A apply for a visa for the Netherlands requires the necessary preparation. For example, you must provide a number of documents that demonstrate the purpose of your trip when you book a Schengen visa for the Netherlands.
Those who want to come to the Netherlands from outside the EU for tourism, family visits or partner visits, for example, must in many cases first apply for a visa. That's about it nationalities requiring a visa are. We call such a visa a Schengen visa because the visa is valid for all 26 Schengen countries, including the Netherlands. Officially, a visa for the Netherlands is called: a Short stay visa (type C).
A visa application for the Netherlands (Schengen) requires preparation time because you have to provide a number of documents, such as a visa application form, a medical travel insurance and supporting documents to prove the reason for your trip.
How long can you stay in our country with a visa for the Netherlands?
You can apply for a visa for the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days. After that, the foreign guest (also referred to as a foreigner) must leave the country for at least 90 days. You will receive the visa for the number of days you indicated in the application. On the visum for the Netherlands stands:
- From which date the visa is valid (from that day you may enter the Netherlands).
- How many days you may be in the Netherlands (the Schengen area).
- From which date the visa is no longer valid (you must then leave the Netherlands).
- Whether you one (single entries) or several times (multiple entries) may enter the Netherlands with a valid visa.
Requirements for applying for a visa in the Netherlands
To apply for a visa for the Netherlands, you must meet a number of conditions:
- You have a valid passport or other travel document. Your passport or travel document must not have been issued more than 10 years ago. The passport or other travel document must also be valid for at least 3 months after departure from the Netherlands.
- You are not a threat to public order or national security. Or for the international relations of the Netherlands or another Schengen country.
- You have a (Dutch) medical travel insurance which is closed in your name. Your sponsor (host/guarantor/accommodation provider) can make the insurance close for you in the Netherlands. The travel insurance has a minimum cover of € 30.000 for medical costs in the Netherlands and the Schengen area. The insurance will in any case cover the following costs:
- Costs for returning to the country of origin for medical reasons. The country of origin is the country of which you have the nationality.
- Urgent medical care.
- Emergency treatment in hospital.
- If you have only registered with Alvast, you do enough reasons to return to your country of origin or country of continuous residence. For example, because you work there, have (school-going) children or own a house. A return ticket alone is not enough. The country of continuous residence is the country where you are allowed to stay for more than 3 months. Because you have a valid residence permit there or are waiting for a decision on a residence application.
Procedure to apply for a visa
You have to take a number of steps to apply for a visa for the Netherlands. These are the most important:
- Check conditions – check whether you meet the above conditions.
- Collect documents – read all about the mandatory documents here: obligatory schengen visa documents >>
- Make a request – read more about the procedure here: Schengen visa application procedure >>
- Pay costs – you have to pay fees, read more here: cost-schengenvisa/
- Await decision application – The application is usually handled by the Consular Service Organization (CSO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The CSO must make a decision within a decision period of 15 days. The CSO can extend the decision period to 45 days if the CSO submits your application to the IND. Do you want to know what the status of your visa application? Please contact the Dutch representation where the application has been submitted.
- Decision request – The decision on your application for a visa for the Netherlands is in a letter. The decision is positive or negative. Positive decision: you get a short-stay visa. Negative decision: you will not get a visa. You can resist this decision objection
- Get your visa and travel to the Netherlands – You collect the visa from the Dutch representation where you applied (or they will return your passport by courier). Your visa for the Netherlands will be stuck in your passport as a sticker. When you enter the Netherlands, you may be checked again. We therefore recommend that you all documenten that you need for the application.
Source: IND
