The Netherlands is reimposing entry bans for Canada, Georgia and Tunisia and the entry ban for Singapore will be lifted
Note: This information is no longer current.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.
From 27 October 2020, the Netherlands will reinstate the entry ban for travelers with permanent residence in Georgia, Tunisia and Canada. This decision was taken on the basis of a risk assessment with criteria that are as objective as possible about the health situation in those countries and the measures in force there.
In this context, as with Serbia, Montenegro, Algeria and Morocco, 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. This includes, among other things, the number of corona tests performed, source and contact tracing and control measures. Health organizations such as ECDC, WHO and RIVM provide the necessary information for this.
Singapore entry ban lifted
The entry ban to the Netherlands for travelers with permanent residence in Singapore will be lifted on 27 October 2020.
Safe countries (green)
The lifting of the travel restriction, effective July 1, will remain in force for travelers who have permanent residence in the following countries: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay. This list of safe countries is now being extended with 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.
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 framework of action;
- 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 persons 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. An exceptional case is visiting a terminally ill relative and attending a funeral. It is intended for the first-degree and second-degree relatives. Partner and children are first-degree and grandchildren are second-degree.
- 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, in accordance with the applicable framework of action.
- Business travelers who make a trip that, in accordance with the applicable framework of action, demonstrably contributes to the Dutch economy and society
- 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
