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Status Holders

A status holder is someone who has applied for asylum and has been granted a residence permit by the IND because he or she needs protection, for example, due to war, persecution, or danger in their country of origin. A status holder is therefore a recognized refugee or someone with another form of international protection.

Refugeehelp

Are you a status holder? You’ll find all the information you need on the Refugeehelp website. On this website, you’ll find information about residence permits, housing, work, health, financial matters, integration, education, family reunification, and much more.

Housing

The municipality has a legal obligation to provide housing for status holders. Every six months, the national government determines how many status holders each municipality must house. This is referred to as the quota. A status holder does not choose where to live; the COA assigns status holders to a municipality, which is then responsible for arranging suitable housing. The municipality of Moerdijk works together with the housing authority and Vluchtelingenwerk Moerdijk to achieve this. Due to the tight housing market, even status holders in Moerdijk often have to wait a long time for housing. If you are a status holder assigned to Moerdijk and have questions about housing in Moerdijk, please email asielopvang@moerdijk.nl

Integration

Integration is mandatory for status holders. During the integration program, you will learn about the Netherlands. You will learn to speak, write, listen to, and read Dutch. You will also learn how to find a job or enroll in a training program, as well as how we interact with one another in the Netherlands. You will receive a letter from DUO (Education Executive Agency) if you are required to participate in the integration program.

If you are required to complete the integration program, you must pass all parts of the exam within three years of your arrival in the Netherlands.

Are you unable to complete the integration program, and do you have a valid reason for this? Or do you already speak and write Dutch? If so, different rules apply to you. You can read more about this on thewebsite of the Education Implementation Service.

How you integrate into society depends on when you received your residence permit

Residence Permit Effective January 1, 2022

The new Integration Act took effect on January 1, 2022. The municipality offers you a program to help you integrate. Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant is implementing this program on our behalf. A coordinator from Werkplein will contact you. You can read more about this on the Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

Residence Permit Between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022

Did you receive your residence permit between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2022? And are you required to complete the integration program? If so, you will receive a letter from the Education Executive Agency (DUO). This letter will state how much time you have to pass the integration exam: 3 years from the date you received your residence permit. This is your “integration period.”

  • You are personally responsible for your integration.
  • You must find an integration course on your own.
  • You must pass the integration exam within the 3-year integration period. If you do not cooperate, you may be fined by DUO. Failure to cooperate may affect your residence permit.

You can find more information onthe Inburgeren website.

Is your DUO loan almost used up?

Have you almost used up your DUO loan? Or do you need to pass your integration exam within a year and have you already used €7,500 of your loan? If so, you will receive a letter from DUO. You can then ask your integration school tocontact the municipality to discuss whether the municipality can help ensure that you complete the classes you need within the integration period. We can also explore how you can complete the KNM, ONA, and your exams as quickly as possible. We refer to this as ELIP assistance. ELIP stands for “End of Integration Loan Obligation.”

Voluntary Integration

Even if you are not required to participate in the integration program, you may still choose to do so. This is called voluntary integration. It means that it is not mandatory, but that you choose to do it yourself—for example, to apply for naturalization or a more permanent residence permit. You can read more about this on theIND website.

You must pay for voluntary integration on your own.

If you would like to participate in the integration program on a voluntary basis, please contact Werkplein Hart van West-Brabant. A coordinator from Werkplein will then contact you. It is important that you clearly indicate that you are interested in the voluntary integration program. You can visit theWerkplein Hart van West-Brabant website.

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