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The most competitive and best economy in Europe, plus the 17th largest economy in the world, makes the Netherlands attractive for everyone. People seek to develop business ties with Dutch companies. If you want to develop your business in the Netherlands, you may need a visa to travel to this beautiful and successful country.

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.

Who Needs and Does not Need a Netherlands Business Visa

The answer depends on your nationality. A few countries are free of the Netherlands ‘ short-stay visa. In case you are a national of these countries, then you don’t need a Netherland business visa. Please remember that if you need to stay for longer than 90 days, then you have to apply for the Netherlands long-stay visa.

Netherlands Business Visa Application Process

If you need a Netherland short-stay visa, then you need a business visa too. The countries that are not free of the Netherlands’ short-stay visa have to get a business visa. The duration of their stay does not matter.

For example, you are from Iran. Its nationals need a Netherland visa for short stays. So, they need to get a business visa if they stay less than 90 days in this country.

For example, you are from an EU country, like France. Its nationals don’t need a visa for short stays in Netherland. So they don’t need a business visa for stays up to 90 days. If they need to stay longer, they have to apply for a Netherland long-stay visa.

The Requirements for Netherlands Business Visa

The requirements for a Netherlands business visa are as follows:

Application form 

Netherlands Business Visa application form. Completed, signed, and dated.

Passport

It mustn’t be older than ten years and valid for three months over the date you will leave the Netherlands. You should also provide:

  • A copy of your passport’s details page
  • Copy of previous passport or visa if you have had any.

Travel itinerary

Provide a detailed plan of what you will do in the Netherlands, the places you will visit, and the people you will meet.

Proof of accommodation

You must show evidence of the place you will stay in the Netherlands. A booked hotel and a rental contract will suffice. In case your host will provide it, he/she must provide the proof.

Proof to have enough funds

The Dutch officials need to know how you will cover your expenses in the country. If your employer will support you, e/she needs to declare it in an official letter on the company’s letterhead. If you are your own supporter, you need to provide bank statements proving to have enough balance to cover your cost.

In case your host will cover you. he/she needs to state it in an official letter.

Health insurance

It must be valid in the Netherlands and the entire Schengen states to cover your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR.

Proof you will go back to your home country

You should prove that you have no intention to stay in the Netherlands. You could do it through:

  • An employment contract.
  • School/university information.
  • Home rental contract.

Proof to have a business purpose

You need to state that you will visit the Netherlands to do business. You can do it through:

  • Proof of sponsorship from your host.
  • Business ties with the Dutch company inviting you.
  • An invitation to attend a meeting/conference

An invitation letter from the Dutch

The Dutch company whom you will visit should provide an invitation letter.

  • The company you will be visiting.
  • Organizer/host of the event or training.

Covering letter from your company stating the complete travel plan on a Company letterhead signed by your employer.

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Requirements based on your job status

  • For employees:
    • Contract of Employment.
    • Bank statement of the past six months.
    • Permission letter from the employer.
    • Income Tax Return (ITR).
  • For the self-employed:
    • A copy of your business registration/ license.
    • Your company bank statement for the past six months.
    • Income Tax Return (ITR).

Please consider that the Netherland business visa requirements might vary from country to country. The Dutch authorities have the right to ask for more documents.

Proof of paid Dutch Business visa fees

Keep the receipt of paying the visa fees or any other document of payment.

Want to immigrate to the Netherlands as an engineer? Read our article.

Netherlands Business Visa Application Process

The application process is as follows:

1. Find out if you need a visa or not

We covered this part for you in the above sections. You need to know whether you need a visa or not. As explained, a few countries are free of The Netherlands short-stay visa and business visas like the EU members and the US. So before you begin the application process, see if you need the visa or not.

2. Complete the application form

In this case, you should complete the Netherlands Business visa application. You could get it from the embassy’s website in your home country or through a personal visit. Complete it with the appropriate form of your documents, then, print, sign, and date it.

3. Gather the requirements

Collect all the required documents, as we explained above. Please note that the Dutch embassy/consulate can ask for more documents.

4. Arrange a visa appointment

You should reserve an appointment with the nearest Dutch embassy/consulate to submit applications and documents. During the appointment, you have to pay the fee to get your application processed.

5. Attend the interview

During the appointment, you should go through an interview. The Dutch officials will ask you a few questions about your history and the purpose of your trip. Please be honest and give an appropriate answer. The interview determines the fate of your visa.

6. Pay the fees

The fee for the Netherland business visa is 80 EUR. Keep the receipt as you might need it later.

7. Wait for the processing

Now is the time for patience. You must wait until your application gets processed. If it is accepted, the officials will send you the visa stick to your passport. If rejected, they will send an explanation letter stating the reason.

Where should you submit the Requirements?

In case you are traveling to more than one Schengen country, you need to know a few points.

  • In case you are only visiting Netherland (one country), you have to apply to its embassy/consulate.
  • In case you will be visiting more than one Schengen country. You have to apply to the embassy, consulate, or visa center of the country you will stay longer.
  • In case you will spend the same amount of time in Schengen countries-you have to apply to the consulate/embassy of the country you will arrive first.

Netherlands Business Visa Processing Time

The processing time for a Netherlands Business Visa is about 15 days. Yet, it might take to 30 to even 60 days in special cases.

Netherlands Business Visa Validity

If you are wondering how long is the Netherlands Business Visa valid, you should know for 90 days. Depending on the type of visa, validity is different:

  • Single-entry- you may only enter one time and exit the country.
  • Double-entry- you have the right to enter the Netherlands twice.
  • Multiple-entry-you can enter as many times as you want.

The type of entry visa is up to the Dutch officials’ decision. They will give you a visa to perform your business.

Can You Extend your Netherlands Business Visa?

You may not extend the Netherlands Business Visa. If you need to stay longer, you should apply for a long-stay visa. Although in some emergencies or Force majeure cases, you can extend this visa. But you must have a compelling reason to convince the Dutch authorities.

Can You Work Under a Netherlands Business Visa

You have no right to work in Netherland under a Business Visa. To do so, you must apply for a Netherland work visa.

Do you Have to Buy Health Insurance for a Netherlands Business Visa?

YES. You have to buy health insurance valid for the Netherlands and the entire Schengen Area. It must cover your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR.

Let’s sum up…

In this blog, we explained all you need to know about Netherlands Business Visa. This visa also has a sub-category named startup visa.

We covered the people who need and don’t need this visa, requirements, application, fees, FAQs, validity, 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 of the site. You can find all types of Netherlands visas in the left sidebar.

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.

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2 Comments

  1. Roman says:

    Is it possible to visit the Netherlands without an invitation letter?

    • support says:

      No, if you want to visit the country for business purposes, you have to provide an invitation letter from a Dutch company or person. The purpose of your trip must be business; otherwise, apply for a Netherlands tourist visa.