A Schengen entry ban
If the validity of your Schengen visa has ended, you must return to the country of your origin or residence. If you don't, then there is an 'overstay' and you are illegal in it Schengen area. That can have serious consequences. For example, an entry ban for the Schengen area can be imposed. You can then no longer legally travel to the Netherlands, for example.
After the expiry of your visa, you must leave the Netherlands and the Schengen area. If you don't, you can get an entry ban for Europe. This does not apply to EU/EEA nationals and their family members.
With an entry ban you are not (any longer) allowed to travel to the Netherlands, other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. You are also not allowed to be in these countries. You will receive an entry ban from the IND, the Aliens Police (AVIM), the Seaport Police or the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (customs).
When do you get an entry ban?
You can get an entry ban in the following situations:
- Your visa is no longer valid. You did not leave the Netherlands in time.
- You do not require a visa and are staying during your free period, but your stay was longer than 90 days in a period of 180 days in the Schengen area (including the Netherlands).
- Your visa has been revoked.
- You have never had a valid visa.
Are you in the Netherlands with a short stay visa or in your free period? Are you unable to leave the Netherlands in time due to a force majeure situation? Then contact the IND. You can sometimes get an extension of your visa or free term.
How is an entry ban imposed?
The entry ban is imposed in a decision. This states how long this applies. It also states for which countries the entry ban applies. In the event of an entry ban, your personal data will be registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) with the remark 'deny entry'. The (duration of) the entry ban starts when you have actually left the Netherlands and the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland. If you do not comply with the entry ban, you are punishable.
What are the consequences of an entry ban?
Do you have an entry ban? Then you are not allowed to enter or stay in the Netherlands, the EU/EEA countries and Switzerland for a certain period of time. For example:
- 1 year: with an overstay of more than 3 days up to 90 days.
- 2 years: standard duration (for example, with an overstay of more than 90 days).
- 3 years: with a prison sentence of less than 6 months.
- 5 years: in the case of a prison sentence of 6 months or longer, when using false or forged documents or documents that do not relate to you. If you enter the Netherlands or are in the Netherlands during the duration of an entry ban.
- 10 years: for reasons related to public order.
- 20 years: for reasons related to public order and national security.
