Overview

Visa Fees

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Photo specifications and fingerprints

Processing time

Download Forms

Please click here to download

Important:

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

Visa Fees

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Photo specifications and fingerprints

Processing Time

Download Forms

Please click here to download

Important:

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

If you are travelling to the Netherlands to visit family / friends (including girlfriend/boyfriend), you may apply for this visa.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Travelling with children

If you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for a minor (child under 18 years of age) there are specific requirements for the documents to be submitted (see the checklist).

When a child travels with one parent (or alone)

When a minor travels with one parent or alone a so-called “consent letter for minors travelling abroad” is needed. For more information, see the page Travelling with children on government.nl.

Visa Fees

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Photo specifications and fingerprints

Processing time

Download Forms

Please click here to download

Important:

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

Visa Fees

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Photo specifications and fingerprints

Processing time

Download Forms

Please click here to download

Important:

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

An applicant travelling for medical treatment and the accompanying person(s) can apply for a medical treatment visa.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Travelling with children

If you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for a minor (child under 18 years of age) there are specific requirements for the documents to be submitted (see the checklist).

When a child travels with one parent (or alone)

When a minor travels with one parent or alone a so-called “consent letter for minors travelling abroad” is needed. For more information, see the page Travelling with children on government.nl.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 22 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Please see the checklist for a medical treatment visa with the complete list of requirements.

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.
• For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Additional information for specific nationalities

Some countries in the Schengen area share information about visa applicants. You can read more about this on the European Commission website

Tracking the status of your application

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. Do not contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy or consulate-general about your application. It is not possible to speed up processing of your application.

If you have questions about the status of your application or if you have not heard anything after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Download Forms

Please click here to download

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

You are a foreign national (i.e. non-Dutch) with a valid long-term residence permit for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Your document was stolen, lost or has expired during your stay abroad and you have to return. In this case you need for an entry visa.

Travelling with children

If you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for a minor (child under 18 years of age) there are specific requirements for the documents to be submitted (see the checklist).

When a child travels with one parent (or alone)

When a minor travels with one parent or alone a so-called “consent letter for minors travelling abroad” is needed. For more information, see the page Travelling with children on government.nl.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 22 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Please see the checklist for a entry visa with the complete list of requirements with:

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.
• For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Additional information for specific nationalities

Some countries in the Schengen area share information about visa applicants. You can read more about this on the European Commission website

Tracking the status of your application

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. Do not contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy or consulate-general about your application. It is not possible to speed up processing of your application.

If you have questions about the status of your application or if you have not heard anything after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Download Forms

Please click here to download

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

Please note: the following procedure does not apply to family members of Dutch nationals travelling to or living in the Netherlands, unless they have recently worked/lived in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland.

If you want to travel to the Netherlands with a family member who is an EU, EEA or Swiss national, or visit them there, you can apply for visa facilitation. This usually means you can get your visa faster and free of charge.

Family members are:

• Spouse/partner/common law spouse
• The direct descendants (children) who are under the age of 21 or are dependents, and those of the spouse or partner.
• The dependent direct relatives in the ascending line (e.g. parents) and those of the spouse or partner.

An applicant will have to provide evidence that he/she falls under this category. Applications for Schengen visas for this purpose are free of charge; service fees are applicable.

Important notice:

This procedure does not apply to family members of Dutch nationals travelling to or living in the Netherlands, unless they have recently worked/lived in another EU/EER country or Switzerland.

Directive 2004/38/EC governs visa facilitation and visa exemptions for family members with a visa-required nationality of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who are exercising (or have exercised) their right of free movement. They may be entitled to a relaxed (free of charge and accelerated) visa procedure. An EU/EEA/Swiss national is exercising his/her right of free movement if he/she moves to or resides in (or has recently moved to or resided in) a member state there than that of which he/she is a national.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you can prove objectively that all of the following requirements are met:

1. You are a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss national.
   

   (This includes a spouse, registered partner, child who is under 21 or a depending family member);

2. you are accompanying the EU/EEA/Swiss national or planning to join him/her in the country they are visiting;
3. This EU/EEA/Swiss national is travelling to or is residing in another member state than that of which he/she is a national.

