Short-stay visa

 

 A visa (short stay) grants the carrier the possibility to stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days.

 

With this visa, you may also visit other countries within the Schengen Area during the allowed period. This visa is required for personal visits and business.

 

The visa requirement does not apply to everyone. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality.

 

If you require a visa, then you must apply for the visa with the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence. For more information on where to apply, please contact the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The visa application is usually done through an external company, such as VFS Global or TLS Contact. The website of the Dutch embassy in your country of origin will provide further information on the application procedure. You will always be required to physically go to an embassy in order to show a valid passport and to submit a photo and biometric data. Your fingerprints will also need to be taken, even if your initial application was done electronically, unless these were taken during a prior application.

 

An application may not be submitted more than six months prior to the start of the visit to the Netherlands.

 

Before you apply for a visa, it is necessary that you provide the embassy with information and that you meet certain conditions. If you do not meet the conditions or provide insufficient information, the application may be rejected.

 

You must meet the following conditions:

  • Your passport (travel document) must be valid. At the time of application, the passport must be valid until at least three months after the end of the visa period. In addition, the passport may not have been issued more than ten years ago.
  • You may not pose a threat to the public order, national security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen countries. One of the aspects relevant to the public order criterion is whether you have ever been convicted for or suspected of committing a criminal offense.
  • You have a demonstrable travel purpose in the Netherlands. This can be proven by such documents as:
  1. proof of appointments made (letters, invitations to a wedding, funeral, event);
  2. proof of payment for events or tourist activities;
  3. a booking or reservation for a hotel or other accommodation;
  4. proof of maintained contact;
  5. copies of exchange between the applicant and the contact in the Netherlands that clarify the aim of the application;
  6. statement of a relative;
  7. copies of bank statements in the case of money transfers;
  8. proof of prior encounters.
  • If you stay with friends or family, the Dutch municipality concerned may issue a legalised proof of private accommodation.
  • You have sufficient financial means. You have at least €55 per day for the duration of your stay in the Netherlands. If you have insufficient means, then you must have someone in the Netherlands who will sponsor you financially. This could be the person inviting you, but also a third person. The sponsor must have sufficient financial means. Their income at the time of the application must be ensured for at least another twelve months. The sponsor must complete and sign a proof of sponsorship and attach proof of income.
  • You have (medical) travel insurance in your name. You can take out the insurance in your country of origin or in another country. The insurance offers a coverage of at least €30,000 for medical expenses and must be valid for the entire Schengen Area.
  • You have demonstrably sufficient reasons to return to your country of origin or residence (no risk of settlement in the Netherlands). You have socio-economic ties with the country of origin, which make returning necessary. For example, because you work, have children or have your home there. The documents that can be issued to prove this include:
  1. proof of employment in the country of origin;
  2. proof of close family ties that depend on you and why;
  3. proof of enrolment of school-aged children in a school;
  4. proof of property of a house or other real estate.

 

The application for a visa (for short-stay or airport-transit visas) costs money. There are lower fees for children under 12 years old.

 

Your application for a visa decided on within 15 calendar days. In exceptional cases, this period may be extended to 45 days. Take this into consideration and apply for a visa on time.