone's house? Then you can go to the  host family's general practitioner.

How healthcare works in the Netherlands: informative video on general practitioner care (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

You can go to a dentist in the vicinity of your shelter without a referral. Only for acute physical symptoms, you can get a reimbursement from the Displaced Persons Medical Care Scheme (RMO) of up to €250 once a year. On RMOekraine, you can find the list of treatments. Link opens an external page (PDF in Dutch) that are reimbursed within the RMO.

Non-acute dental care is not reimbursed from the Displaced Persons Medical Care Scheme (RMO).
As a patient, you are personally responsible for paying the bill. Therefore, it is important that you consult with the dentist beforehand about costs and reimbursement.

The dental costs for children aged 0-18 are covered by the subsidy scheme. 
As there's a shortage of dentists in the Netherlands, you will sometimes have to wait.

How dental care works in the Netherlands: informative video on dental care (Ukrainian subtitles) - YouTube. Link opens an external page

You can contact the Centre for Youth and Family (CJG). Call 088 201 00 00 or go to CJG Rijnmond. Link opens an external page.

You can go to the Vraagwijzer for questions about various topics, like administration, parenting, legal issues, money or health for example. For more information check the webpage Vraagwijzer.

The Vraagwijzer can be found at various locations throughout the city and in the Ukrainian House, Pleinweg 196A. For opening hours of the Vraagwijzer in the Ukraine House, check the website Oekraïens Huis - wmo radar.. Link opens an external page

The municipality's district team can support you with questions about finance and debt, youth care, domestic violence, addiction and more.

You can find more information about the district teams on the webpage  Wijkteams.

For information about other medical questions, like the coronavirus or other infectious illnesses, you can go to GGD Rotterdam Rijnmond. Link opens an external page.

Do you currently stay in a hotel, boat or any of the other municipal accommodations? Please report to the site manager.

Have you arranged your own accommodation, for example with a host family or with your family or friends? You can arrange your registration, without making an appointment, at municipal service desk ('Publiekslocatie') location Centrum.

You can register between 12 and 1 pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

The following conditions apply:

1. You need to have the Ukranian nationality.
2. You need to bring a valid, international passport.
3. If available, bring the birth certificates, marriage certificate and/or divorce certificate of all your family members with you.
4. You need to fill in this registration form (this form will soon be available in Ukranian).
5. Your host/hostess needs to fill in the form 'Verklaring van inwoning', with a copy of his/her ID-card.
6. If you don't speak Dutch or English, please bring someone who can translate for you.

If you can’t meet these conditions, you need to wait for further information. We will keep you informed through this website.

Registration in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is necessary to receive a residence document from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) (the sticker). Without a residence document, you are not allowed to work in the Netherlands. If you are not (or no longer) registered in the BRP, the IND will not extend your residence document.
The municipality does not share your personal data with other (international) governments.

This proof will either be a sticker in your passport, or a loose piece of paper. Sometimes it can also be a card (O-document). The sticker shows you’re legally permitted to be in the Netherlands until 4th March 2024. You will not be allowed to live or work in the Netherlands without this proof.

You can find more information about the proof of residence and making an appointment on the IND website. Link opens an external page.

When you move from a host family or private shelter location to a municipal shelter you will need to inform the municipality. If you move from a municipal shelter to a private shelter location or a host family, you must also report your move. If you relocate within or out of Rotterdam, move to another city or move abroad, you must report this to the municipality.

We explain what to do in which situation below. You can fill out the necessary forms at the reception locations and at the Ukranian House. A municipality employee can help you with this.

Move to another municipality

When you move/relocate from Rotterdam to another municipality, you need to notify the new municipality of your move/relocation. This will not change your official registration (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP).

Move to another country

When you move/relocate from Rotterdam to another country you need to cancel your official registration at the municipality of Rotterdam. You will no longer be registered in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen). At 'I am leaving the Netherlands (temporarily). Does this affect my living allowance?' (in section Living allowance. Link opens an external page) you can read what removing your registration from BRP means for you.

When you stay with a host family, you will receive a monthly living allowance. In order to receive this allowance, you must be officially registered by the municipality of Rotterdam (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP). For more information, please read the answer to the question: How can I register in the Netherlands?

Your registration in the BRP will be completed around 5 working days after your registration. Within 7 working days after the registration is complete, you will receive an invitation to collect a special bank card.

We will deposit your living allowance on this special bank card. It will take a little over 2 weeks after your registration in the BRP until you receive a living allowance.

