Checklist for transit or short stay in the Netherlands

A European entry ban is in effect for some people, barring them from travelling from a high-risk area to the European Union or the Schengen area.

You may only transit in the Netherlands if:

• You are travelling from a safe country/region where the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low.

You will find the lists of safe areas/countries within and outside the EU/Schengen area in the checklists for entering or returning to the Netherlands from abroad.

• You have been fully vaccinated.

• The purpose of your trip falls under one of the exemption categories:
  • You are travelling through the Netherlands to a non-EU/Schengen country. You must prove that you have a connecting flight to a country outside the Schengen area. The connecting flight must depart within 48 hours of your arrival in the Netherlands. You must not leave the airport’s international transit zone in this period. Please note: the United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the EU/Schengen area. 
  • You are travelling to an EU country/Schengen area country via the Netherlands. You must be able to show you have permission to enter the EU country/Schengen country in question. You can do this with a note verbale from that country’s embassy, for example, or another type of document that proves you can travel there. If you do not have such a document, the Dutch border authorities will determine whether you may travel via the Netherlands. Without a document showing you have permission to enter the EU country/Schengen country in question, you are advised to fly there directly and not via the Netherlands. If you will be making a short stop at a Dutch airport you may need an airport transit visa. Please note: the United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the EU/Schengen area. 

Read more about the EU entry ban and the exemption categories

When you transfer in the Netherlands, and your area of departure outside the EU/Schengen area is considered very high risk, you must be able to show a completed, printed and signed quarantine declaration. This requirement also applies even if you have been vaccinated. 

• You will find a list of areas that are considered very high risk in the checklist for entering or returning to the Netherlands from outside the EU/Schengen area. The United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the EU/Schengen area. 
• The quarantine declaration

If you transfer/transit in the Netherlands you do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery on arrival in the Netherlands.

Please note: you change planes and continue your journey within a few hours, and in any case within 1 day without leaving the airport where you transfer

If you are travelling by air you must fill in a health declaration and carry it with you. Some airlines allow you to complete this health declaration digitally when you check in.

If you are travelling across the border by car or motorbike you do not need to provide a negative result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery if:

• you are staying in the Netherlands for less than 12 hours, or;
• you are travelling to the Netherlands after staying in a safe country or area, or;
• you stayed less than 12 hours in a very high risk or high risk country. During this time you only made short, necessary stops.

Safe, very high risk or high risk countries

View the lists of countries with or without a COVID 19 risk in the checklists for entering the Netherlands.

• Read more information about the mandatory negative COVID-19 test result
• Read more information about coronavirus measures and travelling in the border region

When travelling from a very high risk area and staying for a short period of time (less than 12 hours), you must be able to show a completed, printed and signed quarantine declaration. This requirement also applies even if you have been vaccinated. You may be fined if you do not have a quarantine declaration.

• You will find a list of areas that are considered very high risk in the Checklist for entering or returning to the Netherlands from abroad.
• The quarantine declaration