Refugee passport

How does it work?

A refugee passport is valid for a maximum of 5 years. The exact period of validity depends on your residence status.

You can apply for a refugee passport if you:

• has refugee status
• do not have a valid passport from your country of origin
• You live in the Netherlands, but you do not have Dutch nationality.
• has a residence permit
• is registered with the municipality where you are applying for the passport

For all conditions and further information, please visit the website of the National Office for Identity Data at .

Children with their own refugee passport

Children with refugee status need their own refugee passport. To apply for one, written permission from the parents or guardian is required.

What should I do?

• You must apply for a refugee passport in person at the municipality.
• If you are applying for a refugee passport for your child, you must bring your child with you.
• Make sure your fingers are clean, because fingerprints will be taken. Children under the age of 12 do not need to have their fingerprints taken.
• You must collect your refugee passport in person. Do this within 3 months of your application, because after that the passport will expire.
• If you are collecting a refugee passport for your child, please bring your child with you.

Lost or stolen refugee passport

• You do not need to report this to the police.
• You can apply for a new refugee passport directly at the municipality.
• When submitting this application, you will be required to sign a Declaration of Loss.
• If you lose your refugee passport abroad, report it to the local police.

What do I need?

• Your valid residence permit
• A good-quality passport photo that is no older than 6 months at the time of application. This passport photo meets the passport photo requirements.
• Your old refugee passport (if you have one)
• Debit card or cash. You pay immediately upon application.

If you are applying for a refugee passport for your child, please also bring the following:

• Written consent from both parents or a guardian. Please use the form provided by the municipality for this purpose.
• Valid identification documents for both parents or a guardian

How long will it take?

You can often collect your refugee passport after just 6 working days.

Additional information

If you are unable to provide a fingerprint

If the counter clerk is unable to take fingerprints from one or more of your fingers, for example because they are bandaged, he or she will take fingerprints from fingers where this is possible.

If you are temporarily unable to provide any fingerprints at all, you will be issued with a refugee passport that is valid for a maximum of 12 months.

If it is physically impossible to provide fingerprints, you do not have to do so. For example, if you are missing fingers or if your fingers are permanently damaged.