COVID-19: Travel restrictions, entry requirements updated

IMPACT – HIGH

The Netherlands has imposed additional COVID-19 restrictions, including a ban on travel from certain countries and new testing requirements.

Key Points:

• On Jan. 23, flights from Cabo Verde, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, the United Kingdom and several South American countries were suspended. Travelers from the United Kingdom are also banned from entering the country through water ports of entry.
• Travelers are required to present certain declarations and negative test results.
  • The declarations that must be presented are (1) a Health Declaration Form before departure for all individuals traveling by plane and (2) a Negative Test Declaration for non-EU/non-Schengen Area nationals traveling from a high-risk non-EU/non-Schengen Area country.

1. • Travelers from high-risk countries who are not subject to the flight ban must present (1) a negative PCR COVID-19 test that was taken no more than 72 hours before the traveler’s arrival and (2) a negative rapid test result which must be no older than four hours at the time of boarding. The PCR test results must be in Dutch, English, French, German or Spanish. The rapid test result may also be presented in Italian or Portuguese.

• Business travelers, short-term Highly Skilled Migrants and students staying 90 days or less are no longer exempt from the EU travel ban and cannot enter the Netherlands at this time. An exemption exists for those who can show proof of a work permit, proof of school admission or a note verbale for business travelers, issued before Jan. 23, 2021.

Additional Information: Travelers from safe countries, children under the age of 13 and cross-border workers are not subject to the COVID-19 testing requirement and declaration requirement for entry. The flight ban will in principle apply until Feb. 23, 2021.

Analysis & Comments: The new restrictions are meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 variants and may further complicate business travel to the Netherlands at this time. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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