Do you go through passport control when leaving Amsterdam?

You won't be going through customs at Schiphol until you return from your trip. Unless you're travelling to another Schengen country, you'll be going through passport control after the security check. And that process is handled by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, not Dutch Customs.



Whether you go through passport control when leaving Amsterdam Schiphol Airport depends entirely on your destination. If you are flying to another country within the Schengen Area (such as France, Germany, or Italy), you generally do not go through passport control, as these are considered "domestic" flights within a common travel zone. However, if you are flying to a non-Schengen country (such as the UK, USA, Canada, or Japan), you must pass through the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (border police) passport control desks or automated e-gates after security. In 2026, the Netherlands has also implemented temporary internal border controls (scheduled through mid-2026) for certain high-risk flights even within the Schengen zone to combat irregular migration, so you should always carry your passport regardless of your destination. For non-EU citizens, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is also being fully implemented in 2026, which involves biometric scanning (face and fingerprints) at the border for all departures to non-EU countries, replacing traditional physical passport stamping.

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Answer — Yes, You Will Make Your Flight In one word, yes, you should have ample time to make your connection. You may not have enough time to sit and enjoy a coffee or a Heineken, but – barring a late arrival from Detroit – you won't have to sprint through the airport. Schiphol is an easy airport to navigate.

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The good news is that you do have a small amount of time to visit the city. The wonder of Amsterdam airport is how easy it is to get out of and into the airport. If you are transiting within the Schengen area, you won't need to pass through immigration, so getting into the arrivals hall is relatively fast.

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If your overseas stopover is in European countries, it depends on whether the countries you are staying in and travelling are within the Schengen Zone or not. If both of the countries are within the Schengen Zone, you can skip customs and immigration.

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You go thru passport control and you're in the Schengen zone of the airport and can continue to your gate. Two hours is plenty of time for this, but make sure to go thru passport control/immigration first before you stop to eat or drink something or to shop.

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When you reach Schiphol's Security area, an officer will check your hand baggage and clothing to see whether you have any dangerous or banned goods with you. Security takes longer if you have a lot of bags with you, so please put any unneeded items into your check-in bags.

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You then need to walk from the gate to passport control and the luggage/customs area – this process can take anything up to 60 minutes, depending on gate location, immigration queues and number of border posts open. Obviously if you have checked luggage to pick-up this will slow you down a few more minutes.

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The minimum required transfer time at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is usually around 50 minutes.

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Do You Have To Go Through Customs During A Layover? Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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Once you are admitted to the Schengen Area, you can generally travel anywhere within it without going through formal passport control procedures again. When flying between two airports within the Schengen area, it will be as if you are taking a domestic flight.

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Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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In August 2022, CBP began a pilot program as part of its Simplified Arrival Program to eliminate ink stamps in passports as a means to verify the entry of foreign nationals. The ultimate goal is to streamline and digitize the entry process for travelers at all international airports across the United States.

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It is undoubtedly easier to use this service since it only requires downloading the app. In addition, there is no need for an application and an in-person interview. The downside is that there are fewer Mobile Passport queues than Global Entry, and there is no guarantee they will be open.

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This usually depends on your airline, your destination and the opening times of the check-in desk. In general, you should arrive at Schiphol: 2 hours before departure, when travelling to a European destination. 3 hours before departure, when travelling to an intercontinental destination.

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Schiphol is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, and the 4th largest in Europe. The airport is built as one large terminal split into 3 large departure halls.

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