Yes, it is possible to temporarily leave the Netherlands, for example, for family visits. In order to maintain your rights in the Netherlands, any departure must always be reported to the municipality. Upon return, the guest must also notify the municipality. The maximum duration of a stay outside the Netherlands is 28 days. Staying away longer or leaving and returning without notice can have consequences for your guest’s rights. You can find more information here.

We often hear from host families that they find it challenging to end the period of cohabitation. There is (still) little perspective for the Ukrainian displaced individuals, and much remains uncertain. Sometimes, cohabitation continues despite little enthusiasm for it, mainly due to this uncertainty. Private shelter is always a temporary solution. Additionally, your guest retains the right to shelter. Hence, nobody will be left on the streets. Providing accommodation against your will is not a good idea. Therefore, we strongly advise against it. We urge you to get in touch with your municipality to discuss possible solutions.

Your guest has the following options when their stay comes to an end. These are:

1. Shelter in a Municipal Shelter
2. Finding independent housing (private accommodation outside of RefugeeHomeNL, renting, or buying)
3. Return to Ukraine or another country of origin

Municipal Shelter

As long as your guest falls under the Temporary Directive, they retain the right to shelter. For this purpose, your guest can always contact the Municipal Shelter. Initially, your guest should get in touch with the municipality where they currently live or wish to live. The municipality will assess if there is available space in that municipality. If there is no space, they will look for availability within the Safety Region. If there is still no space within the region, placement outside of the current or preferred region will be considered.

Independent Housing

Increasingly, guests are managing to find independent housing. This could be through friends or family, through another initiative for private accommodation, or by renting or buying a room or apartment. Please note: when independently renting or buying housing, your guest will lose the right to living expenses.

Return

The guest can also decide to return to Ukraine. The Return and Departure Service provides support in this process. Our advice is to first gather information through RefugeeHelp. For guests with non-Ukrainian nationality (so-called third-country nationals) who wish to return to their original country of origin, they can seek assistance from the expertise of IOM (UN Migration).

Certainly, if both the guest and the host family are comfortable with it! The Temporary Protection Directive is in force until March 4, 2025 and refugees from Ukraine remain the right to get shelter, work, education and medical care in all EU member states.

Yes, a Ukrainian car can be used in the Netherlands when it is registered. In that case, there is an exemption from the tax on passenger cars and motorcycles. To qualify for this exemption, the following conditions must be met:

• The motor vehicle is registered in the Ukrainian vehicle register
• The guest has brought the vehicle to the Netherlands themselves
• The vehicle is registered with the Tax and Customs Administration

The Tax and Customs Administration’s website provides a step-by-step explanation of how this process works.

Yes, currently your guest is allowed to drive in the Netherlands and the rest of the EU if they have a valid Ukrainian driver’s license. Ukrainian driver’s licenses that expired before 2022 need to be renewed by the Ukrainian authorities first. This can be done through the Ukrainian embassy. Ukrainian driver’s licenses that expired after 2022 will be automatically extended for the duration of the state of emergency in the country.

Yes, providing private accommodation can have implications for the amount of local taxes and charges you are subject to. This includes waste disposal charges, sewer charges levied by the municipality, as well as purification and pollution charges from the water board (waterschap). Generally, municipalities and water boards base the calculation of these charges on the size of the household. Any additional costs due to an increase in local taxes and charges can be covered from the housing component of the living allowance your guest receives. Once again, it is advisable to make clear arrangements about this together.

Municipalities and water boards have a remission scheme for households below a certain income threshold. The principle is that providing private accommodation should not impact the eligibility for remission. If anything changes in this regard, contact your municipality or water board for more information.

Yes, providing private accommodation can have implications for the amount of local taxes and charges you are subject to. This includes waste disposal charges, sewer charges levied by the municipality, as well as purification and pollution charges from the water board (waterschap). Generally, municipalities and water boards base the calculation of these charges on the size of the household. Any additional costs due to an increase in local taxes and charges can be covered from the housing component of the living allowance your guest receives. Once again, it is advisable to make clear arrangements about this together.

Municipalities and water boards have a remission scheme for households below a certain income threshold. The principle is that providing private accommodation should not impact the eligibility for remission. If anything changes in this regard, contact your municipality or water board for more information.

No, the government insists that offering private accommodation will not reduce your entitlement to benefits. You will retain your full benefits. Timely, correct, and complete registration of your guests in the BRP (Basic Persons Registration) is important. The Tax Allowances Department (Dienst Toeslagen) should be able to recognize these situations. If you happen to receive a letter regarding a change in household composition and a reduction in benefits, please contact the Tax Information Line as soon as possible: 0800 – 0543.

Timely, correct, and complete registration of your guests in the BRP (Basic Persons Registration) is important. The Tax Allowances Department should be able to recognize these situations. If you happen to receive a letter regarding a change in household composition and a reduction in benefits, please contact the Tax Information Line as soon as possible: 0800 – 0543.

No, in principle, providing accommodation does not affect the amount and duration of UWV benefits. However, it is advisable to inform UWV about the accommodation. For specific questions and advice, you can contact UWV directly.

The government aims to prevent providing accommodation from affecting the amount and duration of your benefits. You can find more information on this subject here. In any case, always report to the Social Insurance Bank (Sociale Verzekeringsbank – SVB) that you are hosting guests. Also, mention any arrangements that have been made with your guest regarding a contribution to housing costs.

The principle is that the temporary stay of a guest should not affect the amount of social assistance benefits (bijstandsuitkering). However, there are certain conditions to be met:

• Inform the municipality and/or the Social Insurance Bank (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) about the temporary stay of a guest from Ukraine
• The cost-sharing norm is generally not applied. However, if your guest also receives a full social assistance benefit, the municipality may consider applying the cost-sharing norm.Contact your municipality if this situation applies
• Report to the municipality the arrangements you have made with your guest regarding a contribution to housing costs