Visa for the Netherlands

Netherlands visa Requirement

An essential part of the application process for every visa is the requirements. You have to submit the required documents to the Dutch government to apply for a visa:

Application form

You can download the Netherlands application form from the Dutch embassy or consulate website in your home country.

Passport

It must be valid for three months from the date you will return from the Netherlands.

Photos

Two photos were taken in the past six months with a clear background. It must cover 60%-80% of your face.

Cover letter

It is from you to the Dutch government stating:

• Name
• Passport number
• The purpose and duration of your trip

Reserved return-ticket

The tickets must be valid and viable.

A copy of the passport personal details page

It must show the complete details of your passport.

Copy of previous passport and visas if you have had any

It is to show your travel history and the places you have visited.

Travel itinerary

Make it clear to the authorities the places you will visit and the things you will do.

Proof that you will return to your home country. It could be:

• Your employer’s declaration.
• Employment contract.
• Evidence or document proving your own property.
• Evidence that you or your children go to school/university.

Proof to have enough funds.

How you are going to cover your expenses in the Netherlands

Civil status proof

Your personal documents like birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, etc.

Health insurance

You have to buy health insurance valid in the Netherlands and all Schengen states. It must cover your medical expenses for €30.000.

If you want to immigrate to the Netherlands as a nurse, read our article.

TB test

You need to take a TB test to enter the Netherlands. You don’t need it if being from one of the exempt countries.

You don’t have to pass a TB test if:

• You are currently in the Netherlands under a legal residence permit.
• You were born in the Netherlands.
• Have taken a test in the latest six months to the date of the start-up visa application.
• You are a national or citizen of the EU.

Requirements based on your employment status

The requirements for your job status are as follows;

If employed

• Contract of employment
• Bank statement for the past six months
• Permission leaves from your employer.
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

If self-employed

• A copy of your business registration/business license
• Bank statements of your company for the past six months.
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

If student

• Proof of enrolment
• A no-objection letter from your school, university, or educational academy
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If retired

• Bank statements from the last six months

The Netherlands visa comes in two types:

1. Non-immigrant visas (short-stay visas)
2. Immigrant visas (Long-stay visas)

Non-immigrant visas (short-stay visas)

1. Visitor visa

Tourist visa

If you are going to the Netherlands for Tourism purposes, you might need a Tourist visa. If you need a Netherlands Tourist Visa or not depends on your nationality. The EU/EAA and all Schengen states are free of Netherlands Tourist visas. The nationals of these countries can travel to the Netherlands for up to 90 days visa-free. But many more countries need a tourist visa. Please remember that you can visit your friends and family with this visa as well. To get more info on tourist visas, you can see the How to apply for Netherlands Tourist Visa blog.

Transit visa

In case you are not an EU national and need to catch a connecting flight in one of the Dutch airports, you might need a transit visa. It also gets called A-visa. A few countries are exempt from this visa, but many more need it.

Visa for the Caribbean

You might need a Netherlands Caribbean Visa if you visit the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands. Whether you need this visa or not depends on your nationality. The Caribbean parts are as follows:

• Aruba
• Bonaire
• Curaçao
• Saba
• St Eustatius
• St Maarten

When you receive a Caribbean visa, you can travel to all six islands. You will not need a visa for every island. The Caribbean visa is a short-stay visa. You can stay on the islands for up to 90 days in 180 days. But there are multiple entries. It means you can enter and leave as many times as you want.

2. Business visa

Business visa

A Netherland Business visa lets you enter the country to do business, have meetings, sign contracts, etc. It allows you to stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries for up to 90 days to complete your task. Whether you need this visa or not depends on your nationality. To see whether you need a business visa to the Netherlands or not, you can visit the “All you should know about Netherlands Business Visa blog.”

3. Other visas

Cultural Visa

A cultural visa is for people who want to perform sport, religious, or cultural activity in the Netherlands. It allows you to enter the country and do whatever legal, and cultural purpose you have. With this visa, you can enter other Schengen countries as well.

