You’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2022 on temporary protection - the RTB (Richtlijn Tijdelijke Bescherming, or Temporary Protection Directive). That protection officially ends on March 4, 2027. But you won’t be left without a status - the Dutch government has a plan: the transitiedocument, a transitional residence permit for another 3 years, issued automatically with no application required.
That said, there are details worth knowing now rather than in February 2027: what conditions you need to meet, what changes for you practically, and - most importantly - which documents you need to get translated and how to do it correctly.
What the RTB is and why it’s ending¶
The RTB (Temporary Protection Directive) is an EU directive activated in March 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It gave Ukrainian citizens the right to live and work in EU member states without going through a standard, months-long residence permit process.
Before 2022, this directive had existed only on paper since it was passed in 2001, never once actually triggered. The mass displacement of Ukrainians was its first real-world application.
The RTB was extended several times. The most recent extension runs to March 4, 2027, and the EU has decided this is final. After that date, each EU member state handles people who lived under RTB according to its own national policy. The Netherlands announced its approach in November 2025 with a long-term migration policy for Ukrainians.
As of early 2026, an estimated 80,000-100,000 Ukrainians in the Netherlands hold temporary protection status. The transitiedocument is designed for exactly that group.
What the transitiedocument is: the basics¶
The transitiedocument is a temporary residence permit valid for 3 years, which IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst - the Netherlands’ immigration and naturalisation service) will issue automatically to those who meet the conditions. It runs approximately from March 4, 2027 to March 4, 2030.
This isn’t permanent residency and it isn’t asylum - it’s a transitional stage. The government’s logic: give people time and stability to either integrate further (move to a regular residence permit) or prepare to return to Ukraine. Time on the transitiedocument counts toward your total legal residence in the Netherlands.
As announced by Rijksoverheid (the Dutch government’s official website) in November 2025:
Na afloop van de RTB kunnen vluchtelingen uit Oekraïne die tijdelijke bescherming hebben een tijdelijke verblijfsvergunning krijgen in de vorm van een transitiedocument voor 3 jaar.
Translation: “After the RTB ends, refugees from Ukraine who have temporary protection can receive a temporary residence permit in the form of a transitiedocument for 3 years.”
Who gets the transitiedocument: conditions and process¶
IND issues the transitiedocument ambtshalve - on its own initiative, automatically, without you filing anything. Three conditions apply:
1. Hold temporary protection (RTB) at expiry
You need to have active temporary protection status when the RTB ends (March 4, 2027, or an earlier referentiedatum still to be announced). If you’ve already moved to another residence permit - for example, through employment or study - you don’t need the transitiedocument; you’re already on regular status.
2. Pass the public order check (openbare-ordetoets)
This is an administrative check - IND looks for criminal convictions or other reasons to consider you a threat to public order. The vast majority of people pass this without any issues.
If you do have a criminal conviction, don’t panic immediately. Not every conviction means automatic rejection; IND assesses severity and how long ago it happened. If in doubt, consult an immigration lawyer.
3. Withdraw any pending asylum application (asielaanvraag)
If you filed an asylum application alongside the RTB, it needs to be withdrawn. IND will send a separate notification about this when the time comes - it’s a standard administrative step. If you never filed for asylum, this doesn’t apply to you.
Key point: IND will announce the exact eligibility date and the issuing process closer to 2027. Keep an eye on refugeehelp.nl - it’s one of the most reliable and regularly updated resources in English for Ukrainians in the Netherlands.
What changes: rights and obligations with the transitiedocument¶
With the transitiedocument, you become a “regular resident” - on equal footing with other people living in the Netherlands, but without the emergency protection privileges.
As immigration lawyers Everaert Advocaten explain:
Displaced persons from Ukraine will have to take out health insurance themselves and will in principle no longer be entitled to shelter provided by the State.
Two big shifts: you arrange your own health insurance, and you’re no longer entitled to state-provided housing (opvang).
| What | Under RTB (before March 4, 2027) | With transitiedocument (after) |
|---|---|---|
| Right to work | Yes, without TWV permit | Yes, without TWV permit |
| Study | Yes | Yes, at reduced rates |
| State housing (opvang) | Provided | No - find your own |
| Health insurance | Arranged by gemeente | Your own (zorgtoeslag subsidy possible) |
| Social assistance | Bijstandsuitkering | Aligned with Dutch residents |
| Dutch language courses (NT2) | Yes | Yes |
| Path to permanent residency | Indirect | After 5 years legal residence |
On health insurance costs: the average Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) runs €130-160 per month. If your income is low, you can apply for zorgtoeslag (a government subsidy) through the Belastingdienst (tax authority), which can cover a significant portion.
