Reception of Ukrainians

If you are coming to live in Nijmegen

You must register with the municipality. You must make an appointment to do this:

• Are you registering in the Netherlands for the first time? Make an appointment to register for the first time
• Are you relocating from another Dutch municipality? Make an appointment to report your relocation 

You can also call 14 024 to make an appointment. This service is only available in Dutch or English.

Please bring the following documents to your appointment:

• If you have Ukrainian citizenship: passport, identity card or embassy declaration
• If you do not have Ukrainian citizenship but you have fled Ukraine:
  • Bring documents that prove your nationality
  • You must be able to prove that you had a permanent residence permit for Ukraine on 23 February 2022
• Proof of residence at a temporary shelter location
• If you will be moving in with someone:
  • Lease or permission from the main occupant
  • Copy of passport or identity card of main occupant

If you do not have documents proving who you are

In that case, you must first obtain a ‘certificate of identity’ from the Ukrainian embassy in The Hague. To do this:

1. Make sure you have 2 identical and official passport photos that are no older than 6 months. If you do not have any passport photos, arrange for these to be taken by an official passport photographer
2. Register your visit to the embassy via the internet beforehand 
3. Visit the Ukrainian Embassy in The Hague during office hours in the morning between 9am and 1pm. Preferably go on a Thursday or Friday. Take the following with you:

• Your digital registration
• Identity papers you have
• 2 identical passport photos no older than 6 months

Your certificate will usually be ready the same day. You can use this certificate to register in the municipality.

You are living with a host family in Nijmegen but want to move to a municipal shelter

First fill in the ‘Application for emergency shelter’ form. The municipality will then check with you whether there is a place in Nijmegen or in a municipality nearby.

Are you living with a host family outside Nijmegen? If so, please contact the municipality where you are living for more information.

You are leaving Nijmegen

You are relocating to another municipality within the Netherlands

1. Report your relocation to the municipality where you will be living
2. Are you receiving a subsistence allowance from the municipality of Nijmegen? If so, fill in the change notification form (pdf, 608 KB). Email the form to leefgeldoekraine@nijmegen.nl. You can also send the completed form by post. You will find the address on the back of the form

You are relocating to another country

1. Please tell the municipality that you are moving abroad (emigration). You must make an appointment to do this
2. Are you receiving a subsistence allowance from the municipality of Nijmegen? If so, fill in the change notification form (pdf, 608 KB). Email the form to leefgeldoekraine@nijmegen.nl. You can also send the completed form by post. You will find the address on the back of the form

Applying for a subsistence allowance

You can apply for the subsistence allowance scheme if you have little or no income.
Before you can apply for the subsistence allowance scheme, you need to do the following: 

1. Register with the municipality where you are (temporarily) living so that you can be entered in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You will then automatically receive a Citizen Service Number (BSN)
2. Arrange a valid bank account with IBAN, preferably with a Dutch bank
3. Apply for the subsistence allowance scheme using the Subsistence Allowance Scheme application form (pdf, 343 KB). Complete the form in full and sign it. Do not forget to include a copy of your bank card. Email the form to leefgeldoekraine@nijmegen.nl. You can also send the form to us by post. You will find the address on the back of the form

Report any changes

Use the Subsistence Allowance Scheme change notification form (pdf, 608 KB) to communicate any changes to us. Please notify us of the following changes:

• You or your family members are relocating 
• You or your family members are leaving the Netherlands
• Your child turns 18 years of age
• You or your family members take up paid work
• You or your family members are living outside the Netherlands temporarily (e.g. for family visits)
• You are going to cohabit with someone who lives in the Netherlands
• Someone from your family comes to live with you
• You have a new bank account number

When you receive the subsistence allowance

At the start of every month. If you submit a new application, we will process it as soon as possible. You will then receive a letter approving or rejecting your application. After approval, we will deposit the first payment into your account as soon as possible.

How much subsistence allowance you receive

This depends on your situation as a family. You will find the various amounts on the website of the Government of the Netherlands.

Sharing the subsistence allowance with a host family

If you are living with a host family you will get an extra allowance for that (see the website of the Government of the Netherlands). You can make arrangements with your host family about using this amount or another part of the subsistence allowance to contribute towards costs. Every living situation is different. In some families everyone eats together, while in others everyone cooks for themselves. It would be wise to write down those arrangements before you move in. The Dutch Council for Refugees or Takecarebnb can help you make these arrangements.

Lower subsistence allowance if you take up paid work

You will receive a lower subsistence allowance if you take up paid work. If you take up paid work, inform us immediately using the change notification form (pdf, 608 KB). You must also inform us immediately if you receive any other type of income such as a benefit or pension. We will then assess whether you are still entitled to a subsistence allowance.

Applying for other municipal allowances

If you are entitled to a subsistence allowance in Nijmegen, you cannot apply for any other municipal allowances such as the discounted bus pass or the participation scheme.

However, you may be able to receive reimbursement from us for necessary expenses. Apply for this reimbursement using the Extraordinary costs application form (pdf, 105 KB). We will then assess whether you are entitled to reimbursement.

You can only apply for expenses that are necessary and that you cannot be reimbursed for in any other way, such as travel expenses you have to incur to visit the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) or medical expenses if those expenses are not reimbursed by the Ukrainian Refugee Medical Care Scheme (RMO). 

Benefits

If you work in the Netherlands, you may be entitled to benefits such as a housing benefit, child budget and childcare benefit. You will find more information on this on the website of the Tax and Customs Administration.

