Working sooner: Netherlands lets some asylum seekers take jobs after three months
A new rule lets asylum seekers with a strong chance of protection enter the labour market after three months — and the old 24-week annual work cap is gone.
Marylyn Marthins
Chief Editor
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From 12 June 2026, asylum seekers in the Netherlands who are judged to have a good chance of being granted protection can start working after just three months in the procedure — half the previous six-month wait.
The change arrives alongside another significant shift: the long-criticised rule that capped asylum seekers at 24 weeks of work in any 52-week period has been abolished, after courts found it clashed with the EU Reception Directive's goal of effective labour-market access.
In practice, applicants can now work for as long as their asylum case is pending and they hold lawful residence, rather than being limited to a few months a year.
Employers must still apply to the UWV for a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) tied to the specific job, and the permit lapses once a decision is reached or all remedies are exhausted.
Supporters say earlier, continuous access to work supports integration, dignity and self-reliance. DCTV will follow how employers and newcomers navigate the new rules.
