Roberta Aguirre
If you are planning a trip that involves a stopover at Amsterdam Airport, you may be wondering if you need a visa to pass through. The answer depends on several factors, including your nationality, destination, and whether you need to leave the international transit zone. Some countries, such as Turkey, require an airport transit visa when transferring at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you are a national of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, you may not need an airport transit visa. Additionally, if you have a valid visa for certain countries, such as the US, Canada, Japan, or another EU country, you may be exempt from needing a transit visa. It's important to check the requirements for your specific situation and consult official sources, such as the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), to ensure you have the correct documentation for your journey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Transit visa required? | Depends on nationality and destination. |
| Transit visa exemptions | Family members of an EU, EEA member state or Switzerland national. Nationals with a valid visa for an EU/EEA country, Canada, Japan or the United States of America. |
| Transit visa costs | EUR 60 |
| Required documents | Travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry. |
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What You'll Learn
Visa requirements depend on nationality and destination
If you are transiting at a Dutch airport, such as Amsterdam Airport, you may need a visa. This will depend on your nationality and destination. If you are a national of an EU or EEA member state, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, or the United States of America, you do not need a visa for a layover in Amsterdam. However, if you are a national of another country, you may need an airport transit visa, even if you are not planning on leaving the airport. This also applies if you have a refugee travel document issued by a non-European country.
To check if you need a visa for transit in the Netherlands, you can visit the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Here, you can find out which documents you need to transit through the country. If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements or cannot prove that you do, it is recommended to apply for an airport transit visa. As of December 1, 2022, most travellers with a Turkish passport, for example, need an airport transit visa when transferring at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
When submitting your visa application, you must provide a travel document that will be valid for at least three months after your visa expires. You may also have to pay processing fees and costs for your application. It is recommended to contact the nearest Netherlands embassy for more information.
Additionally, if your connecting flight is to another Schengen area country, you do not 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 that is not Dutch. Therefore, visa requirements for transiting through Amsterdam Airport depend on your nationality and destination, as well as the specific circumstances of your travel plans.
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Exemptions for family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
If you are a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss national and are a third-country national, you must submit a visa application to the consular authorities in your country of residence, unless you are exempt. If you are exempt, you can stay in the Netherlands for up to three months without any additional requirements. You just need a valid travel document (passport or ID card). The travel document must have been issued by an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.
If you are not exempt, you can apply for a visa online or in writing by post. The application costs €81 for adults and €44 for minors. The application form lists the documents you need, which may include a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or registered partnership certificate. These documents must be official and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German. You must also have a valid passport or identity card of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.
Once you have collected all the required documents, you can submit your application to the nearest Netherlands embassy or consulate. You should indicate that you want to live in the Netherlands with your EU/EEA/Swiss family member. After submitting your application, you must wait for a decision from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The decision period can take up to six months. If your application is approved, you will receive a residence endorsement sticker that will be placed in your passport. This sticker, along with your passport, serves as proof of your legal residency in the Netherlands during the process.
If you have been residing in the Netherlands for five continuous years and have fulfilled the residency conditions, you are eligible for permanent residency. This means you will not lose your residency entitlement if you apply for social benefits.
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Exemptions for nationals of certain countries
If you are making a brief stop or changing planes at Amsterdam Airport in the Netherlands, you may need a visa, depending on your nationality and destination. You are considered to be in transit at a Dutch airport if you change planes without leaving the international transit zone and not going through passport control. Nationals of certain countries require an airport transit visa to change aircraft at a Dutch airport, even if they do not enter Dutch territory.
If you are a national or family member of an EU or EEA member state, or Switzerland, you may not need an airport transit visa. This also applies if you have a valid visa for an EU/EEA country, Canada, Japan, or the United States of America. However, as of 1 December 2022, most travellers with a Turkish passport will need an airport transit visa when transferring at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Additionally, refugees with travel documents issued by specific European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, are exempt from the visa requirement. It is important to check the specific requirements based on your nationality and destination, as well as the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), to ensure you have the necessary documents for transiting through the Netherlands.
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Exempt if you have a valid visa for specific countries
If you are a national of a country whose citizens require an airport transit visa to enter the Netherlands, you may be exempt from this requirement if you have a valid visa for certain other countries. This is because, in some cases, holding a valid visa from specific countries may exempt you from needing an additional airport transit visa.
For example, nationals of Guinea are exempt from needing an airport transit visa for Belgium if they possess a valid visa for one of the following countries: the US, Canada, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Switzerland, or any EER country. Similarly, Ghana and Nigeria are exempt from needing an airport transit visa for Benelux, Germany, Italy, or Spain if they have a valid visa for the US, Canada, Japan, any EER country, or Switzerland.
In the case of the UK, an Indian citizen would usually require a visa for direct airside transit, but this would not be necessary if they had a valid visa for the US or certain other countries. This is because the UK allows transit without a visa, even if passing through border control, provided you are travelling to or from certain countries and meeting other conditions.
The Schengen Area has similar rules, where airport transit is visa-free if you have a visa or residence permit from certain countries, including European countries, the US, Canada, and Japan. However, it is important to note that the Schengen Area requires a transit visa for individuals travelling from airports in countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, and Egypt.
Therefore, it is essential to check the specific rules for the country or countries you are transiting through, as requirements may vary depending on your nationality and destination.
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Need a transit visa to change planes
If you are transiting through Amsterdam Airport, you may need a visa to change planes. This depends on your nationality, your destination, and the travel documents you hold. Nationals of certain countries need an airport transit visa to change aircraft at a Dutch airport, even if they do not enter Dutch territory. This includes refugees with travel documents issued by third countries, with an exception for those with documents issued by 16 European countries.
If you are a national of an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland, or a family member of a national, you may not need an airport transit visa. Additionally, if you have a valid visa for an EU/EEA country, Canada, Japan, or the United States of America, you are exempt from the requirement. If your connecting flight is to another Schengen area country, you do not need a transit visa but will need a regular short-stay Schengen visa for the Netherlands.
To determine if you need a transit visa, check the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for the required documents and eligibility. You can also contact the nearest Netherlands embassy for more information. If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements, it is recommended to apply for an airport transit visa. The visa fees for various types of visas are typically EUR 60.
When submitting your visa application, ensure that your travel documents are valid for at least three months after your visa expires. This includes a completed and signed application form and a passport photo. Keep in mind that you may have to pay additional costs incurred in processing your application, such as the cost of sending faxes.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on your nationality, destination, and whether you need to leave the international transit zone. Nationals of certain countries need an airport transit visa to change aircraft at a Dutch airport, even if they do not enter Dutch territory. If you need to collect your luggage and check it in for your next flight, you may need a Schengen visa.
Nationals of the following countries need an airport transit visa: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Colombia, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Syria.
An airport transit visa costs €60.
If you want to enter the Netherlands for less than 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality and travel plans.
