Coronavirus and Schengen visa

In countries where there is no longer an entry ban, the Netherlands will again issue Schengen visas if possible. This depends on the local situation in that country. Read more information about Schengen visas in the Q&A on Nederlandenu.nl (opens in a new window). Is the information you are looking for not there? Please contact the contact center of Foreign Affairs. Click here for contact details (opens in new window).

Read more information about visas in the Q&A on Nederlandenu.nl (opens in a new window). Is the information you are looking for not there? Please contact the contact center of Foreign Affairs. Click here for contact details (opens in new window).

You can apply for an extension of your short-stay Schengen visa if you cannot return to your country of origin. The following situation must apply to you:
– your visa is no longer valid or expires within 1 month; and
The airline has canceled your flight. Or you hadn't booked a flight yet. You cannot book a (new) flight; and
– you still meet the conditions for short stay visa.

Do you want to apply for a visa extension? Then call the IND information line. Click here for the telephone number. Have your visa number and passport at hand.
Will the IND extend your visa? Then you will temporarily not receive a visa sticker in your passport. You will receive a confirmation by letter. This visa extension is only valid within the Netherlands. Not in the other Schengen countries. An application for extension of the visa is free.

The total stay with a visa may never exceed a maximum of 180 days. It is not possible to extend it for longer than 180 days. Did you have to extend a visa due to the corona virus, which is only valid within the Netherlands? This extension does not count towards the calculation of the maximum stay of 180 days. Does your total stay exceed 180 days? The government expects you to try to return when your right of residence expires. Do you need help to return? Then please contact the representation of your country in the Netherlands (opens in new window).

You cannot request an extension of a free period, the period of 90 days within 180 days that you are allowed to be in the Netherlands (and the Schengen area). Is your free period ending and you cannot leave? You do not have to report this to the IND. The Dutch government understands that it may be more difficult to return during this period. The government therefore checks less strictly on people who stay longer than allowed. But the government does expect you to try to return when your right of residence expires. Do you need help to return? Then please contact the representation of your country in the Netherlands (opens in new window).

Since Thursday, March 19, 2020, an entry ban has been in effect for many people from countries outside Europe. Europe means: EU countries, Schengen countries and the United Kingdom. The travel restriction does not apply to everyone. Since July 1, 2020, there is no longer an entry ban for a number of countries. This concerns residents of the following countries:
Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and China*.
* For China, the condition of reciprocity explicitly applies: the EU will only open to China if China opens to EU citizens.
Are you a resident of a country to which the entry ban does not apply? Or is your trip necessary? Then you can travel to the Netherlands. More information about the entry ban and exceptions can be found here Rijksoverheid.nl en netherlandsandyou.nl (opens in new window).

You can apply for a visa extension at the IND. Then call the IND information line. Click here for the telephone number.