If you would like to work

What you need to arrange

To be able to work, you need the following:

• Citizen Service Number (BSN). You will receive this when you register with the municipality
• temporary protection residence status. You can find out whether you have this status and when this Directive will expire on the website of the IND
• IBAN bank account. If you have your Citizen Service Number (BSN), you can apply for a bank account at any Dutch bank

Would you like help finding a job? For more information, visit the website of WerkBedrijf Rijk van Nijmegen.

What to pay attention to 

Paid work: 

• You must receive an employment contract
• You have the same rights as Dutch employees, such as the right to the minimum wage, a safe workplace, breaks, holiday time and holiday allowance
• Do not accept your wages in cash payments. Request that your wages be deposited directly into your bank account and ask for a pay slip
• If you take up paid work, inform us immediately using a change notification form (pdf, 608 KB). We will then assess whether you are still entitled to a subsistence allowance

Unpaid work: 

• The organisation where you will be working must have a volunteer declaration
• You must receive a volunteer agreement
• The volunteer work must be in the general interest of society. Volunteer work at community centres or churches is a good example

Will you get a volunteer allowance, and do you receive a subsistence allowance? If so, fill in the change notification form (pdf, 608 KB). We will then assess how much subsistence allowance you will still receive.

Need more information or assistance? 

Contact the WerkBedrijf Rijk van Nijmegen. Don’t speak English? Please bring an interpreter with you.

To make an appointment, call +31 (0)24-751 75 00 or email administratie@wbrn.nl.

You want to start your own business

Contact the OndernemersPunt (business desk) of the municipality of Nijmegen. Email ondernemerspunt@nijmegen.nl or call +31 (0)24 - 329 98 00.

Healthcare

You are covered by the Ukrainian Refugee Medical Care Scheme (RMO) if you receive a subsistence allowance from the municipality. This means you do not have to pay any premiums or excess. Besides healthcare under the basic package (such as GP, hospital and therapy), some healthcare outside the basic package is also reimbursed, such as oral care for immediate pain, contraception and abortion. You can find an overview of the refunds on the website of the RMO.

You will find more information about healthcare in the Netherlands at refugeehelp.nl.

Healthcare if you work

Even if you work, you will still be insured through the RMO. However, you can choose to take out your own (supplementary) health insurance. This is not compulsory. For more information, visit the website of Refugeehelp.

Childcare

Children of refugees from Ukraine can use childcare services. You will find more information on the website of the Government of the Netherlands. You can search for a childcare facility in the National Childcare Register. Please note that most childcare facilities are full and have a waiting list. 

Education

Children in the Netherlands have the right to an education. This also applies to children who have fled Ukraine and are now living in the Netherlands. Making education possible in the city is a challenge. There is a teacher shortage, and everyone is looking for the perfect place to teach. 

What you can do if you want your child to receive an education

Step 1: Register your child(ren) in Nijmegen 

Make sure you and your child(ren) are registered as residents of Nijmegen. Your child will then receive a Citizen Service Number (BSN). The school needs this number at enrolment.

Step 2: Enrol with the school

Primary school (aged 4 and 5):

You can enrol children aged 4 and 5 living in Nijmegen at a primary school near your reception centre. These children will be in class 1 or 2 of the primary school. What if there are no places available at the school? Contact the school finder service Schoolwijzer Nijmegen. They can tell you where there are still places near you.

Primary school (aged 6 to 11):

You can enrol children aged 6 to 11 living in Nijmegen at De Bloemberg. This is a school for newcomers. Send an email to po.oekraine.nijmegen@conexus.nu. The address of this primary school is De Bloemberg, Zellersacker 1103, Nijmegen.

Secondary school (aged 12 to 18):

Young people aged 12 to 18 who live in the Nijmegen region (municipalities of Berg en Dal, Beuningen, Druten, Heumen, Mook en Middelaar, Nijmegen and Wijchen) can enrol at Pontem College (the school for newcomers). Enrol your child by emailing the completed application form (pdf, 884 KB) to vo.oekraine@pontem-college.nl. Pontem College 2 will be located at Nijlpaardstraat 4 in Nijmegen from this school year onwards.

Travel to and from school

Children go to school by themselves as much as possible, preferably on foot or by bicycle and possibly accompanied by a parent or adult. If it is too far to cycle (e.g. due to age), public transport is an option. The municipality may refund the cost of the public transport subscription. The cost of the public transport subscription for the accompanying parent will also be refunded.

To qualify for reimbursement for public transport, send an email to leerlingenvervoer@nijmegen.nl. Include the following information in the email:

• name of the child or children
• residential address in Nijmegen
• date of birth of each child
• IBAN number of the parent or caregiver and the full name of the parent to whom the bank account number belongs

You will receive a response to your request within a few days. If you are reimbursed for the public transport subscription, the subscription must be loaded onto a personal public transport chip card. 

If you wish to hire people from Ukraine, there are a number of conditions:

• You may only engage refugees from Ukraine as salaried employees
• You must register the employee with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) no later than 2 working days before they start work. You must also pass on information such as working hours and workplace

You are an employer seeking employees

Please contact Robert Vermeij from WerkBedrijf Rijk van Nijmegen: email r.vermeij@wbrn.nl or call +31 (0)6 - 251 044 58.

Healthcare providers can find refugees with a Citizen Service Number in insurance records. If you cannot find the person in the expense claims system, the invoice can be sent to the Central Office for Exceptional Medical Insurance (CAK) without a registration number. Read more questions and answers on healthcare for refugees from Ukraine on the website of the Government of the Netherlands.

Want to know more about the Ukrainian Refugee Medical Care Scheme (RMO) and what is reimbursed? Visit the website: rmoekraine.nl. There you will also find information about the interpreting service offered by the Government of the Netherlands.