Note: this is a news report from June 30, 2020. View the current rules regarding entry to the Netherlands. 

Every 2 weeks, or sooner if necessary, the list of countries will be reviewed, considering among other things the number of new infections. That number must be around or below 19 per 100,000 inhabitants. Contact tracing and the number of corona tests are also taken into account.

For other third countries, the current restriction on all non-essential travel of persons from third countries to Europe (all EU member states, all Schengen members and the UK) aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus remains in effect. This means that persons who do not have permanent residence in one of the aforementioned countries and do not fall under the following exceptions will not enter the Netherlands.

The travel restriction does not apply to the following categories of persons:

  • EU citizens (including nationals of the United Kingdom) and their family members;
  • Nationals of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Andorra and their family members;
  • Nationals of third countries who hold a residence card or residence permit in accordance with Directive 2003/109/EC (the Long-term Residents Directive);
  • Nationals of third countries who derive their residence rights from other European directives or national law of a member state;
  • Holders of a long-stay visa, including persons with a provisional residence permit (MVV).

Other persons from third countries with a vital function or need, including:

  • Healthcare personnel;
  • Cross-border workers;
  • Persons working in the transport of goods and other transport personnel, as far as necessary, including container ships, bulk carriers (e.g. ore or coal), tankers (fuels and chemicals), fisheries, persons working in the energy sector, such as oil and gas platforms and wind farms as well as offshore companies providing services to this sector, and flight crew;
  • Diplomats;
  • Military personnel;
  • Personnel of international and humanitarian organizations;
  • Persons who have compelling reasons to visit their family; this concerns travel in exceptional cases. An exceptional case is visiting a terminally ill family member and attending a funeral. It is intended for first- and second-degree relatives. Partners and children are first-degree and grandchildren are second-degree.
  • Transit passengers traveling via the Netherlands or another Schengen country to another third country;
  • Persons requiring international protection; the border procedure fully applies;
  • Persons admitted for humanitarian reasons;
  • Seafarers holding a seamans book;
  • Students;
  • Knowledge migrants.