On housing: social housing queues in the Netherlands run 5 to 15+ years. If you’re currently in opvang, start looking for private rental housing now - in 2026, not 2027. The transition takes time, and the rental market is tight.
Not all details about rights and obligations under the transitiedocument have been finalised by mid-2026. IND and Rijksoverheid will publish updates as they’re confirmed.
Which documents need translation and why¶
There are two distinct scenarios to separate here.
For getting the transitiedocument itself
No new translations are needed for the transitiedocument itself - IND issues it automatically based on data already in the system. You’re already registered, you already have RTB status.
For everyday life after 2027
Once you’re a “regular resident,” there’s standard demand for translated documents across many institutions: employers, banks, municipalities, universities.
As IND states in its official guidance:
Documents that are not in Dutch, English, French or German must be translated by a sworn translator (beëdigd vertaler).
Any document in Ukrainian needs a sworn translation for official use in the Netherlands. Not just “a translation” - it specifically needs to be done by a beëdigd vertaler registered in the WBTV system.
| Document | When you’ll need a translation | Apostille required first? |
|---|---|---|
| Passport / ID card | Bank KYC, rental application, identity verification | Usually no (show original in person) |
| Birth certificate | BRP registration, family reunification, getting married in NL | Yes |
| Marriage certificate | Marital status records, banks, insurance | Yes |
| Divorce certificate | Change of marital status | Yes |
| Diploma / degree supplement | DUO, employer, qualification recognition | Yes |
| Employment record / work book | Some employers, pension-related queries | Yes |
| Criminal record certificate | Some employers, official procedures | Yes |
| Driving licence | Exchange for Dutch licence via RDW | Yes |
| Medical documents | Doctors, insurance, benefit claims | Depends on situation |
One practical tip: if you’re ordering translations of multiple documents, negotiate a package with one translator. The price is lower, and - crucially - the transliteration of your name will be consistent across all documents. A mismatch in how your name is spelled across different translated documents can cause real problems when submitting applications.
How to find a sworn translator in the Netherlands¶
A beëdigd vertaler (sworn translator) has taken an official oath before a Dutch court and is listed in the WBTV state register. Only a WBTV-registered translator can produce legally valid translations for IND, courts, municipalities, and other official bodies.
The WBTV register is at wbtv.justis.nl - the official database under the Wet beëdigde tolken en vertalers (Law on Sworn Interpreters and Translators). You search by language pair.
How to search: 1. Go to wbtv.justis.nl 2. Select source language: “Oekraïens” (Ukrainian) 3. Target language: “Nederlands” or “Engels” (both accepted by IND) 4. Get a list of certified translators with contact details 5. Contact them directly or through a translation agency that employs WBTV-registered translators
Important: Ukrainian↔Dutch is a relatively rare language pair with few registered translators. Demand will spike sharply in 2027, so order translations in 2026 if you can.
Alternative: order the translation into English via a WBTV-registered translator. The English language pair has more practitioners, tends to be slightly cheaper, and IND accepts it on equal footing with Dutch.
Approximate prices in 2026:
| Document | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 1 standard page (up to 250 words) | from €60-100 |
| Passport (2-4 data pages) | €80-200 |
| Birth certificate | €60-90 |
| Diploma with supplement (5-10 pages) | €300-600 |
| Rush translation | +50-100% on top of base price |
Prices vary across the market - get quotes from 2-3 agencies or individual translators.
Watch out: a translation done by a regular translation agency without a WBTV-registered sworn translator is legally invalid for official purposes in the Netherlands. Before ordering, ask: “Do you have a WBTV-certified translator for the Oekraïens-Nederlands or Oekraïens-Engels language pair?”
Apostille on Ukrainian documents: what to sort out in advance¶
Before you can get most Ukrainian documents translated for official use, you need an apostille on them.
An apostille is a certification stamp that verifies the authenticity of the signature and seal on a document. Without it, Dutch authorities can’t confirm the document is genuine. Both the Netherlands and Ukraine are signatories to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is sufficient for legalisation - full consular legalisation is not required.
Where to get an apostille in Ukraine: - Ministry of Justice (Minjust) - for civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce certificates, notarial documents) - Ministry of Education (MON) - for diplomas and school certificates - Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) - for some official certificates - Courts - for court decisions and rulings
How to get it while you’re in the Netherlands: - Through family or friends in Ukraine using a notarised power of attorney (povereniist) - Through legal agencies specialising in apostilles for Ukrainians abroad - In person during a trip back to Ukraine (if that’s an option)
Important exception. Documents issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in The Hague after March 7, 2022 don’t need an apostille - they’re already considered valid without additional legalisation. This applies to identity and nationality certificates issued by the embassy since that date.
