Dutch Visa: Types and How to Apply

Who needs a visa to travel to the Netherlands?

EU/EFTA Citizens

If you’re a citizen of a European Union (EU) or EFTA (European Free Trade Agreement) country, you don’t need a visa to live, work, or study in the Netherlands. However, you must register your presence with the local authority if your stay is longer than three months. You must also obtain a citizen service number (BSN) or a social security and tax number.

Non-EU/EFTA Nationals

Whether you need a visa for short stays depends on your nationality. If you’re from a country with visa-exemption agreements with the Netherlands like the U.S., UK, Japan, and Australia, you can travel to the Netherlands without a visa for up to 90 days within 180 days. However, you must get a short-stay visa if your country is not on the visa-exempt list.

Also, all non-EU/EFTA citizens must get a Dutch visa and residence permit for stays longer than three months; and a work permit if they plan to engage in paid employment. 

Types of Dutch visas

There are several types of visas for the Netherlands, each designed for different purposes. Here's a breakdown of the most common ones:

Short-Stay Visas

These visas are valid for up to 90 days within 180 days, allowing you to travel within the Schengen Area without needing a separate visa for each country you visit. There are three main categories of short-stay visas:

• Holiday and Family Visit Visa: This visa is for those travelling to the Netherlands for tourism or to visit family or friends. 
   
• Business Visit Visa: People visiting the Netherlands for work purposes like meetings or conferences.
   
• Airport Transit Visa: For travellers passing through a Dutch airport en route to another destination. It allows you to stay within the airport’s international transit area, but you cannot leave the airport.

Temporary Stay Visas

These visas are meant for stays longer than 90 days but typically less than one year. They include:

• Provisional Residence Permit: Also called an ‘Authorisation for Temporary Stay’ (MVV), this visa grants you entry into the Netherlands to stay for up to 90 days while waiting for approval for a longer-term residence permit.  
   
• Cultural Exchange Visa: For young adults aged 18-30 who wish to experience Dutch culture through a recognised exchange program. It is valid for up to a year and typically involves staying with a Dutch host family and participating in volunteer work.
   
• Au Pair Visa: This is similar to the cultural exchange visa, allowing individuals aged 18-30 to live with a Dutch family as an au pair for up to one year.
   
• Work Experience Visa: This visa allows trainees or apprentices to come to the Netherlands for up to one year to gain work experience.
   
• Orientation Year Visa: For recent graduates of a Dutch school or an accredited foreign program. It allows them to live in the Netherlands for a year to find work or start a business without needing a separate work permit.

Long-Stay Visas

These visas offer permanent residence in the Netherlands and include: 

• Work Visa: This is for people who have secured long-term employment with a Dutch employer. It combines a residence and a work permit, which your employer typically applies for on your behalf. There are several categories of work visas, including those for highly skilled migrants, intra-corporate transferees, and researchers.
   
• Study Visa: For people planning to study in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. Your university usually handles the application process, but you’ll need to prove you’ve been accepted to a recognised institution and can financially support yourself during your studies.
   
• Family Reunification Visa: For spouses, partners and children below 18 of Dutch residents who wish to join their loved ones in the Netherlands.

Return Visa

This visa is for foreign Dutch residents whose residence permits expired while they were outside the Netherlands, allowing them to re-enter the country. It is valid for three months to one year, depending on your situation. 

Documents required for a Dutch visa application

When applying for a visa to the Netherlands, the specific documents you need will depend on the visa type you are applying for. However, here are some general requirements that apply to most visa applications:

• Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave your country of residence and must have been issued within the last ten years.
   
• You must fill out and sign the appropriate visa application form for your visa type. You can download these forms from your country’s Dutch Embassy or Consulate’s website.
   
• Two recent passport-sized photos that meet Schengen visa photo requirements (coloured, no older than six months, and on a white background).
   
• Depending on your visa type, you will need to provide documents that support the purpose of your visit, such as your travel itinerary (for tourism), an invitation letter from a company in the Netherlands (for business visits) and an invitation from a Dutch host (for family visits).
   
• You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay. This is usually shown through recent bank statements or a sponsorship letter from someone in the Netherlands.
   
• You must provide proof of travel health insurance coverage of at least €30,000 for medical emergencies, including hospitalisation and repatriation, valid across the Schengen Area for your entire stay.
   
• Proof of a round-trip flight reservation or itinerary and proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings or a letter from the host you’ll be staying with.
   
• Documents proving you have ties to your home country, such as a job contract, property ownership, or family ties.
   
• Depending on your visa type, you may need additional documents such as a work contract, school admission letter, or proof of relationship (for family reunification visas).
   
• If your documents are not in Dutch, English, French or German, you must have them translated into one of these languages by a certified translator.

How to apply for a Dutch visa

Here's a general outline of how to apply for a Dutch visa:

1. Before starting your application, you must figure out which visa best fits your reason for travel. Once you know which visa you need, download and fill out the appropriate visa application form. 
    
2. Schedule an appointment at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country. Attend your interview, submit all the required documents and pay the visa processing fees (see below). You may also need to provide biometric data such as fingerprints. 
    
3. After submitting your application and attending the interview, wait for your visa application to be processed. This typically takes about 15 days for short-stay visas and an average of two to three months for long-stay visas.
    
4. If your application is approved, you’ll be notified to collect your visa in person or at the embassy or consulate where you applied. Always check the details on your visa, such as the validity dates, to ensure everything is correct before you travel.

Dutch visa application fee

• Short-stay visas
  • Adults: €90
  • Children (6-12 years old): €45
  • Children under 6: Free
     
• Long-stay visa: Typically €174 (but may differ by visa type)
   
• Return visa: €160

Tips on what to do in the Netherlands upon arrival 

Once you arrive in the Netherlands and if you plan to stay for longer than three months, there are a few important steps to follow to settle into Dutch life:

1. You’ll need to register with the local authority where you live. This ensures that you are entered into the Personal Records Database (BRP) to enable you to get your citizen service number (BSN). The BSN is required for almost everything in the Netherlands, from opening a bank account to accessing healthcare.
    
2. You must also open a Dutch bank account to manage your finances. You should note that you need your BSN and proof of address to open an account.
    
3. Ensure you set up utilities (electricity, water, gas) and telecommunications (internet and phone). Most companies in the Netherlands offer packages that combine services for convenience.

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