We deposit the living allowance on your living allowance bank card every 5th of the month. Is it your first time to register in the Netherlands? Then, the living allowance is calculated on a pro rata basis and paid immediately. If you move to another municipality within the Netherlands, you will already have received the living allowance for that month from your current municipality, so the living allowance will start from the first of the following month.

You can also have your living allowance deposited into a personal bank account. In this case you must have or open a Dutch bank account. Link opens an external page.

In the table below you can see what amount you will receive each month. 
The living allowance is composed of budgets for food, personal expenses and housing costs. The living allowance for underaged children will be transferred to the parent's bank card.

See the table below:

Living allowance per refugee per month from the 1st of October 2023

If you received a letter to collect your bank card, you must collect the card yourself. When picking up your bank card, you should bring a letter with BSN number and a valid ID. Do you have a partner or children? You can come alone. Your partner or children do not have to come with you.

You can only come if you have received an invitation letter. You cannot make an appointment yourself. 
It is also not possible to reschedule. We are working on a solution. Until then, it is very important that you come yourself at the time stated in the letter. That way, you will receive the bank card and living allowance on time.

At the municipal shelter location you are provided with meals and a place to sleep. Therefore, you are not entitled to a living allowance for food or living expenses.

The debit card is a special card from the municipality. Only the municipality can deposit money on the card. The maximum amount allowed on the card is 2,000 euros.

You can check your balance via Prepaid Saldo. Link opens an external page by entering your customer number and security code. The customer number (10 digits) and security code (4 digits) are indicated on your bank card. The website also allows you to view your transactions.

If you lost your living allowance bank card, you can report to Citizens' Affairs in the town hall. There you will receive a new bank card (only once). The balance of your old card will automatically be transferred to your new card after one working day.

If you are going out of town for a few days, e.g. for holiday or a family visit, you do not need to hand in your living allowance card.

Temporary departure

If you leave temporarily for a maximum of 28 days you will keep the living allowance. After 28 days, we stop the living allowance. This takes effect per the following calendar month.

Permanent departure

If you're leaving the Netherlands for good, you must inform the municipality of Rotterdam: Deregistration from the Netherlands. You will then be deregistered as a resident and will no longer be registered in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) Rotterdam. Your living allowance will stop per the following calendar month. You will also no longer be entitled to benefits such as child benefit and healthcare allowance, and your healthcare insurance will stop.

You must also report your permanent departure to the IND for the withdrawal of Temporary Protection. You can do this via a form on the IND website: Declaration of voluntary departure from the Netherlands | IND.nl. Link opens an external page.

Unannounced departure

If you leave unannounced, the municipality can stop the living allowance.

Return

If you return, you can report back to the municipality of Rotterdam. This can be done at the City Shop Centre at Coolsingel 40 in Rotterdam. We can then reassess whether you are entitled to living allowance.

Please always let us know. You can do so by using the Change of Living Allowance form ('Wijzigingsformulier leefgeld'). 

Has your domestic situation changed? You can find out if it affects your living allowance under 'When do I receive living allowance and how much will I receive?'

If you start working, you will no longer be entitled to living allowance.

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

The living allowance is an emergency provision, intended for people who are unable to support themselves. The living allowance stops when you can provide for yourself, for example through paid employment. If you start working, you must let us know. You can do this by using the 'Living Allowance Change Form' ('Wijzigingsformulier leefgeld').

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

The municipality of Rotterdam will also stop giving you the living allowance if you move to another municipality in the Netherlands or to another country. If you move within the Netherlands, the new municipality will pay your living allowance as of the first of the following month. You must inform the Rotterdam municipality of your change of address. You can read how to do this in the question: ‘I want to move within or out of Rotterdam. What do I need to do?’

You will also have received one or more letters from the municipality stating that you have to provide your details as well as sign and return the form enclosed with the letter. If you have not done so, the living allowance will stop.

If the national scheme for living allowance changes, you will read about it on this page.

You have received one or more letters from the municipality stating that you must provide your details and sign and return the form enclosed with the letter. Something may have gone wrong (at the municipality) or you may not have returned the signed form. That is why the living allowance has been stopped. You can still fill in and send us the form.

You can send the form by post using the enclosed reply envelope. You can also email the attached form to: OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or physically drop it off. On weekdays City Hall (Coolsingel 40) is open until 14:00.

Do you think your living allowance has been stopped unfairly and do you have any questions about it? Please email: OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page. You can also visit City Hall (Coolsingel 40) for this on weekdays until 14:00.

You can request a new form via email address OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page. You should complete and return the form as soon as possible. If you do not return the form within two weeks of receiving the letter, we cannot assess whether you are still entitled to living allowance.

