IMPACT – HIGH

The Netherlands has lifted travel restrictions for foreign nationals from certain countries, as well as for certain immigration categories.

Key Points:

  • Travel restrictions are lifted for residents of Algeria, Australia, Canada, China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity), Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. The list will be revised every two weeks, although changes may be made outside of the regular update pattern, if necessary, based on COVID-19 developments.
  • Travel restrictions do not apply to the following categories:
    • EU citizens (including U.K. nationals) and their family members.
    • Nationals of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and their family members.
    • Third-country nationals holding a residence card or a residence permit in accordance with the LTR Directive and their family members.
    • Third-country nationals who derive their right of residence from other European Directives or from the national law of a Member State and their family members.
    • Holders of a long-stay visa, including persons with a temporary residence permit (MVV) and their family members.
    • Persons with an essential function or need, including: Health care workers, border workers, those employed in the transport of goods and other transport personnel, seafarers with a seaman’s book (with the exception of seafarers on commercial and pleasure yachts), diplomats, military personnel, international and humanitarian organization personnel, those with compelling reasons to visit their families (e.g., funeral, terminal illness), transit passengers who wish to travel via the Netherlands to another third country and who do not leave the international transit zone of the airport, those in need of international protection, those admitted for humanitarian reasons, students,* highly skilled migrants.*

*Residents of countries not on the approved list, including the U.S., Canada and Australia, may only travel to the Netherlands if they will perform a vital function or have a serious need. This includes those who have received a letter from the IND stating they will receive a residence permit as a:

    • Highly skilled migrant (including researchers and holders of an EU blue card or ICT directive). A written declaration of the employer is needed upon traveling to the Netherlands, stating that the highly skilled migrant has to be present in the Netherlands to execute the work and why. The declaration should also include an explanation of why the move cannot be postponed.
    • University or college student.
    • Family member of a highly skilled migrant or student.
    • Family member of a Dutch sponsor (partner, spouse, child). Documents proving the family relationship are needed.
  • When traveling to the Netherlands, highly skilled migrants, students and family members should bring the IND letter stating that they will receive a residence permit. Admission to the Netherlands is assessed by the border officials and they have the discretionary power to refuse access.

Additional information: For more information on the lifting of travel restrictions and who is eligible to enter the Netherlands, please click here.

Analysis & Comments: 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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