Medical Treatment Visa

The Netherlands is also known for its medical services. Many people travel to get medical and health services in hospitals and clinics. To do so, you might need a visa that’s called Medical Treatment Visa.

Immigrant visas (Long-stay visas)

1. Student visa

Student visa

As well as a beautiful country for visitors, the Netherlands is also known for its education centers. Foreign students choose it to have high education and fun together. To study in the land of tulips, you might need a student visa. It depends much on your nationality. To learn more about it, you can visit the “Who should apply for the Netherlands Student Visa” blog.

2. Work visa

Work visa

The Netherlands is full of job opportunities due to the strong tourism industry. If you seek a job in this beautiful country, you might need a Netherlands Work Visa. There are different types of Netherlands work visas, as follows:

• Regular paid work
• Seasonal labor
• Intra corporate transfer
• Highly-skilled migrant
• European Blue Card

The mentioned types are different, and there are different regulations for each one of them. As well as an appropriate work visa, you need a Netherlands work permit. To learn more about them, please visit the How to apply for the Netherlands Work Visa blog.

Self-Employment and Startup Visa

In case you want to open a start-up in the Netherlands or work as a freelancer, you need to apply for a Self-Employment and Startup Visa. There are more requirements for a self-employment visa than for any other work visa type. The Dutch authorities are also more strict about it.

3. Family Visa

 Family Visa

In case you have a family member living in the Netherlands and want to join him/her, you might need a Netherlands family visa. The procedures depend on your nationality and your family member. The application is different if you or your family member:

• EU/EEA national
• Swiss national

4. Other

Netherlands Residence Permit

If you need to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, you need a residence permit. It allows you to stay in The country for up to five years. Whether you need it or not depends on your nationality.

Netherlands Visa Application Process

Figure out if you need a visa or not

As we mentioned above, you need to know if you need a Netherlands visa or not. You can find it out by looking through the list of countries.

Find the type of visa you need

The duration and purpose of your visit determine the type of visa you need. You might need a Netherlands visa for:

• Business
• Make a stop at one of the Dutch airports to get another flight
• Visit family or friends
• Medical reasons
• To participate in a cultural/sports/religious event.
• Short-term study and research purposes.
• Official visit.

Gather the requirements

You have to collect all the requirements for the type of visa you need. Please remember the Schengen states and the Netherlands are strict with their laws and regulations. Be careful and focus on even small details. Even one small fault in your documents could lead to a visa denial.

Reserve a visa appointment

At this stage, you should book an appointment to submit your application and requirements. Depending on the country you live in, you can apply at:

• The Dutch embassy/consulate
• A visa center authorized by the Dutch government
• The Dutch embassy, consulate, or visa center in a neighboring country

During the appointment

You submit the requirements and application. Then pay the visa fee (80 EUR) to get your application processed. You also have to go through an interview. They will ask you about your background and the purpose of your visit.

Wait for results

No, you only have to wait. It takes about 15 days to get your application processed. In particular cases, it might take up to 30 or even 60 days.

In case your visa application gets accepted, you will receive your visa stuck on your passport. If not, they will send you a letter explaining the reason.

The Processing Time for Netherlands Visa

It often takes 15 days for a Netherlands Visa to get processed. Yet, depending on your case, the Dutch workload, and political circumstances, it might take up to 30-60 days.

How Long is the Netherlands Visa Valid?

The Netherlands short-stay visa is valid for 90 days in a six months period. The validity of long-stay visas is different. The validity of particular types of visas is also different.

Extending Netherlands Visa

You can only extend the Netherlands Visa on Force Majeure, humanitarian, and emergencies. You must have a compelling reason to convince the Dutch officials that you need to stay in the Netherlands. Otherwise, you may not extend a short-stay Netherlands visa.

Let’s sum up …

In this blog, we explained all you need to know about the Netherlands visa.

We explained if you need a Netherlands visa or not, the requirements, the application process, a few FAQs, etc.

You can find all the Netherlands visa information in the world here. To find out more about the visa that suits you, go through the menu on the site. You can find all the types of Netherlands visas on the left sidebar.

You can check the Visa Library to find more information about other countries’ visas.

In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.