Can you fly to Amsterdam without a passport?

U.S. citizens are required to carry a U.S. passport book or valid Dutch residence permit. The U.S. passport card is not acceptable to the Dutch as identification. See also the Dutch Government website for further information.



Whether you can fly to Amsterdam without a passport depends entirely on your nationality and the country you are departing from. If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) or Schengen Area country (such as France, Germany, or Italy), you do not need a passport to fly to Amsterdam. You can travel using only your national government-issued Identity Card (ID card). However, a driver's license is generally not considered a valid travel document for international flights, even within the EU. For everyone else—including citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia—a valid passport is absolutely mandatory. Even though the UK was formerly in the EU, post-Brexit rules require all UK travelers to present a passport with at least three to six months of validity remaining. Furthermore, as of 2026, many non-EU travelers who previously entered visa-free will also need to have their ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) approval linked to their passport before boarding. In summary: unless you are an EU/Schengen citizen with a national ID card, you cannot board a flight to Amsterdam without a passport. If you are a Dutch citizen traveling back home from within the EU, your ID card is also sufficient for your return journey.

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