The Netherlands has set a deadline for third-country nationals who arrived from Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022 to leave the country, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) announced on 6 June.

As of early 2025, approximately 6.3 to 6.7 million Ukrainians have fled to European countries following the Russian invasion. Around 4.3 to 5.4 million registered as refugees across Europe. As of February 2025, there are about 120,000 Ukrainian refugees in Netherlands, according to the Statistics Netherlands.

Starting 4 September 2025, third-country nationals who came from Ukraine will no longer have the right to temporary protection in the Netherlands and will have four weeks to leave the country, the IND explained.

The decision affects approximately 1,000 people, according to the service. They will receive letters with relevant information next week.

“The exception applies to those who have residence permits or are undergoing asylum procedures, or who applied for permanent residence permits before 4 September,” according to the statement.

The ruling follows an April decision in the Netherlands that authorities could stop providing asylum to third-country nationals who arrived from Ukraine fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion – such as students or labor migrants.

The IND’s Dutch-language statement provides additional context on the legal background. “Third-country nationals are people from outside the EU who temporarily stayed in Ukraine, for example on a student visa, and fled to the Netherlands together with Ukrainians after the war broke out,” the service explained.

Since April last year, a freeze measure had been in place for this group because it was unclear whether temporary protection could be terminated for them. This allowed them to retain rights to accommodation, municipal services and work.

The end of the freeze measure means these people must leave the Netherlands within four weeks from 4 September. Exceptions apply to those with residence permits, ongoing asylum procedures, or who submitted applications for regular residence permits before 4 September.

The EU Commission recently proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees until March 2027 to ensure continued legal certainty and support across all member states. Individual countries have not terminated the protection but may adjust national conditions.