4.2.1 Dutch aliens law in respect of stateless persons: the “no-fault residence permit” 103. As stated before there is no specific procedure to establish statelessness. The basic premise of Dutch aliens’ policy is that all aliens who do not have the right to stay in the Netherlands can and should in principle return to their country of origin.146 The government has frequently stated that it has no knowledge of countries not complying with their obligation under international law to take back their own nationals.147 104. However, confronted with unreturnable aliens, the so-called “no-fault” procedure for obtaining a residence permit was introduced: an alien whose asylum application has been rejected, but also irregular, undocumented or unreturnable persons, can be granted a residence permit for a limited time (een verblijfsvergunning regulier voor bepaalde tijd) under Article 3.4(1)w in conjunction with Article 3.6(1a) of the Aliens Decree (Vreemdelingenbesluit) if the alien is unable to leave the Netherlands through no fault of his or her own. The residence permit is a so-called no-fault residence permit (buitenschuldvergunning),148 which is granted on condition that the alien leaves the Netherlands if this becomes possible at a later stage.149 After three years the holder of the no-fault residence permit becomes eligible for another residence permit for limited time, the so-called residence permit for limited time under the limitation “prolonged residence” (verblijfsvergunning regulier onder de beperking “voortgezet verblijf”, see Article 3.4(1)u of the Aliens Decree). The latter permit differs from the no-fault residence permit in that an employment permit150 is no longer required, thus making access to the labour market easier. 105. Under the current no-fault procedure151 the burden of proof lies exclusively with the applicant. The Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines explain that this approach is allowed under the 1954 Convention, because it contains no procedural provisions. The assessment of the evidence is not the exclusive privilege of a specifically designated judicial or administrative authority, but pertains to the normal tasks of the IND.152 106. As reception facilities are not provided during the no-fault procedure, most stateless foreigners who arrive in the Netherlands in an irregular manner try the asylum procedure first as this procedure provides reception facilities. Many such people are therefore pushed into starting an asylum procedure, even if they have no interest in doing so. 44 146 H.W. Groeneweg and J.H. van der Winden, eds., Commentaar Vreemdelingenwet 2000. Editie 2004-2005 (Den Haag: Sdu uitgevers, 2004), 300. 147 Tweede Kamer, 2009-2010, 19 637, nr. 1336, p. 3. See also J. Kleijne, Artikelsgewijs commentaar op de Vreemdelingenwet 2000 en het Vreemdelingenbesluit 2000 (Deventer: Kluwer, 2001), 250. 148  luchtelingenWerk Nederland, “Geen Pardon, geen Terugkeer. De stand van zaken rond de V uitvoering van het Project Terugkeer”, (2006), 29-33. 149  luchtelingenWerk Nederland, “Geen Pardon, geen Terugkeer. De stand van zaken rond de V uitvoering van het Project Terugkeer”, (2006), 29-33. 150 An employment permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) is compulsory for employers wishing to employ someone from outside the European Economic Area, which includes the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. 151 This procedure is laid down in paragraph B14/3 of the Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines. 152 See B11/17.2 of the Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines. Mapping statelessness