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The Dutch government has announced that from today – 23 March – fully vaccinated travelers from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom will be able enter the Netherlands without having to present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival.
And, for nationals – of countries from within the EU or Schengen zone – the entry rules have been made even easier, with there now being no requirement to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, or a need to present a negative test on arrival.
What Were The Previous Entry Requirements For U.S. and Non-EU Travelers?
Prior to this relaxing of Covid-19 entry requirements, fully vaccinated travelers – from nations that are not part of the European Union or Schengen zone – were required to present:
- a negative PCR test result (taken no more than 48 hours before departure)
- a negative antigen test result (taken no more than 24 hours before departure).
There was no need to quarantine, however, with such a requirement being lifted for American travelers on 25 February.
What Are The New Entry Requirements For Fully Vaccinated U.S. Citizens Wanting To Visit The Netherlands?
With there no longer being a requirement for travelers to take a Covid-19 test – although all travelers are ‘advised’ to self-test upon arrival, as well as on day 5 after arrival – U.S. citizens that have been fully vaccinated are able to enter the Netherlands by just:
- completing a health declaration form.
The same rules apply to travelers from Canada and the United Kingdom.
How Do You Qualify As Being Fully Vaccinated?
In order to be considered ‘fully vaccinated’ by the Dutch authorities, you must have received your final vaccine dose no more than 270 days before your arrival into the Netherlands.
However, if you have received a booster dose your proof of vaccination is considered to be valid indefinitely.
Can Unvaccinated U.S. Travelers Currently Visit The Netherlands?
The simple answer is ‘yes’ – and the same answer applies to Canadian and British travelers.
However, an EU entry ban is currently in effect for nationals that are not from countries within the EU or Schengen zone. In order to be exempt to the ban – citizens that do not come from a country within the EU and Schengen zone need to:
- travel to the Netherlands from a ‘safe’ country
- show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19
- show proof that they have recently recovered from Covid-19.
There are also other reasons for exemption – which can be found here.
From today – 23 March – visitors will be able to present a positive Covid-19 antigen test result as proof of recovery, with a positive PCR test result having previously been required.
Face Masks On Public Transport And Pre-Admission Testing For Large Public Events No Longer Required
Although face masks will still be required when on an airplane – and in the departure lounge of airports – the Dutch government has announced that they will no longer need to be worn when using public transport in the country. This includes when traveling by taxi, bus, and ferry.
There is also no longer a requirement to take a pre-admission Covid-19 test before visiting nightclubs – or attending a public event – with a capacity of more than 500 people.
This now means that you are no longer required to present a coronavirus entry pass in order to enter any public venue inside the country.
The Netherlands is not the first country to relax its entry requirements for travelers – with 11 nations, so far this month, having removed all of their Covid-19 entry requirements.
Read more:
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022
55 Countries Vaccinated Americans Can Enter Test Free
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Richard
Friday 25th of March 2022
Traveling on KLM, SFO to AMS on 3-29-2022. Regarding pre-flight test. As of today 3-25-2022, the KLM.us site generally says no test required depending on witch page your on. And links to NL government pages indicate Covid test no longer required on US departure. However on the pre-flight ( 2days prior)document submission page klm still indicates that a Covid test is required..NAAT(pcr) test is also required 24 hours on one section and 48 hours in another section. KLM needs to catch up. They are making it confusing..probably don’t need the test but take a chance at Check in ? or test anyway so as not to get denied boarding..
Elisa
Sunday 3rd of April 2022
@Richard, we flew back to NL with KLM on the 25th and no test was required. But I agree that the info of KLM is confusing and unclear.
Kashlee Kucheran
Friday 25th of March 2022
When I look at the gov sites, and other airline sites that HAVE updated, I see no pre-flight test for entering from the USA. Of course, I'm not KLM, but I can't imagine their rules are any different from other airlines, as assumptions would be they'd be the first to change/relax.
Stella DiMarco
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
requiring 3 vaccine shots is just as bad as being closed This endless booster shot requirement of an experimental drug which is proving to have more and more horrific side effects is a travesty