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Leaving the Netherlands temporarily

Last updated: 03/06/2025, 12:02

If you have temporary protection, you may leave the Netherlands temporarily. For example, to go on holiday. For people with Ukrainian citizenship and a Ukrainian passport, different rules apply than for people with another citizenship who also have temporary protection.

Leaving the Netherlands temporarily with Ukrainian citizenship

Ukrainians with biometric passports may travel within Europe and to Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This is called the '

vrije termijn

' (free period).

Travel outside the free period is at your own risk. The

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

will not give you a visa to return to the Netherlands. You need a Ukrainian

biometric passport

and proof of residence in the Netherlands to travel. A non-biometric (Ukrainian) passport does not count as a travel document.

In order to travel after your free period, you need a Ukrainian biometric passport as well as proof of residence in the Netherlands to travel. A non-biometric (Ukrainian) passport does not count as a travel document.

Leaving the Netherlands temporarily without Ukrainian citizenship

If you do not have Ukrainian citizenship and you wish to leave the Netherlands temporarily, you do so at your own risk. You need at least a valid travel document and proof of residence in the Netherlands. The IND will not give you a return visa that allows you to come back to the Netherlands.

Report your departure to the municipality

Are you living in the municipality's reception centre (GOO)? If so, you have to report that you are leaving temporarily and for how long you will be away. If you do not do so, the municipality can stop your place in the reception centre and your living allowance.

If you do report your departure to the municipality, the following applies:

If you are away for (longer than) 14 days, the municipality can give your place in the reception centre to someone else. If you then return to the Netherlands, you can get a place in another reception centre (in another municipality).

If you stay away for (longer than) 28 days, the municipality can stop your living allowance. The municipality can also deregister you from the

BRP

. If you are deregistered from the BRP, you will have to arrange your own accommodation when you return to the Netherlands. The IND will then investigate whether you are entitled to temporary protection.

Healthcare expenses you incur outside the Netherlands are not usually reimbursed

Are you going on a trip outside the Netherlands? Then ask for permission from the Regulation on Medical Care of Ukrainians (RMO)

. You should do this before you incur unexpected healthcare costs outside the Netherlands because the RMO usually does not reimburse healthcare costs you incur abroad. There are exceptions, for example, if you have been given permission to travel outside the Netherlands or if it is emergency care.

If you are registered in the

Dutch population register (BRP)

and have Dutch health insurance, you can usually get travel insurance.

Would you like to take out travel insurance? Then contact an insurance company to discuss the terms and conditions.

Travelling with children under 18

If you are in the Netherlands and want to travel within the EU with children under 18, you must have permission from the parent or guardian not travelling with you. On the website of the Dutch government you can download a form where you can arrange this permission for your child.

Form for travelling abroad with a minor child

On this page you will find the form you can download if you want to come to the Netherlands alone with minor children.

More information