Schengen visa application procedure

About the Schengen visa application procedure

Once you have checked whether your nationality requires you to apply for a visa for the Schengen area and it turns out that this is the case, you can proceed to apply for a Schengen visa.

This can be submitted at the earliest 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days (due to the normal maximum decision period) before the start of the intended travel date. It is therefore advisable to submit the application well in advance, preferably at least one month before the intended departure date.

You usually no longer apply for a visa for the Netherlands at the Dutch embassy or consulate. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has engaged an external service provider (intermediary) for this purpose. This service provider is called VFS Global. They receive and verify your visa application, but they are not responsible for the visa assessment; that is done by the CSO in The Hague.

You must also meet the following conditions:

• You have a valid travel document, for example a passport. The travel document must be valid for 3 months after the end of the visa period. It should also not be older than 10 years.
• You are not a threat to public order, national security or the international relations of any of the Schengen countries.
• You have a destination in the Netherlands. For example, a hotel reservation or an invitation from a referent (partner, family, friend, etc.) in the Netherlands. This sponsor has a valid residence permit or is a Dutch national. The sponsor uses the Proof of form guarantee and/or private accommodation.
• You have enough financial resources for the stay in the Netherlands, the transit and/or the return journey:
  • You have at least € 55 per person per day for the duration of your stay in the Netherlands or someone in the Netherlands guarantees you. This can be the inviting referent, but also a random third person. The guarantor has sufficient income. At the time of the application, this income must still be available for at least 12 months. The sponsor uses the Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form, together with the additional documents listed under checklist.
• You have a (medical) Travel Insurance which is closed in the name of the visa applicant. The person in the Netherlands who invites you can also take out the insurance for you. The insurance has coverage of at least €30.000 for medical expenses in the Schengen area. The insurance will in any case cover the following costs:
  • Costs for returning to the country of origin for medical reasons (repatriation).
  • Urgent medical care and emergency treatment in hospital.
• If you have only registered with Alvast, you do sufficient reasons to return to the country of origin or residence. For example, because you have a job there, (school-going) children or your own home. A return ticket alone is not enough to prove this.

Steps for a visa application

Below we describe the steps you need to take to apply for a Schengen visa:

1. First see if you visa required are.
2. Visit the website of the Dutch embassy in the country of origin.
3. Download the mandatory forms like it visa application form and fill it in (use the checklist).
4. Provide the form if necessary proof of guarantee and accommodation in the Netherlands.
5. Let a passport photo make according to requirements.
6. Request medical travel insurance that meets the conditions.
7. Make an appointment for the delivery mandatory documents and an interview.
8. Visit the embassy, ​​consulate or external service provider Vfs global.
9. Let collect biometric data.
10. Submit the required documents and pay the fees (cost).
11. Wait for the decision (visa has been granted or not).
12. Collect your passport (or wait for it to be sent to you) and check the visa sticker.
13. Go on a trip (copies of the mandatory documents bring) or appeal.

Take biometric data

All visa applicants, regardless of their nationality, must appear in person when submitting their application. They will be required to submit their biometric data once every five years . Consular departments or the external service provider VFS Global will collect biometric data – a digital photo and fingerprints of all 10 fingers – for registration in the Visa Information System (VIS). The Visa Information System (VIS) is a central database that enables the exchange of data regarding short-stay visas between Schengen member states.

Payment of fees

There are costs associated with applying for Schengen visas . These costs are called fees. These must be paid during the first visit to the embassy, ​​consulate, or the external service provider VFS Global. The external service provider also charges fees for its services.

Mandatory documents

The most important condition for a successful visa application is gathering and submitting the correct documents, including the mandatory travel insurance . If you submit the supporting documents completely and correctly, the chance of a visa application being approved is, on average, even 95 percent.

Related articles:

• biometrics
• What does a visa for the Netherlands cost?
• Costs for Schengen visa
• Apply for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands
• Insurance for Schengen visa