What else do you need to know?

• If you think you qualify for visa facilitation you will need to prove that you meet all of these criteria when you submit your Schengen visa (type C) application.
• The accelerated procedure means that you need not answer the questions on the Schengen visa application form marked with an asterisk (*), which are numbers 19, 20, 31, 32, 33 and fewer supporting documents are required.
• Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens must present documents to prove their relationship and fill in fields no 34 and 35 of the visa application form.
• The Schengen visa fee will be waived but you will need to pay the VFS service fee.

Find detailed information about the procedure for verification against EU law on the Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) website.

Parent(s) of Dutch nationals under 18

If you are the parent of a Dutch national aged under 18, and you want to travel to the Netherlands with your child, you can apply for visa facilitation if you meet the conditions.

On the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) you can find out what conditions you must meet.

Under the tab “Required documents” of this website you will find the checklist with the required documents to be submitted with your application.

When a child travels with one parent (or alone)

When a minor travels with one parent or alone a so-called “consent letter for minors travelling abroad” is needed. For more information, see the page Travelling with children on government.nl.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Visa Facilitation for family members of EU/EEA and Swiss nationals

Applicant will have to provide evidence that he/she falls under this category. Applications for Schengen visas for this purpose are free of charge.

Service fees are applicable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Go to the checklist to see which documents you need to submit with your application:

Checklist for a family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.

In case you are a parent of a Dutch national under 18:

Checklist for parent(s) of Dutch nationals under 18

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Additional information for specific nationalities

Some countries in the Schengen area share information about visa applicants. You can read more about this on the European Commission website

Tracking the status of your application

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. Do not contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy or consulate-general about your application. It is not possible to speed up processing of your application.

If you have questions about the status of your application or if you have not heard anything after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Download Forms

Please click here to download

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

If you are a business traveller who travels to the Netherlands frequently from Lebanon and you need a short-stay Schengen visa each time, find out if you or your employees are eligible for the Orange Carpet Visa Facility.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 22 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

Ask your contact person which documents you need.

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Please ask the contact person at your company or organization which documents you must submit. Always submit all required documents. If documents are missing, your application may be rejected.

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

Need help?

See more information about applying for a Schengen visa through the Orange Carpet Visa Facility on NetherlandsWorldwide.

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Additional information for specific nationalities

Some countries in the Schengen area share information about visa applicants. You can read more about this on the European Commission website

Tracking the status of your application

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. Do not contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy or consulate-general about your application. It is not possible to speed up processing of your application.

If you have questions about the status of your application or if you have not heard anything after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Download Forms

Please click here to download

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

Until further notice, your partner from a country to which an entry ban applies may travel to the Netherlands under certain conditions. Your partner may stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Children under the age of 18 can also travel with your partner.

Travelling with children

If you apply for a short-stay Schengen visa for a minor (child under 18 years of age) there are specific requirements for the documents to be submitted (see the checklist).

When a child travels with one parent (or alone)

When a minor travels with one parent or alone a so-called “consent letter for minors travelling abroad” is needed. For more information, see the page Travelling with children on government.nl.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 23.88 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

For detailed information, please visit the Government.nl page on the temporary arrangement for partners in long-distance relationships to see which documents are required.

• You must both sign Declaration of relationship for COVID-19 entry ban exemption form. On it you must indicate when your relationship started. You must also enclose proof of your relationship and time spent together. You decide what proof you send. For example:
  
  • airline tickets
  • previously used visas
  • copies of passport stamps
  • payment details showing that you spent time together somewhere (such as hotel reservations)
  • statements by third parties that you are in a relationship (such as a statement from parents or friends)
  • photos
• You must meet the conditions required for a short-stay visa if you are subject to a visa requirement for the Netherlands.

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing Time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Note for airplane crew members

If you are an airplane pilot or cabin crew member your passport will not have to remain with VFS during the processing of your visa application.

Why you might wait longer than 30 calendar days:

In some cases the processing time for your visa application may exceed 30 calendar days. Reasons why your visa application may take longer include:

• Your application is impacted by high volume.
• Your application requires further consideration.
• You need to provide additional documents.

