Depending on your nationality, you may be required to apply for a Netherlands transit visa if you will be stopping in a Dutch airport before further travel.
If you are not sure what a transit visa is or whether you need one when transiting in an Amsterdam airport, here are some of the most common questions answered.
Netherlands Airport Transit Visa
An airport transit visa for Netherlands allows the holder to change planes at a Dutch airport before travelling to a country outside the Schengen area. It is also called an A-visa.
A Dutch airport transit visa does not allow the holder to enter the Netherlands nor any other Schengen area country. This means you are not allowed to leave the airport – not even to travel to an airport in another city.
Note that if your connecting flight is to another Schengen area country, you don’t need a transit visa. Instead, you will need a regular short-stay Schengen visa for the Netherlands. This also applies if you need to transit through another airport within the Schengen Area, other than a Dutch one.
Who needs a Netherlands Airport Transit Visa?
The nationals from the following countries need a Netherlands airport transit visa if they have to pass through a Dutch airport:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Cuba
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
If your country is included on the list, you may still have an exemption.
Who Has an Exemption From a Netherlands Airport Transit Visa?
Exemptions for an airport transit visa (ATV) apply if:
1) You are a holder of a visa or residence permit for a country in the EU, the EEA, or the Schengen Area
2) You hold a visa for Japan, Canada, or the United States
3) You hold a diplomatic passport
4) You are a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen
5) You have a residence permit which gives you unlimited return for Canada, Japan, the US, Andorra, and San Marino
6) If you are part of an on-duty aircrew as well as a citizen of a member country of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
What are the Requirements for a Netherlands Airport Transit Visa?
When applying for an airport transit visa to Netherlands, you need to have the following documents:
- Standard required documents for a Dutch Schengen Visa.
- Proof of booked flight tickets.
- Proof of further travel. Valid visa, residence permit or passport for the next country after stopping in the Netherlands.
In some cases, you may also need to provide a court statement saying which of the parents has custody of the minor and/or a declaration from the minor’s school stating they consent to the minor’s absence.
How to Apply for a Netherlands Transit Visa?
In order to apply for a Dutch transit visa, you will have to gather the required documents and apply in person. The submission of application is done at the Dutch embassy/consulate in your country. If your country does not have a Dutch embassy/consulate, you will have to submit them to the embassy/consulate of the Schengen Area country to which they have outsourced visa submissions.
For applying you need to register at online portal for Consular Services at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and complete application form.
Travelling from EU Member States to the Netherlands
There are harmonized regulations regarding non-commercial transport of dogs and cats within the EU.
Dogs and cats from the other EU Member States, including Andorra, the Faeroes Island, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, the Vatican City State, and Switzerland may enter the Netherlands through any border crossing, as long as they comply with the following requirements:
1) ID, Pet Passport and rabies vaccination
2) The animal must first have an ID. This must be a microchip (or a readable tattoo applied before July 2011).
3) The animal must have an EU Pet passport. The passport must be issued by a veterinarian
4) All animals older than 3 months must have been vaccinated against rabies which is certified by a veterinarian in the passport.
5) It is important that the date of identification is prior to or the same as the first rabies vaccination, which is entered into the EU Pet passport.
6) Valid rabies vaccination:
a)The primary rabies vaccination must be given at an age of at least 12 weeks and at least 21 days prior to departure. Therefore importing animals younger than 15 weeks is not possible in the Netherlands. If the animal already has a rabies vaccination, which is still valid, it is not necessary to revaccinate.
b) If the animal is revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer of the vaccine, departure may take place immediately.
c) If your animal was vaccinated in another EU Member State than the one you are departing from, make sure to ask the veterinarian about the recommendations of the rabies vaccination which is used.
Travelling from third countries to the Netherlands
It's important to check whether you are coming from a low risk or a high risk country regarding rabies, because the import requirements are different.
You can find more information about non commercial movement of pets from third countries on the website of the European Commission.
Low risk countries rabies
- ID, a microchip applied before the rabies vaccination.
- Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies 21 days prior to entry in the EU. If the previous vaccination is still valid, there is no need to wait 21 days.
- In case of non-commercial movement
Veterinary certificate issued by an official veterinarian of the authority, or by an authorized veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority from the country the animal is travelling from. Or an EU Animal Passport according to Regulation (EU) nr. 577/2013 when the animal originates from the EU. The owners declaration is also required. Pets can enter through the following travellers' points of entry.
- In case of commercial transport (transfer of ownership): The dog or cat must be checked at one of these border control posts. For this you need a pet shipper to make the pre-announcement and the appointment at the border control post.
What are the conditions for a non-commercial movement?
1) The animals must travel because the owner is traveling and not the other way around.
2) The owner must make the same journey within 5 days.
3) The movement of the animal is not intended to sell it or to transfer ownership to another owner.
4) The owner may not travel with more than 5 animals.
Note: Dogs, cats and ferrets under the age of 3 months from these low risk rabies countries can not enter the Netherlands. Young dogs, cats and ferrets are at least 15 weeks of age (3 months + 21 days) before they may travel to the Netherlands.
