Checking In And Passport Control

The check-in procedures at Schiphol are exactly the same as at all airports:

Check-in

Firstly, check-in at your airline’s desk. All of the check-in desks are located in Departure Halls 1, 2 and 3.

Present your ticket and passport at the desk, where your luggage will be weighed. Any excess luggage weight must be paid for; check with your airline for limits.

You will then be issued with your boarding card, which you need to show at your gate to access your flight. Please note: there are objects (aside from the obvious) which you are not permitted to carry in your hand luggage and must be packed in your hold luggage, including but not limited to simple things such as electricals, scissors and aerosol cans. Remember to check these with your airline before you arrive at Schiphol, or click here.

Arrivals

Make your way to Passport Control by following the ‘Arrivals’ and ‘Exit’ signs.

After showing your passport, you will arrive at baggage claim.

Once you have collected your baggage, you must pass through Customs.

Customs

You must pass through Customs, whether you have nothing to declare or otherwise. If you are not entering Schiphol with anything you have purchased abroad, you may pass through the green ‘Nothing to Declare’ gate. If you need to declare any items you have bought which exceed your personal allowance, you must declare these or you could face strict penalties.

When traveling from Schiphol, as with all airports, it is advisable to check-in no later than two hours before your flight is due to depart, if you are traveling to a destination within the EU. If you are traveling beyond the EU, arrive no later than three hours before. This will allow you plenty of time to check in, go through passport control and reach your gate.

All of the check-in desks are located in Departure Halls 1, 2 and 3. Passport Control Following check-in to depart from Schiphol, you will need to go through Passport Control and Security Checks.

The procedure, as with other airports, is:

• Place your hand luggage onto the conveyor belt, where it will be scanned using x-rays.
• Place metallic items such as coins, keys and mobile phones into a tray before walking through the metal detection gates. Don’t forget your belt buckle may be made of metal.
• If the alarm sounds, allow security staff to search you to find the cause of the alarm. Don’t worry; just follow their instructions at all times.
• After being cleared by security, collect your hand luggage and all items placed in the tray.

Please note: if you are leaving from Departure Hall 1, you will need to go through this process immediately following Passport Control. If you are leaving from Departure Halls 2 or 3, this will take place at the boarding gate. 

Airport Charges

When leaving from Amsterdam Schiphol, you will be asked to pay airport charges. These consist of a Passenger Service Charge and a Service Charge, and pay for the costs of cleaning, maintenance and running of security equipment. The charges are:

• Passenger Service Charge: EUR 11.87
• Security Service Charge: EUR 10.84
• Total airport charge: EUR 22.71

Please note: if you enter Schiphol from a Schengen country, you will not need to show your passport and may progress immediately to baggage claim. However, you will still need to pass through Customs whether you have something to declare or not.