Business travelers from outside the EU can travel to the Netherlands from 21 September. There are entry restrictions to the Netherlands for persons from outside the EU due to Covid-19. An exception is made for the business community because business travelers can be important to the Dutch economy. However, there are strict conditions that a business trip must meet, according to a letter to parliament from Minister Grapperhaus.
The business traveler must be in possession of an invitation with a confirmed appointment with, or visit to, a registered company in the Netherlands or with the NFIA. The appointment involves urgency and it is necessary that the appointment takes place in physical form.
Conditions for a business appointment in the Netherlands
The appointment must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- The visit involves a potential direct foreign investment in the Netherlands of significant size:
a. at least 5 new jobs are created, or
b. at least € 500.000 is invested.
- The visit involves a potential foreign direct investment that contributes to:
a. strengthening the Dutch innovative capacity, or
b. the sustainability of the Dutch economy, or
c. the further digitization of the Dutch economy
- The visit is of great economic importance for a specific organization based in the Netherlands:
a. The organization to be visited in the Netherlands has at least 10 FTEs and/or 2 million annual turnover.
b. The importance of the visit becomes apparent, for example, when the visit is essential for the continuation of the day-to-day functionalities and/or the maintenance/creation of jobs or the maintenance and/or growth of the company's turnover.
To demonstrate this, the business traveler must submit a substantiated application to the Dutch embassy in his or her country. If the embassy approves the application, the traveler will receive a 'Nota Verbale' which must be shown at border control. In addition, the businessman or woman must be in possession of a return ticket, a confirmed hotel reservation and – if visa is required – a valid Schengen visa (including one medical travel insurance).
The traveler does not have to comply with the quarantine obligation for business appointments, but it is not the intention that he or she will also travel in the Netherlands for other reasons.
No restrictions for business travelers from these 10 countries
There are no entry restrictions for ten countries outside the EU. These countries are on the so-called 'green list' of safe countries due to the corona pandemic. Those are:
- Australië
- Canada
- Georgia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Uruguay.
There are no entry requirements for business travelers from these countries.
Source: Central government
