Visa rules change every year, and transit and airport visa requirements change with them. Many nationalities have been released from them entirely. Others still need a transit visa to pass through certain countries, even when they have no intention of entering the country at all.
If you are flying through a Dutch airport on your way somewhere else and your final destination is outside the Schengen area, you may need a Netherlands airport transit visa (ATV). This article covers the process, the documents, the conditions and how to apply.
What is the Netherlands airport transit visa?
The Netherlands Airport Transit Visa (ATV) covers a short stop at a Dutch airport and allows the holder to remain in the international transit area until their onward flight. It is a category of Schengen visa, and it is issued only to passengers who are stopping at a Dutch international airport and will not leave the transit area.
Recommended reading: the best cities in the Netherlands to live, study and work in, on the Aval Visa site.
Who needs a Netherlands airport transit visa?
You need one if all of the following apply:
- Your route passes through a Dutch airport
- You hold a passport from a country whose nationals require a visa to transit the Schengen area
- Your journey has two legs, for example to Amsterdam and then on from Amsterdam to a destination outside the Schengen area such as the United States or Canada
If that describes your trip, apply for a Netherlands airport transit visa before you travel.
Which airports does the transit visa cover?
Passengers transiting through:
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
- Eindhoven Airport (on the routes where transit applies)
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport (less common, depending on the route)
need a Netherlands airport transit visa. Up-to-date information and announcements are published on the Dutch government website.
Which nationalities need a Netherlands transit visa?
Under the Schengen rules, an airport transit visa is required from nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. The Netherlands adds further nationalities of its own, including Sudan. Check the current list before you book your ticket. The full rules are published under transit at a Dutch airport on the government website.
Documents required for a Netherlands airport transit visa
With the rules covered, here is what you need to assemble. Every applicant passing through the transit area on the way to a second destination has to prepare and submit:
- A completed Schengen visa application form, transit version
- A passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your return date
- Flight tickets confirming the transit stop in the Netherlands and the onward leg to your destination
- A visa for your final destination, where one is required
- A biometric photograph
- Payment of the transit visa fee
How to apply for a Netherlands airport transit visa
The process is not complicated. Once your final destination and travel dates are fixed, apply for the transit visa. Start by identifying which Schengen country you transit through and book an appointment with that country’s consulate. If your stop is in the Netherlands, book with the Dutch consulate and complete the Dutch visa application form in full.
On the form, select airport transit as the purpose of travel and state how many entries you need, whether one, two or three. Submit the application in person or online to the consulate and pay the visa fee, currently EUR 90 for adults, with a reduced fee for children. The fee is reviewed periodically, so confirm the current amount. A decision normally follows within 15 calendar days, and a complete file avoids the most common reasons for refusal.
Netherlands transit visa costs
| Applicant | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Adult | EUR 90 |
| 6 to 12 years | EUR 45 |
| Under 6 years | Free |
Where can you travel on a Netherlands transit visa?
An airport transit visa only permits you to pass through the transit area of the airport on a route out of the Schengen area. You cannot enter the Netherlands or any other Schengen country with it, and you must depart on your onward flight. Destinations outside the Schengen area include:
- The United Kingdom
- The United States
- Canada
- Australia and New Zealand
- East Asian countries
- The Gulf states
A few points are worth remembering. If your stop is long, or you want to spend two or three days in the Netherlands before the second leg, apply for a type C short-stay visa instead. If your two flights are with different airlines, check whether you have to clear immigration and re-check your baggage, and read the airport’s own rules.
Applying for a Dutch airport transit visa with Aval Visa
Whether you are travelling as a tourist or considering moving to the Netherlands to study, work or start a company, the team at Aval Visa will work with you at every stage.
Complete the consultation form and we will review your situation, help you choose the right route to living in the Netherlands, and take on the administration: forms, consulate appointments and document preparation. Contact our office for more information.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a visa to transit in the Netherlands? If you hold a passport from one of the listed nationalities, yes: an airport transit visa is required for any transit through a Dutch airport, whatever the length of the stop. If you need to leave the transit area or stay overnight, you need a short-stay Schengen visa instead.
- How long is a transit visa valid? It is issued only for the period needed to pass through the Dutch airport.
- Can I leave the airport on this visa? No. A transit visa is valid only for the transit area of the airport.
