Since the 1st of April, refugees from Ukraine (including refugees without the Ukrainian nationality) can claim € 260 living allowance, per person per month. Registration in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is not a requirement for receiving a living allowance.

Please note that local authorities may pay out part of the living allowance in kind, for example if meals are offered at shelter locations. As a result, it is possible that refugees in some municipalities receive (much) less living allowance.

Refugees who live with a host family receive an extra allowance in addition to their living allowance. Adults receive € 215 per month, children € 55. This money can be used for things like public transport, family visits or sports. Refugees can also use the money to contribute to the costs of the host family, but this is not obligatory. When a host family accommodates more than one refugee, they are each entitled to their own living allowance. There is no maximum amount per host family.

The government has decided to grant living allowances for a period of 3 months, with an extension to six months. In the meantime, it is being considered how the payment of living allowances can be organized in the future, for refugees who do not have work.

In 2023, the Netherlands established a dependence between the level of income and the amount of payment. They also changed the approach to food benefits - the amount of assistance will depend on the number of family members.

In the Netherlands parents receive a subsidy for raising their children, until they are 18 years old. Currently refugees from Ukraine who do not work in the Netherlands cannot receive these benefits. However, if you do have a job in the Netherlands, you might qualify for it. Contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB, the Dutch organisation that implements social insurance schemes) for more information.

When a refugee has income from work, the living allowance stops, regardless of the amount of income. Family members who are not working will still receive a living allowance. If you start working, you must report this to the municipality. If you at some point lose your job, you can apply for the living allowance again. Please contact the municipality regarding this. Check the website of the central government for the latest information.

We highly recommend you open a bank account while living in the Netherlands. This will make it easier for you to arrange various matters and help you participate in everyday life. Also, a local bank account means the municipality where you live can transfer funds to you more easily and conveniently.

Refugees from Ukraine can open a bank account by showing a Ukrainian biometric passport or identity card. With almost all banks you also need a citizen service number (BSN). Refugees also need a home address, telephone number and e-mail address. A checking account requires an IBAN, a debit card and the possibility to arrange (international) banking business through online banking. On the website of Betaalvereniging Nederland you can see which banks offer this for refugees from Ukraine and what the conditions are. These banks have temporarily relaxed the rules and guidelines for providing checking accounts to refugees from Ukraine.

The following banks offer payment accounts for refugees from Ukraine:

ABN Amro

Bitsafe : Only a Ukrainian ID/passport or a Ukrainian driver's license is required. You do not need a BSN.

Bunq : Your BSN only needs to be provided after opening the bank account. Bunq also has opportunities for Ukrainians to open a bank account with an alternate id.

ING

Rabobank : You can also open an account here with a valid or expired passport from another country along with a Ukrainian residence permit that was valid on February 24, 2022.

Regiobank

SNS Bank

Triodos Bank

A more detailed overview of all the different providers of payment accounts can be found on this website of the municipality of Amsterdam .

Until 15 December 2022 refugees with Ukrainian nationality can exchange up to 10,000 hryvnia in banknotes into euros (roughly EUR 310) free of charge. This can only be done once. They can do this at any GWK Travelex branch . Initially, this scheme will be in place for 3 months, expiring on 15 September 2022.

Only banknotes in denominations of UAH 100 or more will be accepted. Coins will not be accepted.

This scheme is available to people aged 18 and over who have:

• a valid Ukrainian passport or identity document, or
• Ukrainian nationality and a Dutch residence document or alien’s identity card, or
• an expired Ukrainian passport or identity document bearing a validity sticker issued by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

The Netherlands has a 'progressive income tax system'. This means that the higher your income, the more tax you have to pay. This tax is automatically deducted from your salary. The income tax system works in 3 steps:

• 0 to 35.472 euro are taxed at 9,42%;
• 35.472 to 69.398 euros are taxed at 37.07%;
• 69.398 and above are taxed at 49.50%.

Please note that there will probably be other taxes and contributions deducted from your salary. For more information, please contact the Belastingdienstor your employer.

Sales tax is levied in the form of VAT (btw). Entrepreneurs include VAT in the price of goods and services. As a result, the price may be higher than indicated. If something includes VAT, that is the total price. In this case, you do not have to take into account a higher bill than expected. If something is exclusive (excl.) of VAT, you still have to pay 9 or 21% VAT, depending on the service or product.

In this case, individual consultation with a professional lawyer is necessary.

You can transfer money from Netherlands to Ukraine via an international transfer or money transfer at a corresponding provider or a bank.

For an international transfer at the bank you have to fill out a special form and usually pay fees. Other special money transfer providers (e.g. Western Union, Moneygram, Wise, Revolut, Paypal) are often a cheaper and faster alternative.