Entry
The Schengen Area, which the Netherlands belongs to, is a group of European countries applying one shared set of short-stay rules. For non-EU visitors (anyone without the nationality of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or any EU country), a stay of up to 90 days is allowed within any 180-day period, with days in every country of the area added together. Which visa rules apply depends on your passport: certain nationalities must obtain a Schengen visa before travelling, whereas others may come in for a short stay with no visa at all. Below is the EU visa policy page, where the country lists can be checked. A traveller who needs a visa applies at the consulate of the country to be visited. With several countries on the itinerary, the one for the longest stay is the right choice, or the first country visited if the stays are equal. The consulate chosen must also be the one responsible for the applicant's country of legal residence. Applicants must hold medical insurance that covers repatriation, emergency care and hospital treatment, and bring documents on accommodation, money, the reason for the trip and the intention to return home; the consulate may request more. The passport must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date and must have been issued in the last 10 years. Border officers may ask for the purpose and details of the stay to be justified, including proof of enough money. Fully operational since 10 April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now takes the place of passport stamps. Registration takes place at the border for short-stay visitors from outside the EU, with or without a visa: a face photo and/or fingerprints are taken together with passport data, and every entry, exit or refusal gets logged. Certain travellers are exempt, and the list is below. Allow extra time at the first crossing, as later ones are quicker. For 30 European countries, the Netherlands among them, visa-exempt travellers will need ETIAS, a travel authorisation. It had not started as of November 2026: applications are not being collected and the start date has not been confirmed. According to the EU, the launch date will be made public several months ahead. Check the official ETIAS page ahead of travel, and disregard any site that offers an ETIAS for sale at present.
- EU - Visa policy (Schengen) OfficialOfficial EU information on Schengen visas, with links to the country lists.
- EU - Applying for a Schengen visa OfficialWhere to apply and which documents you need.
- Your Europe - Travel documents for non-EU nationals OfficialPassport validity and entry conditions.
- EU - Entry/Exit System (EES) OfficialWhat the new border registration means for you.
- EU - How the EES works OfficialWhat happens at the border on your first and later crossings.
- EU - Who the EES does not apply to OfficialThe full list of exempt travellers.
- European Commission - EES status OfficialStates that the system became fully operational on 10 April 2026.
- EU - ETIAS OfficialFor visa-free nationalities only; check the current status and start date here.
- EU - ETIAS: who should apply OfficialWhich nationalities and countries ETIAS will cover.
- EU - Short-stay (90/180) calculator OfficialCount how many days you may still stay.
