Certain groups of travelers must show a negative test result from December 15, 2020, 18.00 p.m. when they enter the Netherlands. It concerns travelers from a country outside the EU/Schengen which is not on the list of safe countries of the European Union and which are also exempt from the EU entry ban. They must be able to show a negative COVID-19 test result and a statement signed by the traveler when traveling to the Netherlands by air or ship.
This is one of the Dutch measures to prevent the import and spread of the corona virus. The negative test does not yet apply to Dutch citizens and EU residents and their family members who travel (back) from outside the EU/Schengen.
EU entry ban still applies
The negative test result and signed statement is not a relaxation of the EU entry ban. That still only applies travelers who are exempt from the EU entry ban may enter the Netherlands, either because the country of departure is on the list of safe countries of the EU, or because someone falls under an exception category and is allowed to travel to the Netherlands despite the EU entry ban. This negative test result and statement are therefore supplementary to this.
Show test result and statement
From December 15, 2020, travelers from a country that is not on the list of safe countries of the European Union and that are exempt from the EU entry ban for the Netherlands must show the following paper documents:
- an official negative COVID-19 test result;
- completed and signed Negative Test Declaration
They show these documents to the airline or shipping company and to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
Mandatory data on test result and statement
The negative test result must be in English, German, French, Spanish or Dutch. Both documents are checked on 5 points:
- Type of test: This must be a molecular PCR test and a test for Sars-Cov-2/COVID-19. Any other type of test, including a rapid test, is not valid;
- Test result: must be negative (or not detected);
- First and last name: according to the passport;
- Date and time of taking the test: The test is no more than 72 hours old upon arrival in the Netherlands;
- Details of the institute or laboratory that administered the test.
Bring a negative test result and printed statement
Both the negative test result and the statement must be printed. Showing a digital version on a phone or tablet is therefore not sufficient.
Travelers from high-risk areas pose a risk of spreading and importing the coronavirus. To limit this risk, they must have a negative test result and statement.
The time between the moment of taking the test and arrival in the Netherlands may be a maximum of 72 hours. The test result must be known before someone leaves for the Netherlands.
Travelers who have a negative COVID-19test result and need statement
Travelers must present a negative COVID-15 test result and statement from December 2020, 18.00, 19:XNUMX PM, if they:
- come from a country that is not on the list of safe countries of the European Union;
- come from outside the EU/Schengen;
- come by plane or ship;
- be 13 years or older;
- do not fall under any exception category listed at the bottom of this page.
The negative test statement is for travelers from high-risk areas outside the EU/Schengen area. Travelers from countries that are 'safe' according to the EU therefore do not have to show a negative test statement.
Safe countries
If you live in a safe country, you can travel to the Netherlands. It does not matter what nationality you have or what the purpose of your trip is. At the moment the safe countries are:
- Australië
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- Singapore (from October 27, 2020)
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Uruguay
- China (if China also allows European travelers again)
Exceptions to obligation negative test result and statement
The following people do not need a negative test result and explanation:
- Dutch citizens (including Dutch citizens from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom) and EU/Schengen citizens and their family members;
- frontier workers;
- Transit passengers who want to travel to another country via the Netherlands and continue their journey directly by plane;
- Persons with a residence permit from the Netherlands or another EU/Schengen member state;
- Holders of a diplomatic identity card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- holders of diplomatic passports;
- Nationals of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Andorra and their family members;
- Holders of a long-stay visa, including persons with a provisional residence permit (MVV);
- Persons working in the transport of goods and other transport personnel as necessary. This includes persons working on container ships, bulk carriers (e.g. ore or coal), tankers (fuels and chemicals), fisheries. And also persons working in the energy sector, so oil and gas platforms and wind farms, offshore companies that provide services to this sector, and air, cruise and ferry crew when they travel in the performance of their duties;
- Seafarers in possession of a seaman's book if they travel in the performance of their duties or if they travel to or from their activities in the Netherlands. The exceptions do not apply to seafarers on commercial yachts and pleasure craft;
- Heads of State and members of a foreign government;
- Students in possession of a letter of notification from the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as long as they stay here for a long time;
- Highly skilled migrants in possession of a notification letter from the Immigration and Naturalization Service or a Dutch work permit.
- Passengers participating in the travel corridor between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Situations in which no test result and explanation is required
- The negative test result and explanation does not yet apply to travelers by car, bus or train.
- Dutch citizens (including the Caribbean part of the Kingdom) and other EU and Schengen citizens do not have to show a negative COVID-19 test result and statement for the time being. This requires a change in the law. This is not expected to be implemented until spring 2021.
- Family members of EU citizens are not required to show a negative COVID-19 test result and declaration. read more information about which family members are allowed to travel. Persons who are exempt from the EU entry ban due to a long-term long-distance relationship must show a negative test result.
- Travelers who arrive at the airport in the Netherlands and continue their journey by air immediately do not need a negative test statement. They do not leave the airport. If they continue their journey by train, for example, they must show a negative test statement. Because then they leave the airport.
- Is a traveler entering the EU/Schengen in a country other than the Netherlands? Then he does not have to show a negative test result and statement upon entry to the Netherlands.
Negative test result and declaration and arrival in the Netherlands
Does a traveler have a delay through no fault of his own? Then the test may be no more than 96 hours old upon arrival in the Netherlands. The traveler therefore receives an extra 24 hours. It is up to the passenger to prove that the negative test result has expired due to delay through no fault of his own.
Travelers without a negative test statement will not be allowed to enter the Netherlands
When traveling by plane, does a traveler not show a negative test result and declaration before the plane departs? Then he is not allowed to travel to the Netherlands and the traveler is not allowed to board the plane. Upon arrival by plane in the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee also checks whether travelers have a negative test result and statement. Isn't that the case? Then they will not enter the Netherlands. They then leave with the same carrier to the country of departure.
When traveling by ship, the traveler will not be allowed to disembark in the Netherlands without a negative test result and declaration, this is also checked by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
No test on arrival in the Netherlands
Travelers must get tested before departure. Not upon arrival in the Netherlands. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to enter the Netherlands and will have to return to the country of departure.
Do not travel to the Netherlands if the test results are positive
Do travelers have a positive result of a corona test? Then they are not allowed to travel. So not to the Netherlands either. They must remain in isolation until the complaints are over. They follow the advice of the local health services. Only when they no longer have any complaints and test negative for corona are they allowed to travel to the Netherlands.
Negative test result and statement is not a health statement
Travelers also need one completed health declaration when they enter the Netherlands by plane. The health declaration does not apply to travelers entering the Netherlands by ship.
Source: Rijksoverheid.nl
