During approx. 2.5 decades of constant conflict in Afghanistan millions Afghans have fled the country. The largest part of this Diaspora are in the neighboring countries Pakistan and Iran. In spite of large scale return to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban there are still approx. 3 millions Afghans in these countries. In the Netherlands there are approx 30,000 Afghans resident. The Netherlands supports the activities of the UNHCR and the international Organization for Migration (IOM) that facilitates the return of the refugees and their reintegration.

The minister for Development Cooperation, Agnes van Ardenne has signed a Tripartite Memorandum or Understanding with the Afghan government and UNHCR concerning the return of illegal asylum seekers in the Netherlands whom are litigate out of the Netherlands. The agreement regulates the voluntary return of Afghans to their country and forms also the basis for not-voluntary return. Afghans who want to return will get beside the usual support also at return (a plain ticket and a support contribution of maximum 670 euro per family) a claim reintegration premium.  Those can run up to $2,000 per family. The reintegration premiums are paid funds for development cooperation. The majority of the Afghans without residence permit return voluntarily.

Asylum applications are treated in The Hague by the immigration and naturalization service (IND) of the Ministry of Justice. For more questions can turn you to the general IND  e-mail adres.  The embassy can handle no questions of third parties