For detailed information on the documents required to cross the border, the procedure for crossing, checkpoints and the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, please see the link of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

You can get help through the chatbot here.

- In addition to the chatbot, citizens can also contact the call centre at +38 (044) 224-57-20.

- The SBGS hotline is 1598.

According to the rules that apply to dogs, cats, ferrets and others, it is necessary to have a numbered veterinary passport of an international standard, which must contain

• a mark on comprehensive vaccination against viral diseases: the last vaccination must be carried out no later than 30 days and no earlier than 12 months before the date of departure
• a photo of the animal before it reaches the age of 12 months
• a chipping mark indicating the date of chipping and the location of the microchip
• a mark of vaccination against rabies (name of the vaccine, signature, seal, date)
• information on treatment against ecto- and endoparasites (fleas and worms)

Also:

• chipping or titration prior to rabies vaccination and obtaining a certificate; the microchip implanted under the animal's skin must comply with ISO 11784, ISO 11785 standards
• an international veterinary certificate for an animal transported through the EU for non-commercial purposes
• a certificate stating that the animal is not of breeding value

If you have any additional questions, we recommend that you contact the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine:

- dovira@dpsu.gov.ua

- +38 044 527 63 63 (for calls from abroad), 1598 (for calls within Ukraine)

Detailed information on the rules for crossing the border with animals by country

Visas are valid for 90 days. Ukrainian nationals who are exempt from the visa requirement can also remain in the Netherlands for up to 90 days. It is possible to extend the short-stay visa of a visa-exempt term if you want to stay longer. A stay can be extended for a maximum of 90 days, up to a total of 180 days. This is also possible if your visa or visa-exempt term has already expired. Additionally, based on the Temporary Protection Directive, Ukrainian refugees will be granted temporary protection for one year, from 4 March 2023 until 4 March 2024.

The EU migration calculator helps to calculate the number of days of stay in EU countries for those who do not apply for temporary protection.

• Contact person for children in reception centers: In every reception center, there is a 'contact person for children'. This person has a coordinating role and can provide further information regarding children.
• Nidos: The organisation is responsible for providing guardianship to unaccompanied and separated children who arrive in the Netherlands without caretakers.
• Unaccompanied children are met by Nidos guardians when they arrive. The guardians inform them and organize placement at a reception center. They also arrange foster families for younger children (under the age of 15).
• Unicef works closely with Nidos so if you would contact Unicef, they will refer to Nidos.
• The Child Protection Board can be questioned on adoption cases.

Temporary Protection applies to Ukrainians who have travelled from Ukraine after 26 November 2021 or who can prove that they were already in the Netherlands before that date and not in another EU country.

The local council will check whether the refugee has the correct documents. When in doubt, they will contact the IND, who will do additional research. During that research, it is not possible to register at the town hall. If the Ukrainian national is not able to prove his identity, it may be possible to obtain proof of identity and nationality from the Ukrainian embassy. If the Ukrainian refugee does not have any documents to prove his identity, it is not possible to fall within the scope of the Directive.

If the refugee is covered by the provision and has registered in the Personal Records Database at the local council, the individual will soon be able to obtain proof from the IND that he may live and work in the Netherlands. Proof of residency will be a sticker applied to a page in the refugee's passport or on a separate piece of paper or card.

People who can prove their identity, origin or lawful residence in Ukraine (e.g. a passport, birth certificate or residence papers) can register in the municipality (local authority) where they are received. This entitles them to certain services, such as housing, living expenses, medical care and education. Ukrainian refugees do not have to register themselves at the central registration point for all refugees seeking asylum in the Netherlands (which is in Ter Apel, in the northern province called Groningen). To apply for temporary protection you need proof of identity, origin or lawful residence in Ukraine (with for example a passport, birth certificate or residence papers).

Children without passports can be registered with their parents in the BRP at the municipality. In the absence of other documents, the parents can make a declaration under oath or promise, with which the municipality establishes the identity of the children. The municipality then also registers these children. This is an exception to the standard rule that proof of identity is required. This exception is only applicable to this target group in the current circumstances.

In accordance with Article 2 of the Implementing Decision of the Council of the EU, temporary protection applies to family members of Ukrainian citizens who lived in Ukraine until February 24, 2022. At the same time, the citizenship of such a family member does not matter.

The Decision directly states that for the purposes of temporary protection, the family should have already existed and lived in the territory of Ukraine until February 24, 2022. At the same time, the concept of "family member" is defined quite broadly in the Decision, in particular:

• the second spouse of a citizen of Ukraine, or an unmarried partner with whom the person is in a stable relationship, if the legislation or practice of the relevant EU state considers unmarried couples as spouses in accordance with its national legislation on foreigners;
• minor unmarried children of a citizen of Ukraine, or of the second spouse, regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock, or were adopted;
• other close relatives who lived together as part of the family as of February 24, 2022, and who at that time were fully or mostly dependent on a citizen of Ukraine.

Thus, family members can include not only the official husband/wife, but also civil partners who lived in the same family with a citizen of Ukraine at the time the war began and got married after 02/24/2022 (or continue to live in a civil partnership). However, the provision of temporary protection for this category of persons remains at the discretion of each EU country, depending on its family legislation.

Dutch legislation includes partners with whom a citizen of Ukraine has had a long-term relationship and who can prove that they lived together in Ukraine before the start of the war (usually for at least six months before February 24, 2022) as "family members".

