Passport control

All passengers are required to have in their possession valid documents necessary for entering the country of their destination. It is your own responsibility to familiarise yourself with these documents for any discussion which could arise during a control. A driving licence will not be accepted as valid identity.

For those travelling to the Benelux, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland or Denmark (Schengen countries), passport controls do not take place. However each passenger is required to always carry a valid passport or a European identity card so as to be able to provide proof of identity when requested.

We bring to your attention that each new family member must possess his or her own document proving identity and also be referenced in the passport of the travelling parent or guardian.

Period of validity of your travel documents
Out-of-date passports and identity cards are not accepted, neither is a driving licence; this is not an official proof of identity. Some countries outside the EU place extra demands on the validity period of the passport, whenever you enter or leave the country. A passport must for example, be valid for at least a certain number of months after entry to the country. We recommend that you ask for information well before you plan to travel. This can be via your travel agent, embassy or consulate of the country of destination as well as via those of the countries you will be travelling through. Whenever your passport is out of date, no longer valid for the entire length of your journey or not for as long as required by the authority/ies of the country/ies you are visiting, you should contact the local authority where you are registered. Allow enough time however for obtaining a passport or identity card. More information may be obtained via www.paspoortinformatie.nl

Dutch identity card
A Dutch identity card is accepted as a legal travel document in the following countries:
Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Austria, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), San Marino, Spain, (including the Canary Islands), Turkey, Sweden, Switzerland, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
For more information we recommend that you contact the embassy of the country concerned.

Emergency document
In exceptional circumstances and under strict conditions, an emergency document may be issued at Rotterdam Airport by the Dutch Border Police (Koninklijke Marechaussee).
They will only issue an emergency passport. This is a temporary travel document with a very restricted period of validity.

For an emergency passport the following points need to be taken into consideration:

• If you have lost or forgotten your passport or it has been stolen, you are required to make a written statement with the police, regarding the missing document. The passport will then lose its legality, will be recorded as missing/stolen and may no longer be used under any circumstance. If you have left your passport at home in error, then we advise you to return home to fetch your passport and rearrange your flight as quickly as possible.
• You must be able to supply evidence that your planned journey may not be postponed, by showing e.g. tickets or the equivalent.
• You must be able to show proof of your identity and nationality by means of legal documentation (copies not accepted).
• Simply a residence certificate whereby your nationality is referred to, is insufficient. It can however serve as additional information along with a valid driving licence.
• Children may not be entered into this type of passport. For each child a separate emergency passport must be requested. In these cases you must be able to:
  o confirm the nationality and identity of these children
  o prove that these children belong to you.
• The Dutch Border Police accepts no legal responsibility if the journey either does not go ahead or is delayed on account of the fact that your request cannot be dealt with, due to lack of certainty on the necessity of the journey, identity or nationality, or if it is considered that you failed to apply in time for the necessary travel documents from your local authority, or due to possible pressure of work at the Office of Emergency Documents.

NB
The request will not be dealt with if there is insufficient certainty regarding the claim, identity or nationality,
You can have passport photos taken at the 'Operationale Dienst/ Havendienst', which you will find on the first floor of the terminal building.
For more information please contact the Dutch Border Police (KM) in Rotterdam Airport +31 (0)10-4466333.