Note: This information is no longer current. Since September 17, 2022, there are no longer any corona rules for travelers to the Netherlands. You can travel to the Netherlands without a long-distance relationship statement, proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or negative test result. If you are subject to a visa requirement, you must of course first apply for a Schengen visa.
The United Kingdom (UK), England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be considered a third country from 1 January 2021 under the EU entry ban due to Covid-19. An entry ban will then apply to travelers from the UK.
The UK currently does not meet the criteria regarding the health situation in the country and the measures in force there. That is why the UK is no longer on the list of safe countries for which the EU entry ban does not apply. This means that there are no exemptions from travel restrictions for the UK EU/Schengen be granted.
In this context, as with Serbia, Montenegro, Algeria, Morocco, Georgia, Tunisia, Canada and Uruguay, the number of new infections was examined, among other things. That number must be lower than the European average of 15 June last per 100.000 inhabitants over a period of 14 days. It also looks at the overall response to COVID-19 in the country in question.
Safe countries
The lifting of the travel restriction, which took effect on July 1 and October 27, will remain in force for travelers who have permanent residence in the following safe countries: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand and Singapore.
For travelers from China, the travel ban will be lifted as soon as China itself also admits EU citizens. The same also applies to China's Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Entry ban for non-essential travel
For all non-essential travel by persons from other third countries (other than the EU+ area) to Europe, the current entry restriction remains in force with the aim of preventing the spread of the corona virus. This means that persons who do not have permanent residence in a country or area mentioned above on the safe list and who do not fall under the exceptions mentioned below, will not be allowed to enter the Netherlands.
Exception categories:
- EU citizens (including UK nationals) and their family members, including persons covered by the long-distance relationship scheme, in accordance with the applicable act
- Nationals of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Andorra and their family members;
- third-country nationals holding a residence card or residence permit in accordance with Directive 2003/109/EC (the Long-Term Residents Directive) and their family members;
- third-country nationals who derive their right of residence from other European directives or from the national law of a Member State and their family members;
- Holders of a long stay visa, including those with a Provisional Residence Permit (MVV).
- healthcare personnel;
- frontier workers;
- Persons working in the transport of goods and other transport personnel, insofar as necessary, this includes container ships, bulk carriers (for example ore or coal), tankers (fuels and chemicals), fisheries, persons working in the energy sector, i.e. oil and gas platforms and wind farms as well as offshore companies that provide services to this sector, and flight crew;
- Transit passengers who want to travel to another third country via the Netherlands or another Schengen country;
- Seafarers in possession of a seaman's book. The exceptions do not apply to seafarers on commercial yachts and pleasure craft;
- Diplomats if they travel in the course of their duties;
- Military personnel when they travel in the performance of their duties;
- Personnel of international organizations and humanitarian organizations;
- Persons who have compelling reasons to visit their family; this concerns travel in exceptional cases.
- Persons in need of international protection; the border procedure applies in full;
- Persons admitted for humanitarian reasons;
- Students in possession of a letter of notification from the Immigration and Naturalization Service;
- Highly skilled migrants in possession of a notification letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service or a Dutch work permit;
- Business travelers who make a trip that, in accordance with the applicable framework of action, demonstrably contributes to the Dutch economy and society, in accordance with the applicable framework of action;
- Top athletes in accordance with the applicable framework of action;
- Highly qualified professionals from the cultural and creative sector, in accordance with the applicable framework of action;
- Journalists, in accordance with the applicable framework of action;
- Researchers, in accordance with the applicable framework of action.
More information about the exception categories for the Netherlands can be found at this page.
Source: Rijksoverheid.nl
