Do I Need A Transit Visa For Amsterdam
xIf you’re an American and planning a trip to Europe, you may have heard many things about what it takes to get into different countries. One of the questions most frequently asked is whether or not a transit visa is needed for Amsterdam. The truth is that many people get confused by the information they find online when they try to answer this question on their own. There are so many websites with conflicting information that can leave travelers scratching their heads as to what requirement they need to meet in order to enter specific European cities, like Amsterdam. Before we go further into this topic, let me give you some helpful advice about choosing your travel agency.
If you want to visit a friend or relative in Amsterdam, you will likely need a transit visa. A transit visa is not the same as a tourist visa, which is generally needed for longer stays in Europe. If you simply want to travel through Europe, the Schengen Visa (also called EUR-66 or Schengen Visa) is what you will need. There are only three countries that are not part of the Schengen Zone: Great Britain, Ireland and Bulgaria. These countries have given special permission to residents of other European countries to travel freely within these areas in order to eliminate border checks.
Do I Need A Transit Visa For Amsterdam
What is an airport transit visa?
An airport transit visa allows you to change planes at a Dutch airport for onward travel to a destination outside the Schengen Area. The visa (also referred to as an ‘A’ visa) does not allow you to enter the Netherlands or another Schengen country. This means you cannot leave the airport, nor the international zone of the airport.
Do I need an airport transit visa?
Whether you need an airport transit visa depends on a number of things, including your nationality. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need an airport transit visa.
Regardless of whether or not you need an airport transit visa, it is the airline that decides to allow you onto the flight or not. Even if you have the necessary documents for your journey.
Applying for an airport transit visa
Do you want to apply for an airport transit visa? How and where you do this differs from country to country.
Applying for an airport transit visa
Changing planes for onward travel within the Schengen Area: short-stay visa
If you are travelling to another Schengen country via the Netherlands, you will need a short-stay Schengen visa. Airport transit visas are not valid for this purpose.
Changing planes 2 times within the Schengen Area for onward travel outside Schengen: short-stay visa
If you are transiting through 2 different Schengen airports for onward travel to a country outside Schengen and the first transit airport is in the Netherlands, you need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa. Airport transit visas are not valid for this purpose.
If you are a Nigerian national travelling from Nigeria via the Netherlands to the UK, you can apply for an airport transit visa (ATV) at the Belgian embassy in Abuja or the French consulate-general in Lagos (both Member States representing the Netherlands for Schengen visa in Nigeria). You are required to hold an ATV while transferring through the Netherlands.
The Netherlands has made representation arrangements for short stay visa applications with other Schengen countries, in Nigeria these are Belgium and France. The Belgian embassy in Abuja and the French consulate-general in Lagos are responsible for all Schengen visa applications in Nigeria.
Applications via the Belgian embassy in Abuja
Nigerians or other nationals should submit their application via the Belgian embassy in Abuja if they are residing in one of the following states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, FCT Abuja, Yobe, Zamafara.
Applications have to be submitted at the Belgian Visa Application Centre (TLS) in Abuja.
Any questions about the visa process should be addressed to: visa.abuja@diplobel.fed.be.
Applications via the French consulate-general in Lagos
Nigerians residing in the states not mentioned under those that should apply at the Belgian embassy, should submit their application via the French consulate-general in Lagos.
From Thursday, March 5, 2020, visa applicants will only be admitted at VFS centres in Lagos after registration on France-Visas and booking of an appointment on VFS Global website and payment of the VFS Global service fee online. Booking tables are available on VFS Global website for each city. Visa fees will continue to be paid upon submission at VFS Global visa centre.
Any questions about the visa process should be addressed to: contact@ambafrance-ng.org.
The Netherlands embassy cannot assist with the visa application process.