Changes within your family can be communicated via email address: OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page.    

Those who rent or buy their own property will no longer receive living allowance. Always report changes in your income or housing situation. You can do this with the 'Living Allowance Change Form'.

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

If you have found paid work, you are no longer entitled to living allowance. If you start working, you must report this. You can do this via the Living Allowance Change Form ('Wijzigingsformulier leefgeld').

If you start working, you must let us know. You can do this by using the 'Living Allowance Change Form' ('Wijzigingsformulier leefgeld').

You can bring this change form to a public location (Publiekslocatie Centrum or Publiekslocatie IJsselmonde) of the municipality, send it by post or e-mail it to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page. 

Yes, refugees from Ukraine are entitled to child benefit if they work and possibly also to child budget if they meet the requirements for child benefit. On Government.nl | Child benefit. Link opens an external page you can read more about the requirements for child benefit and how to apply for it and on Government.nl | Kindgebonden budget (child budget). Link opens an external page you can read more about child budget and how to apply for it. 

There are local and national taxes in the Netherlands. On RefugeeHelp. Link opens an external page, you can read more about the different types of taxes in the Netherlands. There, you can also read in which cases you have to pay taxes and in which cases you do not. In the case of local taxes, it depends on your living situation.

• There are different services available in the city. Informal (often free) services are provided at community centers and libraries. There are also formal services provided by language schools, which require payment. An overview of the available services in Rotterdam can be found at beterintaal.nu/kaart. Link opens an external page.
• NLTraining (national) offers free online language courses at different levels and for everyone 18 years old or over. You can sign up here. Link opens an external page. When registering, the following information is required from you: BSN number, your address in the Netherlands, e-mail and/or telephone, your ID number (for example driver's license, (temporary) residence permit or travel document).

Yes, refugees from Ukraine are allowed to work in the Netherlands. To work, you need a residence certificate from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). This proof is a sticker in your passport or on a loose paper. Sometimes you get a pass (O-document). You have to be registered in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) at the municipality to receive a residence document from the IND. If you are not (or no longer) registered in the BRP, the IND will not extend your residence document. 
Your employer does not have to apply for an employer's permit for you.

Yes, you can visit 'Hallo Werk' (Hello Work) in the Ukranian House at Pleinweg 196a. They’ll be able to provide you with information about working in the Netherlands. You can find the opening hours on the website of Wmo radar. Link opens an external page.

'Hallo Werk' is an online platform that connects job seekers and employers directly. With a profile on Hallo Werk. Link opens an external page you increase the chances of finding a job.

Visit RefugeeHelp. Link opens an external page for more information on finding work.

Betaalvereniging. Link opens an external page provides more information on how to open a checking account at a bank.

If you have opened your own bank account, you must inform the municipality of your bank account number. To do so you have to fill in the 'Bank Account Change Form' ('Wijzigingsformulier bankrekeningnummer').

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

No, having a paid job has no consequence for your stay at a municipal shelter location.

Only your living allowance will be stopped once you have a paid job. You can read about the other reasons for discontinuing living allowance on 'When will I stop receiving a living allowance?'.

If you have found paid work, you are no longer entitled to living allowance. If you start working, you must report this. You can do this via the Living Allowance Change Form'.

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

If you start working, you must let us know. You can do this by using the 'Living Allowance Change Form' (Wijzigingsformulier leefgeld').

Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

You must report changes in your income. You can do this with the 'Change of living allowance form'.

You can bring this change form to a public location (Publiekslocatie Centrum or Publiekslocatie IJsselmonde) of the municipality, send it by post or e-mail it to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page. 

Have you lost your job? You may be entitled to Unemployment Benefit. In The Netherlands, this is called WW benefit. You can find more information on WW benefit on the website of UWV. Link opens an external page. Are you not entitled to WW benefit? Then you can reapply for living allowance via BRP.

If you are out of work due to termination of employment or are partially laid off, you may be entitled to Unemployment Benefit. In the Netherlands, this is called WW benefit. 

 For this, you must meet a number of requirements. You can find the requirements on the website of UWV. Link opens an external page.

If an adult family member has income from work, the living allowance for the whole family stops. If a minor child earns money from a secondary job, only the minor child's living allowance will stop.

You must report changes in your income using the change form.  Mail the form to OekraineInkomenWI@rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page or bring it to a public location (Public Location Centre or Public Location IJsselmonde) of the municipality. You can also send it by post to: Gemeente Rotterdam, Beheer Inkomen Postbus (PO Box) 1024, 3000 BA Rotterdam.

