Employers may employ asylum seekers after 3 months
There is a plan but the government has yet to decide
The government has proposed a change in rules. The proposal will also be debated in the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament. The proposal may therefore still change, but it can be helpful to be aware of this in advance.
For whom?
- employers facing staff shortages
- entrepreneurs wishing to hire an asylum seeker
- temporary employment agencies and secondment firms
What changes?
Are you an employer and do you wish to employ an asylum seeker? In future, this will be permitted sooner. Asylum seekers who have a good chance of getting an asylum residence permit will be allowed to work after 3 months. Currently a waiting period of 6 months applies.
What remains in force?
- You have to apply for a work permit (TWV, in Dutch) to the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) before an asylum seeker starts work for you.
When?
It is not yet known when this change in the Foreign Nationals Employment Implementation Decree (Besluit uitvoering Wet arbeid vreemdelingen) and the Foreign Nationals Employment Act Implementation Regulations (Regeling uitvoering Wet arbeid vreemdelingen) will take effect.
Amendments
More changes on this subject:
- Changes to access to work for asylum seekersEffective date: 12 June 2026