If a foreign guest who requires a visa is staying in the Netherlands, for example your partner, family or friend, you may want to travel with him or her within Europe. Traveling with your visa in Schengen countries is possible, because a Schengen visa is valid for the whole Schengen area, so an important part of Europe.
You can therefore also visit 26 other countries with a visa for the Netherlands, an important advantage of a short-stay Schengen visa. Here you can read more about traveling in the Schengen area with a Schengen visa.
Schengen countries
The Netherlands is part of the Schengen area. The Schengen area consists of several European countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen area. This means that citizens of these countries can travel freely to the countries in the Schengen area. The Schengen area consists of the following countries:
- Belgium
- Denmark (without Faroe Islands and Greenland)
- Germany
- Estonia
- Finland
- France (without French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion)
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Norway (without Spitsbergen)
- Austria
- Poland
- Portugal (including Azores and Madeira)
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- Spain (including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands)
- Czech Republic
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Passport required
If a person requiring a visa wants to travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country, a valid passport or other travel document is always required. The passport or travel document must not have been issued more than 10 years ago. After leaving the Schengen area, the passport or other travel document must be valid for at least 3 months.
Don't forget your medical travel insurance!
De medical travel insurance which you had to take out for a Schengen visa application is valid throughout the Schengen area. Remember to take the policy with you when you travel in the Schengen area. Some countries require proof that you have full insurance for emergency medical expenses and repatriation.
Traveling with your visa in Schengen countries
With a valid 'single entry' visa you can enter the Schengen area once. You may be in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days out of 180. During these 90 days you can travel to and be there in all Schengen countries. Are you entering the Schengen area via another country? Then you have to show that the Netherlands is the destination. Traveling with your visa in Schengen countries is therefore possible with a valid passport and a Short Stay Visa (Schengen Visa).
Multiple-entry visa for multiple trips
Does your foreign guest have a multiple-entry Schengen visa? Then he or she can also enter and leave the Schengen area several times with this visa. The first time the foreign national enters the Schengen area, he must show that the Netherlands is the destination.
Don't need a visa?
Visitors from certain countries outside Europe may travel to the Netherlands without a visa free term one may be in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days out of 180. During this period, the foreigner may also enter and leave the Schengen area.
Traveling with a provisional residence permit (mvv)
You can enter and leave the Netherlands and other countries in the Schengen area with a valid mvv.
Traveling with a residence permit
With a valid Dutch residence permit, you may be in all countries of the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days per 180 days.
Source: IND – The above text is for information only, no rights can be derived from it. Always check with the official authorities for the current regulations.
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