What is a transfer?
You are considered to be in transit at a Dutch airport if:
- you change planes on the way to your next destination without leaving the international transit zone. This means you do not go through passport control;
- your plane makes a brief stop and you stay on the plane or wait in the international transit zone until your plane leaves for your next destination.
If you are not making a transfer, because you will be leaving the international transit zone, check whether you need a Schengen visa.
If you are making a transfer, check whether you need a visa in your situation.
What is your situation?
You do not need an airport transit visa if you are a British national and live in the UK. You still need other documents to travel to the Netherlands.
You do not need an airport transit visa because you are a national of a Schengen country. This means you can travel throughout the Schengen area without a visa. And you can change planes in the Netherlands on your way from any Schengen country to your next destination.
Your still need other documents to travel to the Netherlands.
If you have a valid UK biometric residence permit (BRP), you do not need an airport transit visa.
Bring the following documents with you when you travel:
- your UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- your travel document. Your travel document must still be valid for at least another 3 months when you leave the Netherlands.
Check what other documents you need to travel to the Netherlands
If you hold a different UK residence permit, you need an airport transit visa.
If you live in the UK and you have a British travel document, check the cover of it to see if it’s one of the following:
- Travel document (Convention of 28 July 1951) with a blue cover
- Travel document (Convention of 28 September 1954) with a red cover
- Certificate of travel with a black/grey cover
I have 1 of these travel documents
Whether you need a visa during your transit period in the Netherlands depends on whether you have a UK residence permit.
If you have a UK residence permit, you do not need a visa when transiting through the Netherlands. Make sure you have the following with you when travelling:
- your UK residence permit
- your travel document. This document must still be valid for at least 3 months when you leave the Netherlands.
Check what other documents you need to travel to the Netherlands
If you do not have a UK residence permit, you will need an airport transit visa to transit through the Netherlands. Your travel document must still be valid for at least 3 months when you leave the Netherlands.
Find out how to apply for an airport transit visa
I have a different travel document
You need an airport transit visa to transit through the Netherlands. Have the following with you when transiting:
- your travel document
- a ticket to your onward destination
If you are a family member of a national of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, you may not need an airport transit visa. Check below whether you meet the requirements for family members.
What are the 3 requirements that family members must meet?
- You are a family member of a national of an EU or EEA member state (other than the Netherlands) or Switzerland. And you can prove this with a birth certificate or marriage certificate. In this case a family member is a: spouse, registered partner, parent or stepparent, grandparent or stepgrandparent, child or stepchild, or grandchild or stepgrandchild.
- You are travelling to or with this family member.
or;
You have a valid visa or valid residence permit as a family member of an EU citizen. And this visa or residence permit was issued by an EU or EEA member state or Switzerland. - You have a valid visa or valid residence permit for your final destination.
If you meet all 3 requirements you do not need a transit visa for the Netherlands. But you must bring documents that proof you meet these requirements. If you don’t know whether you meet the requirements, or you can’t prove that you do, apply for an airport transit visa.
If you are a family member of a Dutch national, and you lived in the UK with your Dutch family member before 1 January 2021, the Brexit withdrawal agreement applies to you. You do not need an airport transit visa if you meet the requirements family members of Dutch nationals must meet.
What are the 5 requirements that family members must meet?
- You and your Dutch family member had an established family relationship on or before 31 December 2020. The family relationship still exists and you can prove this with a birth certificate or marriage certificate. In this case, a family member is a: spouse, registered partner, parent or stepparent, grandparent or stepgrandparent, child or stepchild, or grandchild or stepgrandchild. If you are another family member, such as an uncle, aunt or cousin, check the website of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) to see if you meet the requirements.
- Your Dutch family member moved to the UK on or before 31 December 2020.
- You and your Dutch family member lived in the UK for at least 3 consecutive months.
- You and your Dutch family member lived in the UK under EU law. Your Dutch family member was registered there as an EU national, for instance. You had a valid residence document for the UK as a family member of an EU national. If you no longer have a valid residence document, you must be travelling to or with your family member on this trip.
- You have a valid visa or valid residence permit for your final destination.
If you meet the requirements
If you meet all 5 requirements you do not need a transit visa for the Netherlands. But you must be able to show various documents. Check the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to see which documents you need in order to transit through the Netherlands.
If you do not (or may not) meet the requirements
If you don’t know whether you meet the requirements, or you can’t prove that you do, apply for an airport transit visa.