A family consists of: 

• Spouses or partners living together and their minor children.
• A parent or guardian - who is responsible for minor children according to Dutch law or practice - and the minor children.

Grandparents, uncles, aunts or adult children are not part of the family. They are independent or a separate family according to the rules.

There are local and national taxes in the Netherlands. On RefugeeHelp. Link opens an external page, you can read more about the different types of taxes in the Netherlands. There, you can also read in which cases you have to pay taxes and in which cases you do not. In the case of local taxes, it depends on your living situation.

Ukrainian children who still have to learn Dutch can go to Newcomers Education.

Read more about education for children who have just arrived in the Netherlands on the page Recently arrived and school.

• 0-4 year olds: 
  Inflow at regular daycare facilities if there's space.
• 2-4 year olds: 
  Rotterdam toddler care (16 hours per week, free, register with provider).
• 4-12 year-olds: 
  Pre-school (PSC) and after-school care (ASC). Inflow at regular childcare facilities if there's space.

On the Universitair Asiel Fonds. Link opens an external page (UAF) website you can read more about studying in the Netherlands for Ukrainians.

There's a meeting place for Ukrainian refugees at Pleinweg 196-a in Rotterdam. You can find volunteers from the Ukrainian Community there. An employee of the municipality of Rotterdam (Vraagwijzer)is also available to answer questions about finances, medical care, education, etcetera.

There are several national and local organisations for Ukrainian people in the Netherlands:

• ukrainians.nl. Link opens an external page
• Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine | European Commission. Link opens an external page

In the Netherlands some matters can (only) be arranged online. For example, registering for education, arranging banking affairs, reporting a crime to the police or making an appointment with the municipality. To log on to the websites of these organizations, you need a DigiD. This is a kind of digital passport with which you can identify yourself safely. Your personal details remain well protected. If you have a BSN number, you can create a DigiD here. Link opens an external page (English).

Yes, Ukrainian driving licences of people falling under the Temporary Protection Directive are valid throughout the European Union (EU). This applies to all types of driving licences (A, B, C, D). Under the condition that the driving licence has not expired. Driving licences in Cyrillic script are also valid.

Did you lose your driving licence or was it stolen? Then you are currently not allowed to drive. The European Union is still investigating what you should do in that case. Read more about travelling within the EU. Link opens an external page.

• Children up to 4 years old can always travel for free in the Netherlands.
• Children from 4 to 12 years old are entitled to free public transport within Rotterdam: Gratis OV voor kinderen (4 tot 12 jaar).  Outside Rotterdam, children must pay.
• Children between 12-18 years who must travel further than 6 km by public transport to an ISK school are entitled to reimbursement.
• If you are older than 66 years and 4 months, you are entitled to free public transport within Rotterdam: Gratis OV voor AOW-gerechtigden. Outside Rotterdam you must pay.  
• If you do not fall within any of the above categories, then public transport in the Netherlands is not for free.

You cannot, you need to have a DigiD or a Dutch bank account. You can read about how to create a DigiD at 'A website asks for my DigiD. What is that and how do I get a DigiD?'

Betaalvereniging. Link opens an external page provides more information on how to open a checking account with a bank

The child is only entitled to reimbursement for public transport if the school is farther than 6 km away from the home address. He/she can apply for a public transport subscription via student transport. This requires a personal public transport chip card (OV-chipkaart). Go to Leerlingenvervoer to request this.

You can read about how to create a DigiD at 'A website asks for my DigiD. What is that and how do I get a DigiD?'

Betaalvereniging. Link opens an external page provides more information on how to open a checking account with a bank.

• You can park your car for free on P+R Beverwaard (Edo Bergsmaweg). From this P+R location, you can use Tram 23 to get back to the city centre. You can find other parking spaces in the city of Rotterdam on the map Parking in Rotterdam. The first 72 hours are free at most P+R locations, provided you continue your travels by public transport from there.
• If you park your car in Rotterdam, it is important that you park neatly in the designated parking space. Otherwise you risk a fine.

If you live in The Netherlands and you have a car with a Ukrainian license plate, you do not need to apply for a Dutch license plate. For more information: Belastingdienst.nl. Link opens an external page.

There is a free translation website Pryv.it. Link opens an external page ('Hello, how are you' in Ukrainian). With the tool you can translate a conversation or a message in Dutch, English or Ukrainian. You can read how the tool works on the website  Pryvit - Speak Every Language. Link opens an external page (Appmachine.com).

• RefugeeHelp.nl. Link opens an external page
• You will find more information for newcomers on the Nieuw in Rotterdam page. Use the Google Translate button at the top right of the page to translate the page.