VisaNetherlands temporary protection: check residence proof and employer notification before starting work
This current guide distinguishes the extension to March 2028 from the evidence needed to live and work in the Netherlands, including the separate checks for new applicants and the employer’s two-working-day notification period.
Official source date: 2026-08-31
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
An extended protection period is not the only eligibility check
Displaced people from Ukraine already covered by temporary protection should distinguish the extended protection period from the documents an employer needs to check. The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND, confirmed on 31 August that protection continues until 4 March 2028. This is a current guide to using that protection, not a claim that another extension was announced today. Existing beneficiaries retain associated residence and employment rights, but a recruitment offer alone does not establish protected status.
The IND notice also separates existing beneficiaries from new applications made from 5 August 2026. Applicants subject to Ukrainian military obligations must generally demonstrate compliance or an exemption, for example through Ukrainian-authority documents. The notice exempts people already holding EU temporary protection before that date and people joining family members already protected under the directive. Someone newly arriving should therefore establish the relevant category before assuming that another person's renewal position applies to them.
Match the sticker or card to the personalised extension evidence
Use IND's Extension sticker or card guidance to identify the evidence applicable to your document. A sticker without an expiry date does not need extending. For Ukrainian holders of older dated stickers or cards, the original IND extension letter can keep the document valid until temporary protection ends. The required evidence is the letter together with the sticker or card; a translated specimen downloaded from the website is not a substitute for the personalised letter.
The same resource distinguishes protected non-Ukrainians, including qualifying permanent Ukrainian residents and certain family members. It says relevant card holders will receive further instructions in January 2027. A Ukrainian example should not be used to resolve every non-Ukrainian case. If the necessary letter is missing, use the contact link on IND's extension page before relying on an expired date or a generic online example.
Complete residence registration before relying on work rights
IND's main Temporary Protection Directive Ukraine page is the starting point for checking nationality, previous Ukrainian residence and family eligibility. It explains municipal registration and the subsequent IND appointment. People aged 14 or over ordinarily need proof of residency, and the IND visit must take place within four weeks of municipal registration, with at least one week's registration by the appointment date. Younger children should accompany the parent so their coverage can be recorded.
The application itself is free under that guidance. Prepare the identity and eligibility documents the page specifies for your situation rather than treating a municipal entry as the final protection decision. The same page distinguishes people whose temporary Ukrainian residence permit does not establish continuing Dutch protection. Neither Ukrainian residence in the past nor arrival from Ukraine makes all nationalities eligible under identical conditions.
The employer must notify UWV before the first working day
The Dutch government's Work and income resource says protected refugees can undertake paid employment without an employment permit, but the employer must still notify the Employee Insurance Agency, UWV. It directs employers to check protection evidence and sign an employment contract. The exemption from a work permit should therefore not be confused with an exemption from employer administration or ordinary employment protections.
Use UWV's hiring-notification instructions for the actual filing. Employers access the Employee hiring notification form through their portal using an EH3 eHerkenning account. UWV says work may start two working days after submission and provides the confirmation in the portal's letters-and-documents section. An illustrative employer arranging a start date should calculate that interval before assigning the first shift. UWV also requests reports when employment stops, a contract is renewed or the role changes.
Use the jobseeker service without confusing it with immigration permission
UWV's Working in the Netherlands as a Ukrainian refugee guide explains how to register as a jobseeker at a local UWV office. Bring valid identity evidence and the citizen service number, BSN. It links to the office finder and describes the certificate of jobseeker registration, which needs renewal every three months. That certificate serves a different purpose from the IND sticker, card or extension letter.
The practical sequence is to establish protection, obtain the correct residence proof, then align the contract and UWV notification with the proposed start. Keep the personalised documents available for checks. The 2028 protection endpoint is not a guarantee of permanent residence or a confirmed route after the directive ends. Use later IND instructions for any future transition and assess self-employment separately: this guide concerns the published paid-employment process.
