Short answer: no. If you live in the Netherlands with temporary protection, you have no integration obligation. Those who stay here temporarily do not have to integrate. You may of course learn Dutch, and many municipalities help with that.
Why you do not have to integrate
The integration obligation is attached to your type of residence permit. Temporary protection under the European Temporary Protection Directive is not such a permit. It does give you rights: residence, work, education and healthcare. But there is no civic integration exam attached, and therefore no deadline and no fine. If you want to know who the obligation does apply to, read exemption and dispensation from the integration obligation.
How long does temporary protection last?
The European Union has extended the directive up to and including 4 March 2028. If you already had temporary protection in the EU before 5 August 2026, it continues automatically: you do not have to do anything for that. For new applications an extra condition has applied since 5 August 2026, related to Ukrainian military service. If you are only applying for protection now, first check ind.nl for what applies to you.
When does this change?
- You apply for asylum and receive an asylum permit. Then you usually do get an integration obligation.
- You receive a residence permit for another purpose, for example for work, study or your partner.
- The directive ends and another form of residence takes its place.
In all those cases DUO will notify you if you have to integrate. If that happens, read which law then applies to you. Do not assume anything based on what you hear from others: the rules differ per residence permit.
Why learning Dutch already pays off
- Work: with Dutch you get access to far more jobs than with English alone, and often to better work than you do now.
- School: you can talk with your children's teacher.
- Healthcare and authorities: at the doctor and the municipality it makes a huge difference.
- Later: if you ever do get an integration obligation, you will not start from zero but with a head start of years.
Where can you learn Dutch?
Ask your municipality about language lessons for displaced persons: many municipalities organise them, often together with volunteers. Libraries also have a Taalhuis or language café where you can practise for free with a language buddy. And you can start online yourself, whenever it suits you. If you want to progress quickly, read how to learn Dutch fastest and start with de or het, because articles do not exist in Ukrainian.
This article was checked on 19 August 2026. Policy on displaced persons from Ukraine changes regularly: always check your own situation on rijksoverheid.nl or ind.nl.
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