Timelines: getting an apostille in Ukraine takes anywhere from 3-5 to 20-30 working days depending on the document type and current workload at the relevant ministry. Demand from Ukrainians abroad is consistently high in 2026. Don’t leave it to the last minute.
What happens after the 3-year transitiedocument¶
The transitiedocument runs until approximately March 2030. What then?
The Netherlands is still working out the fine print, but the overall framework is clear: in those 3 years, you either move to a regular residence permit or return to Ukraine.
Routes to regular residence status:
- Through employment - with a recognised qualification and an employment contract: kennismigrant (highly skilled migrant permit) or standard work permit
- Through study - student visa, followed by the zoekjaar afgestudeerden (job-search year after graduation)
- Through family reunification - if you have a partner or family member with a residence permit in the Netherlands
- Through long-term residence - after 5 years of legal residence and passing NT2 (Dutch language proficiency exam), you can apply for verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd (indefinite residence permit)
The critical detail: time under RTB (from 2022) and time under the transitiedocument both count as legal residence. If you arrived in 2022, by 2027 you’ll have 5+ years - which theoretically opens the path to indefinite residence, provided you have stable income and an NT2 qualification.
Practical advice: don’t wait until the transitiedocument expires to start working on your next step. Qualification recognition (through Nuffic or the relevant ministry), NT2 preparation, and document gathering all take time. Start in parallel.
Sources¶
- Transitiedocument beschikbaar na afloop RTB voor vluchtelingen uit Oekraïne - Rijksoverheid.nl - official Dutch government announcement (November 2025)
- Langetermijnbeleid: terugkeer en verblijf - Rijksoverheid.nl - long-term migration policy page for Ukrainians in the Netherlands
- Translation and legalisation of documents - IND - official IND requirements for translations
- Temporary residence permit for displaced people from Ukraine after March 4, 2027 - Everaert Advocaten - analysis by Dutch immigration lawyers
- What do we know about plans for Ukrainians after 4 March 2027? - RefugeeHelp - regularly updated guide for Ukrainians in the Netherlands
- Legalisation of documents from Ukraine for use in the Netherlands - NetherlandsWorldwide - official Dutch government guidance on document legalisation
- WBTV register - wbtv.justis.nl - official register of sworn translators in the Netherlands
FAQ¶
Do I need to apply for the transitiedocument?¶
No. IND issues it automatically to everyone who meets the conditions. The only active step you may need to take is withdrawing a pending asylum application, if you have one. IND will send a separate letter about that when the time comes.
When exactly will IND start issuing transitiedocuments?¶
Directly after March 4, 2027, for those who qualify. IND will announce the exact schedule closer to the date. Expect official notification by post or through DigiD.
What’s the difference between the transitiedocument and a regular verblijfsvergunning?¶
The transitiedocument is a 3-year temporary permit issued automatically without a standard application process. A regular verblijfsvergunning requires filing with IND and meeting specific conditions - income, qualifications, language level, and so on. The transitiedocument is a bridge between RTB and regular status.
Which documents does IND require to be translated?¶
Any document not in Dutch, English, French, or German must be translated by a beëdigd vertaler from the WBTV register. For getting the transitiedocument itself, no new documents are required. But for work, study, renting accommodation, and other practical purposes, translated documents will be needed.
Where do I find a sworn translator for Ukrainian documents?¶
At the official register wbtv.justis.nl - search for the language pair “Oekraïens”. You’ll find translators working into both Dutch and English (IND accepts both).
Do all Ukrainian documents need an apostille?¶
Not all. Documents issued by the Ukrainian Embassy in The Hague after March 7, 2022 don’t need an apostille. For most other original Ukrainian documents (certificates, diplomas, official records) - an apostille is required before translation.
Does time under RTB count toward the 5 years needed for permanent residency?¶
Yes. Time spent under RTB counts as legal residence in the Netherlands. Time under the transitiedocument counts too. If you arrived in 2022, you’ll have 5+ years by 2027 - which theoretically opens the path to verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd (indefinite residence), provided you have stable income and an NT2 qualification.
What about non-Ukrainian nationals who had RTB?¶
The transitiedocument is primarily for Ukrainian citizens. Third-country nationals who had permanent residence in Ukraine and received RTB protection in the Netherlands may face different rules. Contact IND or an immigration lawyer directly to clarify your specific situation.
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