Longer processing time for certain nationalities:

Some Schengen member states want to exchange information on visa applicants. For more information please the website of the European Commission.

Please avoid contacting NetherlandsWorldwide or the Embassy:

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. If you have any questions about the status of your application after the 30 calendar days have passed, contact the Visa Application Centre

We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting NetherlandsWorldwide regarding the status of your application. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to speed up the processing.

Thank you for your understanding.

Download Forms

Please click here to download

• Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is strongly recommended to complete the form using the online portal instead of the paper format.
• The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

If you want to stay in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom for 90 days or less, you may need a short-stay visa. This depends on your nationality. You may also need a short-stay visa if you are transiting through the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.

What is a short-stay Caribbean visa?

• A short-stay Caribbean visa lets you travel throughout the Dutch Caribbean, i.e. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten.
• A standard short-term Caribbean visa is issued for a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It is a multiple-entry visa.
• A short-stay Caribbean visa does not permit you to undertake paid work. If you would like to work, you must have a work permit.
• A short-term Caribbean visa is not valid for travel to the European part of the Netherlands or to any other Schengen area country.

Check here for nationalities which do not require a visa.

Making an airport transit through the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom

Check if you require a visa

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 22 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here

Step 1: Complete the application form

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Step 2: Get all the required documents

Get all the documents required for your application.

For every document submitted, you must provide the original (to show at the counter) and a photocopy (to be attached to the visa file). The documents must have been drawn up in (or translated into) Dutch, English, French or Spanish.

Step 3: Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment at your preferred location using the online appointment system.

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Additional information for specific nationalities

Some countries in the Schengen area share information about visa applicants. You can read more about this on the European Commission website

Tracking the status of your application

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. Do not contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy or consulate-general about your application. It is not possible to speed up processing of your application.

If you have questions about the status of your application or if you have not heard anything after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Download Forms

Caribbean Visa Application Form

1. Complete the online Caribbean visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is mandatory to use this form to apply for a Caribbean Visa.
2. The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

If you wish to stay in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom for longer than 90 days, in most cases you will need a residence permit. If you have applied for one already, please be aware that you may require a visa to collect your residence permit in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius or St Maarten.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

Please note that VFS Global offers an additional optional service for visa applicants in Lebanon. VFS charges an extra service fee for this service, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge:

Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of Euro 23.88 (equivalent in USD) (for submission with biometrics) inclusive of VAT per application will be levied for applicants applying at the visa application centre.

• Visa fee payment can only be made in cash and Card.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

Please note: you can apply for a visa only when you have applied for your residence permit and your application has been approved. For Curaçao, provisional approval is enough.

Step 1: Complete the application form

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Step 2: Get all the required documents

Get all the documents required for your application.

For every document submitted, you must provide the original (to show at the counter) and a photocopy (to be attached to the visa file). The documents must have been drawn up in (or translated into) Dutch, English, French or Spanish.

Passport

A passport or other travel document containing at least two blank pages. It should be valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.

Documents for children under 18

If you are applying for a visa for a child under 18, you must provide the child’s birth certificate and an identity document for each parent.

Proof of legal residence

You must be able to prove that you are legally resident in the country you are applying from. To do this, you can show your passport, residence permit or a visa.

Photo

Please see under Photo specifications.

Photocopy of letter from immigration service

Has your residence permit application been approved by the local immigration service? If so, you must submit a photocopy of the letter your sponsor received.

• Aruba: temporary admission document (VTA)
• St Maarten: landing permit
• Curaçao: you do not need to provide a copy of the letter
• Bonaire, St Eustatius, Saba: authorisation for temporary stay (MVV-BES)

You should also bring any additional documents listed in the letter.

Step 3: Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment at your preferred location using the online appointment system.

Photo specifications and fingerprints

As a part of your visa application, your digital photograph will be taken and you will need to provide your fingerprints

Read more about the biometric data collection when you attend the Visa application centre.

Processing Time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Note for airplane crew members

If you are an airplane pilot or cabin crew member your passport will not have to remain with VFS during the processing of your visa application.

