Easier asylum in the Netherlands if you were required to do compulsory service in Eritrea

If you fled from Eritrea because of compulsory civilian service, you can now more easily get asylum in the Netherlands. Previously, you could get asylum in the Netherlands based on military civilian service. The Dutch government has now decided that the same will apply to compulsory civilian service. This is the compulsory service in Eritrea that you did in, for example, education or healthcare.

Can you explain that you fled because of the negative consequences that compulsory service had for you? Then you will more easily qualify for a residence permit asylum b.

The Dutch government decided to adjust its asylum policy due to an official report on Eritrea published in December. That report provides information about the situation in Eritrea. This report shows that not only military conscripts but also civilian conscripts are at risk of abuse, sexual- and gender-based violence, forced labour and other types of abuse in Eritrea.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) does assess your personal situation and whether you are at risk in Eritrea. For example, the IND examines what political and social group you belong to, what your age is and what job you had to do.

People from Eritrea who actually support the Eritrean government are less easily granted asylum. Last February, there were arguments in the Netherlands between supporters and opponents of the regime in Eritrea. According to the report on the situation in Eritrea, supporters of the regime do not face the same risks when returning to Eritra as other Eritreans. Does it turn out during the asylum procedure that you are a supporter of the Eritrean government? If so, the IND will take this into account when deciding whether or not to grant you an asylum residence permit.