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Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution.
We are available to provide routine citizenship services, answer questions, and assist citizens in emergency situations, as well as offer guidance on documentation and other consular matters. For U.S. citizens residing or traveling overseas: Country Specific Information for the Netherlands
PLEASE NOTE: We advise that U.S. citizens renew their passports at least 8-months in advance of expiration. Do not make travel plans with an expired (or soon to expire) passport, or a passport without sufficient validity or visa pages. Passport renewals take 4-weeks and cannot be expedited overseas. When entering or leaving the United States, as per section 215 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1185), all U.S. citizens, including children with a claim to U.S. citizenship, are required to present a valid U.S. passport upon entering the United States. As of June 2026, U.S. citizens, presumptive U.S. citizens, and dual nationals will have their ESTA denied, even if it was previously approved.
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) is a formal document certifying the acquisition of United States citizenship at birth for a person born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents who meet the requirements for transmitting citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad serves as official proof of U.S. citizenship, establishing a child’s legal status at birth when they are born in another country.
When to Apply: We recommend that parents apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad as soon as possible after their child’s birth, though applications are accepted up until the child’s 18th birthday. Please note that while the CRBA establishes citizenship, it is not a travel document. Therefore, you must apply for your child’s first U.S. passport at the same time as the CRBA. For your convenience, the CRBA and first passport are processed during a single, combined appointment at the U.S. Consulate Amsterdam. You should secure both documents before making any travel plans to the United States. Per U.S. law, all U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must enter and depart the United States using a valid U.S. passport.
Applying for a CRBA is a simple process. You must first gather the required documents and submit them to us online. The online system will allow you to complete a CRBA application for your child, upload the required documents, and pay the CRBA application fee. After you have completed all the required steps, you can schedule an in-person CRBA and first passport appointment for your child at the U.S. Consulate Amsterdam.
American Citizens in need of emergency support can contact the U.S. Embassy. Click here for emergency contact information.
Are you a U.S. citizen who needs a passport?
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
American Citizens in need of emergency support can contact the U.S. Embassy. Click here for emergency contact information.
Are you a U.S. citizen who needs a passport?
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money via Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
If you live in Netherlands and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Ireland.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). For questions about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, please visit the FATCA FAQ.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
A person can become an American citizen in one of two ways: by birth or by naturalization. A person may be born a U.S. citizen by either jus soli, i.e., through place of birth, or jus sanguinis, i.e. through descent from his/her parents. With very few exceptions, most of which have to do with children born to foreign government officials on assignment to the U.S., a person born in any of the fifty states, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands is an American Citizen at birth, under the principle of jus soli, regardless of the nationality of his/her parents.
Social Security & Federal Benefits
If you live in Netherlands and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Ireland.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). For questions about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, please visit the FATCA FAQ.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
A person can become an American citizen in one of two ways: by birth or by naturalization. A person may be born a U.S. citizen by either jus soli, i.e., through place of birth, or jus sanguinis, i.e. through descent from his/her parents. With very few exceptions, most of which have to do with children born to foreign government officials on assignment to the U.S., a person born in any of the fifty states, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands is an American Citizen at birth, under the principle of jus soli, regardless of the nationality of his/her parents.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
U.S. citizen parents may transmit U.S. citizenship to their children (under the age of 18) born abroad, depending on their situation.
In addition to the naturalization process, the United States recognizes the U.S. citizenship of individuals according to two fundamental principles: jus soli (right of birthplace) and jus sanguinis (right of blood).
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) are sent to the National Archives in the United States and not kept at individual Consulates or Embassies. To request an additional copy, a replacement copy, or an Apostilled copy, you must contact the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized adoption service providers and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations states, in part, that if you are certified to Passport Services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HSS] to be in arrears of child support payments in excess of $2,500 , you are ineligible to receive a U.S. passport. If this applies to you, we recommend that you contact the appropriate State child support agency to make payment arrangements before applying for a passport.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
Do You Qualify to Pass on Citizenship?
U.S. citizen parents may transmit U.S. citizenship to their children (under the age of 18) born abroad, depending on their situation.
In addition to the naturalization process, the United States recognizes the U.S. citizenship of individuals according to two fundamental principles: jus soli (right of birthplace) and jus sanguinis (right of blood).
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) are sent to the National Archives in the United States and not kept at individual Consulates or Embassies. To request an additional copy, a replacement copy, or an Apostilled copy, you must contact the Department of State in Washington, D.C.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized adoption service providers and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
Section 51.70 (a) (8) of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations states, in part, that if you are certified to Passport Services by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HSS] to be in arrears of child support payments in excess of $2,500 , you are ineligible to receive a U.S. passport. If this applies to you, we recommend that you contact the appropriate State child support agency to make payment arrangements before applying for a passport.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility for the competence, reputation, or quality of services provided by the individuals or entities listed. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Information is supplied by the providers and has not been independently verified. Names are listed alphabetically and carry no other significance.
NL Legal AssistanceThe Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
To increase safety and reduce crime in the Netherlands, the Compulsory Identification Act came into force on 1 January 2005. Since that date, everyone age 14 years and older must be able to produce an original — not a copy — valid identity document and carry it with them at all times.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
To increase safety and reduce crime in the Netherlands, the Compulsory Identification Act came into force on 1 January 2005. Since that date, everyone age 14 years and older must be able to produce an original — not a copy — valid identity document and carry it with them at all times.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship is a personal decision that must be made by the individual. It occurs when a person voluntarily performs certain legal actions, such as taking the oath of renunciation, with the intent of giving up U.S. citizenship. Parents or legal guardians cannot act on someone else’s behalf in this process. Once the process is completed and approved, the U.S. Department of State issues a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN), which serves as the official determination that the individual has relinquished U.S. citizenship. Appointments for this service are scheduled via email.
For guidance on how to apply and schedule an appointment for a CLN at the U.S. Consulate in Amsterdam, follow the steps on our CLN Checklist
Most questions about U.S. citizen and passport services can be answered using the information available on our website. However, if you are unable to find what you are looking for, please use the U.S. Citizen Services Navigator. This tool will guide you through a series of questions to help determine your needs and the appropriate next steps. The Navigator will also direct you to the correct way to contact us for further assistance, if needed.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
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Life or death emergency?
Call 1-1-2 for Dutch emergency services.
U.S. citizen emergency assistance:
Call: +31 (0) 70 310-2209 and Press 3 for emergency support.
Alternate US number +1 301 985 8808
Dutch non-emergency services in English:
Call 0900-8844 or visit https://www.politie.nl/en/contact
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