High risk countries rabies
ID, an microchip applied before the rabies vaccination or a readable tattoo if applied before July 2011:
- Veterinary certificate issued by an official veterinarian of the authority, or by an authorized veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority from the country the animal is travelling from. Or an EU - Animal Passport according to Regulation (EU) nr. 577/2013 when the animal originates from the EU. The owners declaration is also required.
- A blood sample testing the rabies antibody level, must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination against rabies
- The result of the rabies antibody level test must be at least 0,5 IU/ml.
- If the result of the test is good, meaning 0,5 IU/ml or higher, the dog or cat can enter the EU after another three (3) months after the blood drawing. This period is for the possible presence of rabies despite the vaccination and positive blood test.
- This 3-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of an EU pet animal whose passport certifies that the titration was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the EU.
- The antibody test does not need to be renewed on a pet animal which has been revaccinated against rabies before the validity ofthe previous vaccination expires.
Note: Young dogs, cats and ferrets are at least 7 months of age (3 months after birth + 1 month later blood test + 3 months excluding possible presence of rabies) before they may travel to the Netherlands.
Imported goods in a passenger's luggage, purchased for personal use (except for alcohol, tobacco products and fuel) are exempt from customs duty, turnover tax and excise tax, if their total value per person does not exceed 430 euros.
Quantitative restrictions for imports into the Netherlands from outside the European Union
A passenger arriving from outside the European Union to the Netherlands is allowed to bring with him for personal use tax-free tobacco products, alcohol and motor fuel in such quantities.
Tobacco products (the passenger must be at least 17 years old):
- 200 cigarettes or
- 100 small cigars or
- 50 cigars or
- 250 grams of fuel tobacco.
Alcohol (the passenger must be at least 17 years old):
- wine up to 4 liters (except sparkling and liqueur);
- up to 16 liters of beer;
- 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of up to 22% (including sparkling and liqueur wine) or a liter of strong alcoholic beverages (with an alcohol content of more than 22%).
The import of non-preserved meat products is prohibited. Other types of non-preserved products must be declared. Import of any types of weapons and ammunition is subject to special prior permission.
The import of medicinal products is allowed only for personal use.
Motor fuel: motor fuel in a standard fuel tank of a motor vehicle.
Duty-free shops
Passengers arriving from outside the European Union can purchase goods in duty-free shops with a refund of sales tax. Sales with a sales tax refund means that sales tax is added to the price of the product at the time of sale, which is later refunded to the buyer. In the duty-free shop, the buyer is issued a document confirming the purchase, which he must present at the customs office upon departure from the European Union for confirmation.
The buyer must take the goods out of the European Union in unopened original packaging no later than the last day of the third month following the month of purchase.
At the request of the customs, the passenger must present the goods packed and without signs of opening the package for customs inspection.
Cash declaration
Cash of EUR 10,000 or more must be declared when imported into or from the European Union.
If a natural person entering or leaving the European Union has cash in the amount of EUR 10,000 or more, he is required to submit a cash declaration. This obligation is established by the resolution of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe (EC) No. 1889/2005 regarding the verification of cash entering or leaving the community.
Thus, the obligation to declare cash exists for both a natural person and a legal entity that transfers cash of EUR 10,000 or more to or from the European Union.
Declarable cash:
1) banknotes (paper money) and coins in circulation as means of payment;
2) checks, including traveler's checks;
3) debt receipts;
4) money cards;
5) shares
Declaration forms are available on the website of the Tax Office of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (
www.belastingdienst.nl). To use the forms, you need to print them out and fill them out, or print them out after filling them out on the screen in advance. Forms can also be obtained from a customs officer during customs formalities.
To legally drive in the Netherlands, you must be at least 18 years old
If you not planning to reside in the Netherlands, and you are here as a tourist so, you can drive with your foreign driving licence in the Netherlands. Do you have a driving licence issued by a country that is not an EU/EFTA member state? If so, the categories on your driving licence must correspond to the Vienna Convention (this concerns categories A, B, C, D, E). If your driving licence does not meet this requirement, it is recommended to have an international driving licence in addition to your foreign driving licence.
General road rules
- Drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left side
- Give way to vehicles coming from the right, unless otherwise stated
- Priority roads are indicated with yellow diamond signed roads
- Drivers on a roundabout have the right of way
- All vehicle occupants must wear a seatbelt; children under 1.35 meters must sit in a child seat in the rear of the car
- Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free system while driving
- Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets
- Use dipped headlights after dark and in misty conditions
- Only use high beam headlights at night
In built-up areas you can only use your horn in dangerous situations; if necessary, flash your lights instead
Speed limits in the Netherlands are as follows unless otherwise marked by signs:
Built-up areas: 50 km/h
Outside a built-up area: 80 km/h
Motorways: 100 km/h between 06:00 and 19:00, or 130 km/h between 19:00 and 06:00. When the rush-hour lane is open, an adjusted maximum speed of 80 or 100 km/h applies.
