Ukrainian refugee: registration at KVK

  • Jeanine Hoekstra
  • How to
  • 12 April 2022
  • Edited 12 February 2026
  • 1 min
  • Starting, Managing and growing

Are you a Ukrainian refugee who is now living in the Netherlands? If so, you can work in paid employment. It may also be possible to work as an entrepreneur but the conditions are very strict. Learn more about what you need to register at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK and to have your own business.

What do you need to arrange when starting a business?

Answer the questions on Business.gov.nl and see the steps that are important in your situation.

Create your to-do list

Paid employment is the easiest option

The easiest way for Ukrainian refugees to work in the Netherlands is in paid employment. Currently, employers do not have to apply for a work permit for Ukrainians who fall under the Temporary Protection Directive.

Are you an entrepreneur in the Netherlands and you want to hire someone from Ukraine? Find out what you need to do.

Starting a business in the Netherlands as a refugee

There are strict rules for starting a business in the Netherlands as a refugee. This is to prevent situations where refugees are exploited. For example, clients or customers of refugees must apply for a work permit (TWV) from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).

Conditions for the work permit

The conditions to get a work permit as an entrepreneur are strict. For example, your potential clients have to prove that they have not been able to find another suitable candidate for doing the work inside the European Economic Area. 

You, as a Ukrainian refugee, do not have to show a work permit when registering with KVK. But your clients do need a work permit to hire you for each assignment. Otherwise, your client may be fined by the Dutch Labour Authority.

Registration at KVK

If you meet the conditions to have a business in the Netherlands, you can register with KVK. These are the steps:

  1. Register with the municipality
    Municipalities register Ukrainian refugees in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen, BRP) at the address where they live. This may also be a temporary address, or the address of a host family.
  2. Apply for DigiD
    After registering in the BRP, you receive a Citizen Service Number (BSN). You can use this to apply for a DigiD. This is a digital way to prove your identity.
  3. Prepare the registration and make an appointment at KVK
    As soon as you have a DigiD, you can prepare your KVK registration Then make an appointment at one of the KVK offices. KVK will use the address where you are registered with the municipality. If you are living with a host family, you do not need their permission to use their address when starting a business. But it may still be useful to discuss this, because the address where your business is registered will become public. 
  4. Complete the registration at KVK
    Visit the KVK office to finalise your registration. Here, a KVK employee finalises the registration in the Business Register.

Were you already an entrepreneur in Ukraine?

Were you an entrepreneur in Ukraine before fleeing to the Netherlands? If this company has a legal personality, then you can also register this company with KVK. You need to have the original company documents.

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