{"id":40150,"date":"2026-01-07T14:55:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T19:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/?p=40150"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:27:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:27:42","slug":"netherlands-airport-transit-visa-and-schengen-visa-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indianeagle.com\/travelbeats\/netherlands-airport-transit-visa-and-schengen-visa-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying between USA and India via Amsterdam? Indians Need Airport Transit Visa in Some Events"},"content":{"rendered":"

The day following the New Year celebrations, parts of Europe including the Netherlands, woke up to travel chaos caused by heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures<\/strong>. A thick blanket of snow brought operations to a standstill at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, a popular transit hub in Europe for flights from USA to India and beyond. Hundreds of flights to and from AMS Schiphol Airport have been grounded leaving travelers stranded in and out of Europe.<\/p>\n

KLM Dutch Airlines alone cancelled 300 flights on Monday, 5 January,<\/strong> with the harsh winter weather being anticipated to continue in the coming days. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport\u2019s international transit area fell short of accommodation for travelers returning to North America from India and other countries after a holiday break. Among the stranded passengers, Indians could neither exit the airport nor the airside transit area to seek better facilities, as it usually requires a visa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Netherlands
This AI-generated image is for illustration purpose only<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do Indians need a Visa to leave Schiphol Airport during a layover?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, Indians require a visa to enter the Schengen zone outside Amsterdam International Airport in the Netherlands. It is a regular Schengen Visa. Even a valid US visa or Green Card (LPR) is not considered a substitute for this mandatory requirement. Non-US citizens are mostly under the wrong impression that they can exit the Schiphol Airport terminal during a long layover or delayed connection, just because they have a US\/Canadian PR or visa.<\/p>\n

If Indians, among the affected passengers of Air France-KLM flights<\/a><\/span>, had a short-stay Schengen Visa, they could have managed decent accommodation outside the airport while in transit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do Indians need an Airport Transit Visa for Amsterdam Schiphol?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Usually, Indian Passport holders do not need an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) for airside connection or transfer at Schiphol AMS Airport. However, they may need a transit visa for the Netherlands in specific events listed below:<\/p>\n