Some 2,500 people who came to the Netherlands in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine have no right to live in the Netherlands anymore from Monday.

The group, who were mainly working or studying in Ukraine and had temporary residents’ permits, have been told they have to return to their country of origin or request asylum here. 

Most of those who have been told to leave the Netherlands come from Nigeria, followed by Morocco, Algeria, Turkmenistan and India, NOS said earlier.

Several had taken the Dutch state to court, arguing that it was wrong to first give them rights and then take them away. The Council of State in January agreed that the right to protection in the Netherlands should end on March 4 and gave them 28 days to leave from that date.

Some 700 third country nationals from Ukraine have now applied for asylum in the Netherlands while 120 have applied for a residency permit because they are working or studying here. 

As yet it is unclear what the rest are doing, but on Saturday, broadcaster NOS reported that a small group are heading back to court. 

Pakistan national Hamid Islam (25) told the broadcaster he hopes to be allowed to stay. “Now my residency rights have ended I can no longer work, and I have a lot of thinking to do,” he said. 

Islam was working on a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering in Ukraine but cannot study here because the fees are now €24,500 per year for non-EU students. Until Monday, Islam worked at an Amsterdam branch of McDonalds.  

The EU has extended the protection for Ukrainians and permanent residents until March 4, 2025.