Apply for a Schengen visa

How do you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for the Netherlands?

A Schengen visa for the Netherlands applying is quite a difficult job. It costs time, money and you have to start on time because you usually have to collect and hand in several documents. If you want a family member, friend or partner to come to the Netherlands for a short stay, it is good to help him or her. For example, you can already take out medical travel insurance in the Netherlands and arrange a possible guarantee.

You can apply for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands at the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you live. You can also apply at an embassy of another Schengen country that represents the Netherlands in your country of residence. With a short-stay visa, or Schengen visa, you can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days (within a period of 180 days). You get a visa for a certain period. It can also be shorter than 90 days. As long as your visa is valid, you can travel freely between 26 Schengen countries.

You can apply for a visa 3 months before the start of your trip to the Netherlands

When you have checked whether your nationality needs to apply for a visa for the Schengen area and it turns out to be the case, you can start applying for a visa. This can be submitted at the earliest 3 months and no later than 15 calendar days before the intended date of travel to the Netherlands. It is best to submit a visa application well in advance, preferably at least one month before the intended departure date. 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 one of the Schengen countries.
• You have a destination in the Netherlands.
• You have sufficient financial means for the stay in the Netherlands, the transit and/or the return journey
• You have a (medical) travel insurance that has been taken out in the name of the visa applicant. The person in the Netherlands who invites you can also take out the insurance for you.
• You have sufficient reasons to return to your country of origin or residence.

​A short-stay Schengen visa (up to 90 days) costs ​€60 For children aged 6 to 12: €35 For children up to the age of 6: ​€0 The costs of an external service provider such as VFS Global may amount to a maximum of € 30 (half of the fee for a visa application).

What 10 steps do you have to take to apply for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands?

You have to take a number of steps to apply for a Schengen visa, such as:

1. Visit the website of the Dutch embassy in the country of origin and read the information about applying for a Schengen visa.
2. Download the mandatory forms like it visa application form and fill it in (use the checklist).
3. Provide the form if necessary proof of guarantee and accommodation in the Netherlands.
4. Let a passport photo make according to requirements.
5. Request medical travel insurance that meets the conditions.
6. Make an appointment to submit the required documents, an intake interview and visit the embassy, ​​consulate or external service provider Vfs global. Biometric data is therefore also collected.
7. Submit the required documents and pay the fees (costs).
8. Wait for the decision (visa has been granted or not).
9. Collect your passport (or wait for it to be sent to you) and check the visa sticker.
10. Go on a trip (always take copies of the mandatory documents with you when you travel to the Netherlands, you can ask for this at border control).

Note: Never buy a plane ticket before you are sure you will get the visa. A travel schedule (travel reservation to and from the Schengen area in your name) is sufficient for the visa application.

Some other important tips and facts

Also keep in mind the following:

• The legal decision period for a Schengen visa is a maximum of 15 days. The legal decision period starts on the day that the visa application has been submitted and paid. If more research is needed, the decision period can be extended to a maximum of 30 days.
• During the visa application process, the applicant will not be in possession of his or her passport.
• An application without the complete set of documents as mentioned in the checklist can lead to a rejection of a visa application. In addition, the competent authorities can always ask for additional supporting documents.
• In the event of a rejection, the paid visa fee will not be reimbursed (including other costs that you have had to incur).
• You can read more tips for applying for a Schengen visa here: Tips for applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands.