Conditions to extend a Schengen visa
You can only extend a Schengen visa or free term in very special situations. For example, if you are unable to leave the Netherlands due to serious illness or force majeure. The IND is quite strict in this area. In any case, your total stay may not exceed 90 days. You also need to have enough money to support yourself. And prove that you are one medical travel insurance have for the extended period.
Applicable regulations
Pursuant to Article 33 of the Visa Code, the period of validity of the visa is extended if the applicant has demonstrated that for force majeure or humanitarian reasons he is unable to leave the territory of the Member State before the expiry date or the end of the authorized stay. to leave. No fees will be charged for this extension. If there are compelling personal reasons, the validity of the visa can be extended. The fees for this extension are € 30,00. In any case, the extension of the visa's validity under Article 33 of the Visa Code may not result in a total stay of more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Assessment of the application for extension of the validity period of the visa
The validity period of a visa is extended if, in the opinion of the IND, the visa holder has demonstrated that he or she is unable to leave the territory before the expiry of the validity of the visa due to force majeure or humanitarian reasons.
Force majeure occurs, for example, if the flight plan of the visa holder's aircraft has to be changed unforeseen, for example as a result of weather conditions or as a result of a strike.
There are humanitarian grounds, for example, if the visa holder suddenly falls ill and is unable to travel, or if a close family member residing in the Netherlands suddenly falls ill or dies unexpectedly.
The period of validity of a visa can be extended if the visa holder demonstrates that the extension of the period of validity is justified for serious personal reasons. There are compelling personal reasons, for example, if the visa holder has traveled to the Netherlands to pick up a family member who had to undergo an operation and while the day before the planned departure the trip has to be postponed by two weeks because the medical situation of the patient suddenly deteriorates, delaying hospital discharge by two weeks.
Another example of a compelling personal reason may be the unforeseen lengthening of (business) negotiations for which the visa holder has come to the Netherlands. For example, if someone has come to the Netherlands to participate in a family gathering and this visa holder has met an old acquaintance during his stay, which makes him want to stay longer than planned, this is not a compelling personal reason that justifies extending the validity of the visa.
IND reluctant to extend visa
The IND is reluctant to extend the validity of the visa because, in principle, the integrity and reliability of the applicant can only be adequately tested in the country of origin. There must be new facts and/or circumstances that were not already known when the visa was applied for. It is emphasized here that the (Dutch) representation has already verified the purpose, the lawfulness of the intended stay and the reasons put forward by the applicant for the visa application. This also includes the duration of the intended stay and the associated costs. If the conditions are met, the (Dutch) representation normally issues a visa for the requested intended length of stay. The assessment framework for an application to extend the validity of a visa can be described as follows:
- there is force majeure, humanitarian reasons or compelling personal reasons;
- these grounds are unforeseen; they only occurred after the visa was issued;
- the application is properly motivated and substantiated with documents (e.g. flight details, statement from a medical specialist or general practitioner, obituary notice, invitation from a company);
- the grounds put forward are related to the stay here in the country.
The general conditions must be met in full (see below).
It is irrelevant for the assessment whether the visa was issued by a Dutch representation or by another Schengen country that has or has not represented the Netherlands.
Renewal terms and conditions
An application to extend the period of validity of a short-stay visa that meets the aforementioned conditions must also meet the following general conditions:
- an application for an extension must be submitted within the validity period of the visa;
- the foreign national meets the conditions referred to in Section 12 of the Aliens Act (Vw). That is, the stranger
- observes the rules as laid down in the Vw;
- has sufficient means to cover the costs of the stay in the Netherlands and the costs of the return journey;
- does not work in violation of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act;
- poses no threat to public order or national security.
- the applicant's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure;
- the applicant has demonstrated that he has travel medical insurance for the additional period of stay;
- in the case of medical treatment, it must be demonstrated that the costs are covered by the insurance or can be financed otherwise;
- the length of the total stay must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period;
- admission to another country must be guaranteed. In addition, there must be a period of at least three months between the date up to which the visa is extended and the final date on which admission of the foreign national to another country is guaranteed. When determining this period, attention should not only be paid to the period of validity of the passport, but also to the visa contained in that travel document for return to the country of origin or transit through third countries.
To extend your Schengen visa, you must contact the INDsystem. (NB! If you don't meet the above conditions, you don't stand a chance).
