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Financial Assistance

For those who cannot work, it is important to find financial assistance. Undocumented migrants are not entitled to financial support from the government. In some cases, undocumented migrants are still entitled to financial assistance, for instance during procedures about a residence permit or against the withdrawal of a residence permit.

Assistance benefit (bijstand) The Dutch Participation Law excludes people without a residence permit from the entitlement to assistance benefit.1  There is an exception for people who are involved in a procedure against the withdrawal of a residence permit. In that case, the right to assistance benefit is retained untill the first decision.2 Child benefit [kinderbijslag] and child-related budget [kindgebonden budget] Child benefit and child-related budget is a contribution towards the care of children and is therefore paid to the carer. The child does not need to have a residence permit him or herself, but the carer needs to have such a permit.3 4 Child benefit should be applied for at the Sociale Verzekeringsbank [Social Insurance Bank]. The carer needs to have a durable connexion with the Netherlands, which is to be proven by the duration of stay, a fixed adress and a job or assistance benefit. Child-related budget is an extra contribution for poorer parents who are also entitled to child benefit, and is paid by the tax authorities. The Social Insurance Bank informs the tax authorities if the parent is entitled to child benefit. Ruling Allowances Certain Categories of Aliens (Rvb; Regeling voorzieningen bepaalde categorieën vreemdelingen) The Rvb is a regulation of the COA. This regulation provides allowances and insurance for many different groups of aliens who are involved in legal proceedings. The Rvb applies to:
  • people who have witnessed or have reported cases of human trafficking both during the reconsideration period and while they wait for the residence permit.
  • people involved in family reunification or in formation of families, as long as they have legal residence while they wait to be granted their residence permits.
  • under-age children as long as they have legal residence while they wait to be granted their residence permits.
You will have to apply for the Rvb no longer than two weeks after the entitlement has arisen. Download the appropriate form from the COA website.5

The most important requirement for survival is food. The food bank provides weekly, free food parcels for people who have low income and high expenses. As undocumented migrants cannot proove their income and expenses, the policy of foodbanks regarding undocumented migrants is different in each city. In Amsterdam, separate foodbanks are established for undocumented migrants.

In addition there are several places in the city where you will find a warm place to sit, to have coffee or tea and where you can have a cheap meal, see under Day Shelters. No residence permit is required for these facilities.

To open a bank account, you need a passport and legal residency or a proof that you cannot return.1 In some cases it has been possible for undocumented migrants who are in possession of a passport to get a RNI number, replacing the BSN, and to get a bank account on the RNI number.