Temporary protection in the Netherlands has been extended until March 4, 2024, subject to proof of residence. You don't need to do anything for this, because the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) should have automatically verified the address. All Ukrainians subject to temporary protection should have received a letter from the IND by February 25, 2023. If you have not received it, call IND, they will try to resolve your issue over the phone.

Beneficiaries of international protection (asylum) cannot return to their country of origin while they are considered a refuge.

If you have received temporary protection and want to leave the Netherlands temporarily, you must notify the municipality in which you are staying in advance. If you are absent for more than 28 days, the municipality may stop providing assistance. If you are absent from the municipal shelter for more than 14 days, the shelter can be transferred to someone else. When you return, you may be given accommodation in another reception place or municipality.

It is yet unclear how long the wait is to get temporary protection status.

To become a Dutch citizen one must be 18 years or older and must have lived in the Kingdom of the Netherlands continuously for 5 years or more with a valid residence permit.

In order to issue a foreign passport, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy .

A foreign passport is issued to a person who has reached the age of 16 on the basis of an application-questionnaire submitted by him personally. At the same time, the issuance of a foreign passport to a person who has been recognized by the court as having limited legal capacity or incapacity is carried out on the basis of an application-questionnaire of the guardian or other legal representative.

The following are attached to the application:

• previous passport to be exchanged (if the passport is not issued for the first time);
• internal passport in the form of a booklet (if available);
• or ID card (if available);
• a document confirming permanent residence or temporary stay abroad (if available);
• certificate of registration of the place of residence in Ukraine / certificate of registration of the place of residence of a temporarily displaced person (if available);
• a certificate of assignment of the registration number of the taxpayer's registration card (RNOKPP; if available).

In case of loss or theft of the previous passport, a document (report, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the state in which the passport was lost or stolen is attached to the application, confirming the fact of the owner's application regarding its loss or theft. Such a document is submitted without legalization and translation into Ukrainian.

In the case of issuing a passport in connection with a change in personal data (surname and/or first name), a document confirming such a change (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, court decision, etc.) is attached to the application. When issuing a foreign passport with a new surname and/or first name, the "domestic" passport (ID card) must be reissued.

In the event that the applicant has not previously been issued with an identity document, confirming Ukrainian citizenship and/or granting the right to leave Ukraine and enter Ukraine, a certificate of registration of the person as a citizen of Ukraine is provided (with the exception of cases when the person's parents at the time of his were citizens of Ukraine at birth).

You can register the birth of a child only at the consulate. There, the determination of his origin and the assignment of his surname, first name, and patronymic are carried out.

The application for registration must be submitted immediately, but no later than one month after the birth of the child, and in the case of a stillborn child - no later than three days.

The registration process takes place at the place of birth or at the place of residence of the child's parents or one of them (with a written application). At the same time, in case of illness, death of the parents or for other reasons it is impossible to register the birth - the application can be submitted by relatives or other persons authorized by the representative of the health care institution in which the child was born or is currently.

What is required for registration?

• a document from a medical institution about the birth of a child, passports certifying the identity of the parents;
• application (written or addressed orally) to enter information about the father.

Registration is free, and based on its results, parents are issued a birth certificate.

How to return to the homeland with a child born in the Netherlands?

In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the Netherlands, they must have with them:

• a document certifying his identity;
• a child's birth certificate issued by a consular institution.

Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the Netherlands?

A newborn Ukrainian in the Netherlands retains the status of a citizen of Ukraine. Data on citizenship and nationality in the act record of birth and certificate are not filled in, which is why a corresponding entry is made in the column "For marks".

In addition, a person whose parents or one of his parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of his birth is a citizen of Ukraine. The place of birth of the baby does not affect the possibility of him acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.

There are several steps involved in the process of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine:

1. Notify the authorities.

The first step of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine is to contact the local authorities in Netherlands (report to the municipality), so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy should also be able to help you in the process of registering the death abroad.

2. Arrange the correct documents.

You’ll need to have all the right paperwork before you can repatriate your loved one home from abroad to Ukraine. If you are repatriating a body to Ukraine for burial or cremation, the documents you will need include:

• Death Certificate.
• Certificate or Affidavit from the local health authorities stating that the cause of death of the individual to be shipped to Ukraine was not a communicable disease or infections.
• A Document about the absence of any excessive objects inside the casket or urn with the ashes.
• The Certificate of Cremation issued be the Funeral home or Cremation office.

All the mentioned documents should be authenticated, legalized and translated into Ukrainian by the certified translator. The originals of abovementioned documents and notarized translations, must accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The passport of the deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine along with a notarized and authenticated copy of the Certificate of Death, and a translation from Dutch to Ukrainian. The Embassy is to make correspondent procedures with the passport and can forward it back if it is required to accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The Embassy is to be informed of the date, time, and the place of delivery of the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. Only the next of kin relatives of the deceased, or persons correspondingly authorized by them, can receive the casket or urn.

3. Transport the deceased to Ukraine.

The casket containing the body, or urn with ashes, must be sealed by the Funeral Home. There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ashes; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket, made of zinc-plated steel or tinplate not more than 0,4 thick.

For the air cargo transportation, it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will take care of the casket, or the urn with ashes, in Ukraine. Both are a subject of private choice by the relatives or friends of the deceased person. Source .