Section 34. Collective protection in a mass flight situation
If there is a mass flight situation, the King in Council may decide that collective protection may be granted under this section. The King in Council also decides when the power to grant collective protection shall cease.A foreign national who is caught up in a mass flight situation as mentioned in the first paragraph, and who arrives in the realm or is in the realm when this section becomes applicable, may upon application be granted a temporary residence permit on the basis of a group assessment (collective protection). The permit does not provide a basis for a permanent residence permit. The permit applies for one year, and may be renewed or extended for a period not exceeding three years from the date on which the foreign national first received a residence permit. Thereafter, a temporary permit may be granted that may provide a basis for a permanent residence permit. After three years with such a permit, a permanent residence permit shall be granted provided that the conditions for holding the permit are still present and all other conditions are satisfied; see section 62.An application for protection under section 28 from a foreign national as mentioned in the second paragraph may be suspended for a period not exceeding three years from the date on which the foreign national received a permit for the first time. When the power to grant collective protection has ceased, or a period of three years has elapsed since the foreign national received a permit for the first time, the foreign national shall be informed that the application will only be processed if the foreign national expressly states, before a prescribed time limit, that he or she wishes this.Administrative decisions under the second and third paragraphs shall be made by the Directorate of Immigration. The Directorate may give the police authority to grant residence permits and to suspend applications as mentioned.The King may issue regulations containing further provisions.
