legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

Access to the adult education system
All refugees have access to further education on the same basis as Dutch citizens, except for
those granted residence permits for humanitarian reasons whose opportunities to receive state
support are restricted during their first year of residence in the Netherlands.
In principle, the local authorities may also grant educational aid, but they rarely do so in the case
of refugees or persons holding humanitarian status.
Although state education allowances are restricted to persons under the age of 28, Convention
refugees and persons granted humanitarian status may receive financial support until they are
30, through a fund set up specifically for this purpose. However, following a change in the system
of state education allowances, from the school year 2000/2001, it will be possible to receive these
allowances until the age of 30.
Access to the national health service
All groups have access to the national health service on the same terms as Dutch nationals.
Those on lower or middle-income benefits are covered by a national health insurance scheme.
Dutch citizenship
Under the current legislation, Convention refugees and persons granted humanitarian status may
apply for Dutch citizenship after living in the Netherlands for five years. The granting of citizenship
will depend, amongst other things, on their knowledge of Dutch language and society and on
whether they have a criminal record.
Repatriation
Refugees wishing to repatriate may benefit from a basic repatriation programme, under which
travel costs as well as some resettlement costs are paid. In addition, there is a specific
repatriation programme for refugees over 45 years, according to which a regular allowance, the
amount of which varies according to the living costs in the countries of origin, can be granted
under certain conditions. Assistance may also include health insurance.
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The Netherlands