Frequently asked questions about the situation in the Middle East

Since 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States have been attacking targets in Iran. Since then, there have also been counterattacks by Iran throughout the region. This has consequences for the security situation in several countries and areas.

Check the travel advice for the countries and areas in the region (information in Dutch):

Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

We hope that you are well and in a safe place. Our advice at this time is as follows:

• Register for the Information Service, if you have not already done so. 
• Are you a British traveller stranded in Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian Territories (West Bank), Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates? And do you meet the conditions? Fill in the Crisis Contact Form. 
• For safety reasons, stay away from crowded places and keep yourself informed through local media reports. Follow the instructions of the local authorities.
• Do you have questions about a planned flight? Contact your travel organisation, airline or insurer. 
• Read the travel advice for the country or area where you are (information in Dutch). 
• Find out what to do in a crisis situation. 
• Let your family and friends know how you are doing.

Are you in Iran? Then also check the frequently asked questions about the situation in Iran.

We hope that your family members/friends are in a safe place. It is important that they register with the Information Service. You can also do this for them from the Netherlands. This will enable the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send them information and contact them if necessary.

Are your family members/friends stranded Dutch travellers? And do they meet the conditions? Then they can register via the Crisis Contact Form.

Please note that communication channels such as the internet and telephone may be down. Are you unable to reach your family or friends? Keep trying.

How you can leave the crisis area depends on the country or area where you are now. We use the Information Service to inform Dutch nationals in the area about the various options. Register for the Information Service if you have not already done so. Messages sent are also shared on the government's live blog (information in Dutch). 

Is your flight cancelled? Do you have a flight reservation? Contact the airline for more information.

We are preparing different options. Where possible, we will also inform stranded travelers about ways to leave independently. We continue to monitor the situation and share information about departure options through Information Service messages.

Dutch nationals can register through the Crisis Contact Form from 03-03-2026 until 06-03-2026 (12:00 noon Dutch time). We advise you to register. This helps us understand how many stranded Dutch travelers are still in these countries and what they need to leave independently.

We understand that you may feel very uncertain right now. You probably want clear information as soon as possible.

We ask for your patience. Thousands of Dutch citizens have already registered through the Crisis Contact Form. We are checking all registrations as quickly as we can.

So far, one flight has left with about 85 Dutch citizens. We hope to arrange more flights in the coming days. This is still a complex operation. If you can join a flight, we will contact you.

Please do not go to the airport if you have not heard from us. Wait until we contact you and confirm that you have a seat on a flight.

Consular services have been temporarily suspended for some countries and territories. Would you like to contact the Dutch representative in the country where you are currently located? Select your country or territory and view the contact details of the embassy or consulate-general. Please note: this information may change on a daily basis. Therefore, please keep a close eye on this page. 

Need help from the Dutch government? You can contact NederlandWereldwijd 24/7 on +31 247 247 247 or via WhatsApp +31 857 737 400.

Are you currently in the crisis area? And has your British passport or ID card been lost or stolen? For some countries and areas, it is still possible to apply for an emergency document.

Select your country or area to see what you can do

Did you have an appointment at a VFS Global application centre? Please check the VFS Global website to see if the application centre is still open.

Do you have any questions about your appointment at VFS Global? Please contact your application centre.  

Would you like to apply for a Schengen short-stay visa? Whether this is possible depends on where you are now. Find out how to make an appointment in your country or region. Is the application location closed? Then it is temporarily not possible to apply for a Schengen short-stay visa. Keep an eye on the website for updates.

Has the IND approved your application for an MVV visa sticker? Whether you can collect it depends on where you are now. Find out how to make an appointment in your country or region. Is the application location closed? Then it is temporarily not possible to collect your MVV visa sticker. 

Do you have a question about applying for an MVV visa sticker at the embassy or consulate-general?

Please contact NederlandWereldwijd

Do you have a question about applying for an MVV or residence permit from the Netherlands?

Please contact the IND