Note: This information is no longer current.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.
Read frequently asked questions and answers about the short-stay (Schengen) visa during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Can I apply for a Schengen visa now?
In countries outside the EU for which the entry ban has been lifted on 1 July 2020 (the so-called green list), the Netherlands will in principle - if the local situation permits the issuance of a Schengen visa - issue a visa again - even if the trip does not take place until place for 5 months. This expressly refers to residents of those countries for which entry is required Schengen area weather permitting, not on nationals. The following countries are currently on the green list:
- Algeria
- Australië
- Canada
- Georgia
- Japan
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- Serbia
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Uruguay
- China
If the travel ban for a third country on the green list is reintroduced after a Schengen visa has been issued, the validity of the issued visa will expire and the person in question will be denied entry at the border.
If I have a Schengen visa, can I definitely travel to the Netherlands?
A short-stay Schengen visa does not entitle you to entry to the Netherlands or the Schengen area, but is only one of the entry conditions. It is checked at the border whether the admission conditions, such as health, reasons for traveling in exceptional cases, etc., are met.
Can I also travel to other Schengen Member States with a Schengen visa?
During this period, each Member State can use the list of entry bans more restrictively and applicants must therefore inform themselves in advance whether transit via another Member State is possible. If a country currently still applies an entry ban for its residents or keeps its border closed, then access to Europe for these countries is purely theoretical as long as these bans are in place. For countries for which the entry ban has not yet been lifted, only (Schengen) visa applications for the exception categories of the entry ban will be accepted.
When can I apply for a visa again?
In countries for which the entry ban was lifted on 1 July 2020 (the green list), the Netherlands will in principle - and if the local situation permits - issue visas again. This will not immediately be the case as of July 1, as time is involved in restarting the visa processes. Keep an eye on the website of the Dutch embassy for up-to-date information and see what is possible in your country of residence.
I am not a resident of a green-listed country, but I have an essential profession. Can I apply for a Schengen visa?
This is possible in certain cases. If you can demonstrate that your profession falls under one of the exception categories of the travel restrictions for the Netherlands, and if the consular department in the country where you want to apply for a Schengen visa can process your (urgent) application, you can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate-general.
Whether a consular section is open depends on the situation in the country of application and can change from day to day. Embassies and consulates-general can only provide assistance in limited cases. Please contact the embassy or consulate if you think the above situation applies to you.
I have urgent reasons to visit my relatives in the Netherlands. When do I fall under the exceptions?
With regard to the category of persons who travel for necessary family circumstances from countries for which the entry ban still applies, this concerns travel in exceptional cases. An exceptional case is, for example, visiting a terminally ill relative or attending a funeral urgent visa be requested for.
A partner may attend the birth. This is an important reason for family visits. However, there must be a proven relationship through documentation, also on arrival at Schiphol.
I like to go to the birth of my (great) grandchild. Is that possible?
For the countries for which the entry ban still applies, attending the birth of a child as a grandparent or great-grandparent does not fall under the exceptions. Under the given circumstances, attending a delivery is only reserved for the partner.
I am a family member of a Dutch citizen with the nationality of a country that requires a visa and I would like to travel to the Netherlands. Can I apply for a visa?
In the countries for which the entry ban was lifted on 1 July 2020, this is possible if the local situation allows the issue of a Schengen visa. For the countries for which the entry ban still applies, this is possible in certain cases. If it is possible to submit an (urgent) application to the consular department, you must prove the family relationship with the Dutch national with documents. Only parents, children and partners are eligible for this. Whether an (urgent) application can be submitted depends on the situation in the country.
Will I get a refund of my already paid fees for a short-stay visa application?
The visa fee of already issued visas that have not been used due to COVID-19 cannot be refunded. You must submit a new application. This can be done when the visa services are resumed and the appointment system is open again.
I have not yet been able to leave for the Netherlands. Can the period of my already issued Schengen visa be extended?
The duration of issued visas of travelers who have not yet been able to travel to the Netherlands due to canceled flights cannot be extended. You must submit a new visa application. This is possible when the visa services are resumed and the appointment system is open again.
After an objection procedure, I have been entitled to a short-stay Schengen visa, but I have to travel within 90 days. Can I travel to the Netherlands now?
If you are a resident of a country (list of green countries) for which the entry ban has been lifted, you can. With regard to countries for which the entry ban has not yet been lifted, you can only obtain a Schengen visa and travel if you fall under an exception category of the entry ban or when the travel ban for your country is lifted. Please contact the IND for advice if the 90-day period is (almost) expiring as a result.
I am in the Netherlands, cannot leave the country and my Schengen visa is about to expire or has expired. What should I do?
Foreigners who are required to stay in the Netherlands with a short-stay visa and who cannot leave the country can request an extension from the IND by telephone. It is therefore not possible to extend a Schengen visa at an IND desk. A sticker in the passport is not necessary. The extension is only valid in the Netherlands and is registered in the VIS system. Does this apply to you? Then call the IND information line: 088 04 30430. Keep your visa number and passport to hand.
I am in the Netherlands without a visa (visa not required), but my free period has ended or will soon expire. Do I have to leave the Netherlands?
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? Please contact the representation of your country in the Netherlands.
I can still travel and my Schengen visa can still be issued. I come from a country that is considered safe by the EU. Do I run a risk that I will not be able to travel back due to circumstances?
Visa applications that are currently being processed and can be issued can be given a longer validity, so as not to cause problems for the traveler if measures unexpectedly prevent them from returning to the country of origin (e.g. validity period 90 days, 1 entry Schengen visa) . It is intended for 1st and 2nd degree relatives. This includes the partner and the children in the 1st degree and the grandchildren in the 2nd degree.
Source: Rijksoverheid.nl