Why you might wait longer than 30 calendar days:

In some cases the processing time for your visa application may exceed 30 calendar days. Reasons why your visa application may take longer include:

• Your application is impacted by high volume.
• Your application requires further consideration.
• You need to provide additional documents.

Longer processing time for certain nationalities:

Some Schengen member states want to exchange information on visa applicants. For more information please the website of the European Commission.

Please avoid contacting NetherlandsWorldwide or the Embassy:

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. If you have any questions about the status of your application after the 30 calendar days have passed, contact the Visa Application Centre

We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting NetherlandsWorldwide regarding the status of your application. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to speed up the processing.

Thank you for your understanding.

Download Forms

Caribbean Visa Application Form

1. Complete the online Caribbean visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. It is mandatory to use this form to apply for a Caribbean Visa.
2. The portal will guide you through the application questions and will make sure you do not forget to enter any necessary values.

Overview

If your application for a short stay visa for the Netherlands has been refused, you can object against this decision by sending an objection letter to the IND. If your appeal or objection is successful, your application will be approved.

This visa category is solely for applicants whose appeal or objection has been approved by the IND.

There is no need to schedule an appointment for this category. Applicants can walk in from 08 to 09 AM.

Check the details on your visa

Upon receiving your visa at VFS, please ensure that all the information is accurate, including your name and the visa’s validity period. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area.

Is there a mistake on your visa? Notify the agent at VFS Global immediately.

If you notice the mistake at a later stage or if your visa was sent by courier, please contact the Dutch embassy immediately.

During which period can I travel?

The fields 'From' and 'Until' on your visa tell you how long your visa is valid for.

• ‘From’: the first day that you can enter the Schengen area

• ‘Until’: the last day by which you must leave the Schengen area

How long can I stay?

The field ‘Duration of stay’ on your visa tells you how many days you may stay in the Netherlands and other Schengen countries, within the period of validity mentioned at 'From' and ‘Until’. This is a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. If you get a multiple-entry visa you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the Schengen area must not total more than 90 days.

If you overstay, you risk a two-year visa sanction for all Schengen countries.

Visa Fees

If your objection has been approved after an appeal, you do not have to pay the official consular visa fee again. However, you will have to pay the VFS service charge.

• All payments will be collected in USD cash only.
• Applicant shall be levied a VFS service charge of Euro 22 (equivalent in USD) inclusive of VAT.
• For the VFS Global additional services for visa applicants please click here.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all documents. Your application may be rejected if you fail to do so.

• A valid travel document
• The no-objection letter (and a copy) stating that your objection has been successful

• Any documents mentioned in the no-objection letter (if applicable). For example, a valid:

  • hotel
  • flight reservation
  • proof of insurance

Complete the online Schengen visa application form. Only forms completed online receive a unique code. Forms without a unique code may cause issues when processing your application. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. Handwritten forms are not accepted.

For more information, please visit the Ministry website Where can I get a visa application form for the Netherlands?

Photo specifications and fingerprints

NOT APPLICABLE

Processing Time

You can apply for a visa up to 6 months before your travel. The average processing time is 15 calendar days. The maximum is 45 calendar days.

During your appointment you will be asked to submit your passport so that your visa application can be processed. You will get your passport back when your visa application is completed. There are only two situations in which you do not have to submit your passport:

• if you do not live in the country where you are submitting the visa application and you need your passport to travel home; or
• if you are airline flight crew or cabin crew.

Note for airplane crew members

If you are an airplane pilot or cabin crew member your passport will not have to remain with VFS during the processing of your visa application.

Why you might wait longer than 30 calendar days:

In some cases the processing time for your visa application may exceed 30 calendar days. Reasons why your visa application may take longer include:

• Your application is impacted by high volume.
• Your application requires further consideration.
• You need to provide additional documents.

Longer processing time for certain nationalities:

Some Schengen member states want to exchange information on visa applicants. For more information please the website of the European Commission.

Please avoid contacting NetherlandsWorldwide or the Embassy:

You can track the status of your application using your track & trace code. If you have any questions about the status of your application after the 30 calendar days have passed, contact the Visa Application Centre

We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting NetherlandsWorldwide regarding the status of your application. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to speed up the processing.

Thank you for your understanding.

Download Forms

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