Important Information for Ukrainian Refugees in the Netherlands

Know your rights and avoid common pitfalls

Registration Address Information

  • Do NOT pay for a registration address.
  • Your registration address should always be the address where you actually live.
  • People charging you money for registration addresses are defrauding you.
  • In the Netherlands, you must register at the municipality (gemeente) where you live.
  • Registration is free of charge and is a legal requirement.
  • If someone is asking you to pay for registration, report this to the local authorities.

Paid Time Off (PTO) Rights

  • You are legally entitled to paid days off from work in any contract structure.
  • Full-time employees (40 hours/week) are entitled to at least 20 paid vacation days per year.
  • Part-time employees receive PTO proportional to their working hours.
  • Even as a contractor, you accrue PTO hours that you can use.
  • Your employer cannot deny you your legal right to take paid time off.
  • PTO accrual starts from your first working day.

Where to Get Help

  • RefugeeHelp: www.refugeehelp.nl
  • Dutch Council for Refugees: www.vluchtelingenwerk.nl
  • Legal Aid (Juridisch Loket): www.juridischloket.nl
  • Ukrainian Embassy in the Netherlands: +31 70 362 6095