Travel Ban: Latest Status on Partial Lifting
1 December 2020, The Netherlands – In this post we would like to give an update regarding the travel restrictions related to Covid-19. Most international professionals would fall under an exempted subcategory, which means that they can still travel and perform their employment in The Netherlands.
With the table below, we created a tool to ease the understanding of the current travel ban in the Netherlands and how it is applicable to different subcategories of travelers. This matric shows that for the majority of travelers an exemption is applicable and international professionals can still travel and perform their employment. PIRGROUP is happy to assist both with further consultancy on the subject matter as with the application for relevant work/residency permits.
| Travel sub group | Travel ban applicable? | Comments |
| Highly Skilled Migrant* non-EU – MVV required | No, but they must hold a valid MVV or EU residence permit | considered as exempted category |
| Highly Skilled Migrant non-EU – Visa exempted | No, but they must hold the IND approval letter and an employer’s explanation of reason to be in The Netherlands now | considered as exempted category |
| Family of Highly Skilled Migrant non-EU – MVV required | No, but they must hold a valid MVV or EU residence permit | considered as exempted category |
| Family of Highly Skilled Migrant non-EU – Visa exempted | No, but they must hold the IND approval letter and the approval concerning the Highly Skilled Migrant | considered as exempted category |
| EU citizens and EU family members | No | considered as exempted category, regardless of travel reason |
| Non-EU Family members of EU citizens | No, but additional requirements (facilitation visa / extra documentation) may apply if not travelling together | Needs to be assessed based on personal situation |
| Non-EU citizens other (tourist) | Yes, unless exempted or resident of restriction free country** | Needs to be assessed based on personal situation |
| Non-EU citizens Business travel | Yes, unless exempted and essential travel reason (certain business trips only) | https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/tackling-new-coronavirus-in-the-netherlands/travel-and-holidays/visiting-the-netherlands-exemptions-to-the-entry-ban |
| Non-EU holders of EU residence permits / stickers | No | considered as exempted category, regardless of travel reason |
| General employment non-EU – MVV required | No, but they must hold a valid MVV | considered as exempted category |
| General employment non-EU – Visa exempted | Yes, unless exempted (certain type of jobs) | Needs to be assessed based on personal situation |
* Including holders of a European blue card, ICT permits or researchers)
** Restriction-free countries (update 01-December).
If you live in one of the restriction-free countries, you can travel to the Netherlands. It does not matter what the purpose of your journey is or what nationality you hold:
Australia
Japan
New Zealand
Rwanda
Singapore – Travel ban lifted as of 27 October
South Korea
Thailand
Uruguay
China (once China starts readmitting European travelers)
The status of these countries may change. Please consult this page regularly for the latest information.
For people from Canada, Georgia and Tunisia, the travel ban applies as of 27 October.
Feel free to contact us at the phone number +31 (0) 85 – 620 4900. We would be more than happy to answer your questions!
