EU/Schengen flights: ID card or passport
Are you flying to a destination within the European Union or the Schengen Area (Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Germany, etc.)? Then as a Dutch national you need a valid Dutch passport or a valid Dutch identity card (ID card). The document must be valid for the whole trip; there is no extra validity period after departure for Dutch nationals within the EU.
Watch out with these two destinations outside the EU:
- UK (Great Britain) — passport required since Brexit
- Turkey — a Dutch ID card is enough, but your document must still be valid for at least 150 days on arrival in Turkey. If you change planes in a country where an ID card is not sufficient, you need a passport.
It is always safer to travel with a passport, even within the EU — some hotels and car hire companies do not accept an ID card.
Good to know
A Dutch identity card is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for children under 18. Check the expiry date before you leave — an expired ID card will be refused, even within the EU.
Outside the EU: usually a passport
For most destinations outside the EU and the Schengen Area you need a valid passport. For example:
- US, Canada, Australia — passport + ESTA, eTA or eVisitor
- Morocco, Egypt, Thailand — passport
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi — passport
- Asian destinations — passport
Turkey is an exception: you can also travel there with your ID card (see above).
Your travel document is checked at the check-in desk and at passport control (for flights outside Schengen). Has your passport expired? Then you will be refused.
Validity requirements: how long must your passport still be valid?
How long your travel document must still be valid differs per country:
- Within the EU/Schengen: valid for the whole trip
- Some countries, such as Thailand and Egypt: valid for at least 6 months on arrival
- Turkey: valid for at least 150 days on arrival (passport or ID card)
- Other countries: sometimes only valid for the length of your stay
So always check the travel advice for your destination on netherlandsworldwide.nl and the requirements of your airline (checked in October 2026; rules can change).
Practical example: you land in Thailand on 1 August 2026. Your passport must then be valid until at least 1 February 2027. If it is not, apply for a new passport.
Good to know
A new passport is normally ready about one week after you apply at your municipality. With the urgent procedure (at an extra charge; the amount differs per municipality) it is usually ready after about 2 working days. Always check your passport at least 8 weeks before departure.
Visa: when do you need one?
As a Dutch national you do not need a visa for many destinations — but for some countries you do:
No visa needed for a short stay:
- Thailand — since 15 September 2026 for a maximum of 30 days (previously 60 days)
- China — with a Dutch passport for a maximum of 30 days, for tourism, business, family visits and transit; this scheme applies until 31 December 2026
Visa on arrival (applied for on the spot):
- Indonesia (paid, around €30)
- Egypt (paid)
Electronic travel authorisation:
- US: ESTA required ($40, valid for 2 years)
- Canada: eTA required (CAD 7)
- Australia: eVisitor required
Visa needed in advance (often applied for online as an e-visa):
- India, Russia, Saudi Arabia
Always apply for a visa well in advance — some applications take several weeks.
Passport expired? These are your options
Do you discover just before departure that your passport has expired? Then these are your options:
1. Apply for an urgent passport at your municipality — at an extra charge; the passport is then usually ready after about 2 working days
2. Fly with your ID card — only if your destination allows it (within the EU/Schengen or to Turkey)
3. Rebook your flight — if none of the options works
Call your municipality straight away for an urgent appointment. In busy periods (summer holidays) appointments are scarce — do not wait.
Good to know
Can your trip really not be postponed? Then as a Dutch national you can apply for an emergency passport at Schiphol from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Bureau Nooddocumenten in Departure Hall 1, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You must show that the trip cannot be postponed; the emergency passport costs €60 and is only valid for that one trip. Do not count on it as a safety net.
Leave on time: even with the right documents
Are all your documents in order? Then also make sure you are at Schiphol on time. Schiphol and KLM advise arriving 2 hours in advance for flights within Europe (also outside Schengen, such as to the UK or Turkey) and 3 hours for intercontinental flights. Book your taxi in good time via our booking form — then you have one less thing to worry about on the morning of departure.
