• You must have a valid passport or another valid identity document.
• You must have a letter from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (‘Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND’) stating how long you can stay in the Netherlands. 
• You must have a sticker or ‘Type O immigration status document’ (‘O-document’) issued by the IND.
• You must take out health insurance in the Netherlands, even if you are already covered in your own country.
• You must register yourself with the local council (‘de gemeente’), and obtain a citizen service number (‘BSN’).

Whether you are planning to stay in the Netherlands for a long time or just a short period, the first thing you need to do is to register yourself at the local council so that you are included in the Personal Records Database (‘Basisregistratie Personen, BRP’).

• If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you must register yourself as a resident with the local council within 5 days of your arrival.
• If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for less than 4 months, find out how you can register yourself as a non-resident.

A citizen service number is a unique number assigned to everyone who is registered in the Personal Records Database. This number is essential if you want to work, open a bank account, take out health insurance or apply for a benefit in the Netherlands.

You will need to apply for a DigiD account so that you can identify yourself online when accessing government services and websites. You will need a citizen service number to open a DigiD account.

The EU Talent Pool pilot is open to all jobseekers that fall under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. After you register on the site and upload your CV, it will be visible to public employment services and registered employers in all participating EURES countries. You will also be able to browse job vacancies published on the EURES portal.

Once you arrive in the Netherlands, the local council will help you find work. In order to get this help, you need to register yourself as a jobseeker in person at a local UWV office. There, you will be provided with an English, Ukrainian or Russian registration form.

Enter your postcode on the website to find your nearest UWV office and see its opening hours (in Dutch). Please remember to bring your passport or a valid ID and your citizen service number with you.

Once you have registered, you will receive a certificate of registration (‘bewijs van inschrijving’). This certificate must be renewed every 3 months. You will receive a letter explaining how to do this.

The Netherlands has strict laws to protect workers' rights and ensure fair treatment in the workplace. Collective agreements (‘CAO’) are negotiated between employers and trade unions, and provide for additional rights beyond the statutory minimum wage (‘wettelijk minimumloon’).

There are different types of employment contracts, each with specific legal requirements and implications for both the employer and employee:

• fixed-term contract (‘tijdelijke arbeidsovereenkomst’)
• permanent contract (‘vaste arbeidsovereenkomst’)
• employment agency contract (‘uitzendovereenkomst’)

Foreign workers are often employed on a temporary basis, especially in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture and hospitality. These jobs are usually arranged through an employment agency (‘uitzendbureau’). When you work for an agency, there is a division of responsibility:

• The agency is your official employer and is responsible for paying your wages.
• The company you work for supervises and instructs you on your tasks.

Your rights while working for an employment agency

As an employment agency worker, you are entitled to the same treatment and pay as someone who is employed in a similar job in the same company. Your wage must be at least the statutory minimum wage, or the wage specified in the collective agreement for employment agency workers. Keep in mind, the longer you work the more rights you will gain.

For more information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, visit the SNCU Foundation website. This foundation provides information on the collective agreement for employment agency workers and ensures that employment agencies comply with the rules.

UWV provides benefits to people who have become unemployed, are ill or have a disability, and are unable to work. As a Ukrainian national working in the Netherlands, you might be entitled to one of these benefits. We also help people find work, and support individuals in their return-to-work process.