Visa Information

Overview

This visa is solely for the purpose of leisure travel including vacationing, cruising, sightseeing and other recreational activities. If during any portion of your visit to Netherlands you intend to engage in business, or official duties you must refer to other relevant visa categories.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a tourist 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

A business visa is required if during any portion of your visit you intend to conduct business or commercial activities, e.g. meetings, conferences, training.

Such a visa can only be issued to travellers not being paid for work by an entity within the Netherlands. If you intend to undertake paid work in the Netherlands you will need to obtain a work permit.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a business 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

If you are traveling 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

Please note that on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a visiting family or friends 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

Nationals of certain countries need an airport transit visa to change aircraft at an airport in a Schengen country. See the list of countries whose nationals need an airport transit 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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for an airport transit 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

If you need a visa to travel to the Netherlands, in some situations, you may be eligible for free visa facilitation. Check whether your situation meets the conditions.

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 of 35 Euro 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.

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.

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 07:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

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 Euro cash only.
• Applicant shall be levied a VFS service charge of 35 Euro.
• 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.

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.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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..

• 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a visa for medical reasons 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

A visa for study or to attend a political, academic, cultural, sporting or religious event can only be issued to travelers not being paid for work by an entity within the Netherlands.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a visa to study or to attend a political, academic, cultural, sporting or religious event 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

This category of short-stay Schengen visa is for people who are a remigrant, or partners and/or underage (step/foster) children of remigrants. A remigrant is a person who previously migrated to the Netherlands, but returned to his/her former country and is currently receiving a remigration benefit. Remigrants must be 55 years old or over to apply for a remigrant visa.

When you apply for this visa type, you will have to provide evidence that you fall under this category.

A short-stay visa lets you visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. It is also valid in the other Schengen countries.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

Please see the checklist for a remigrant 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

This visa is only for Cultural event.

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)

For more information, see the page Travelling with children (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website).

Visa Fees

Please note that on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, 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 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

Please see the checklist for attending a cultural event 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?

Make an appointment online

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment 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.

Overview

A seafarer is any person who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship in the maritime sector or the international inland waterway sector.

Blue Carpet Program

The Blue Carpet program is meant to facilitate visa applications made by seafarers to allow them to embark or disembark a ship in the Netherlands, or to attend a course/training in the Netherlands.

A seafarer can apply for a visa under the Blue Carpet Program regardless of which shipping company/agency the seafarer works for, and regardless if they board a ship under the Dutch flag or a foreign flag.

Requirements

Whether or not The Netherlands is the correct country to process the visa application is determined by the (main) purpose of travel, or the country of the port where the ship is docked (Article 5 Visa Code). It does not matter where the seafarer enters the Schengen area. They may enter the Schengen area in The Netherlands (for example Amsterdam Schiphol Airport) or through another Schengen country (for example an airport in Paris).

As shown in below examples it is not determined by the flag under which a ship sails.

Entry into Schengen area through the Netherlands or through another Schengen country:

• Dutch flagged ship + embarking in Dutch port => Apply for visa to the Netherlands
• Spanish flagged ship + embarking in Dutch port => Apply for visa to the Netherlands
• Panamanian flagged ship + embarking in Dutch port => Apply for a visa to the Netherlands
• Dutch flagged ship + embarking in Spanish port => Apply for a visa to Spain
• Spanish flagged ship + embarking in Spanish port => Apply for a visa to Spain
• Panamanian flagged ship + embarking in Spanish port => Apply for a visa to Spain

The issuing authority reserves the right in case of doubt concerning a visa application to check with the relevant maritime and / or port authority if the ship where the applicant will embark is indeed expected and if the applicant is listed for embarkment on the ship. When crossing the border, the border authorities will check the conditions for admission in an independent and strict manner. The border authorities are authorized to cancel the visas of seafarers who are not eligible (anymore) for admission.

Advantages of the Blue Carpet Program

• Your visa application will be treated with priority.
• Your visa will be issued as a multiple entry visa with a longer validity.
• You don’t need to submit your visa application in person if you submitted your fingerprints and photo for a Schengen visa application in person in the last 59 months.
• You are allowed to apply for this visa nine months before departure.

Visa Fees

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

  Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge (for submission with biometrics) per application will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

• All fees are non-refundable.
• Please note that VFS Global offers additional optional services for visa applicants. VFS charges an extra service fee for these services, to be paid by the applicant only in cash.

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 see the checklist for a seafarer 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?

Before you visit the Visa Application Centre, you will need to make an appointment using the online booking 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.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge and COVID-19 fee:
  

  Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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. When filling in the online application form, you will see which documents you need to provide and which requirements they must meet.

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.

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 on top of the official visa fees, VFS Global in Suriname charges an extra service fee, to be paid by the applicant.

• For the official visa fees charged by the Dutch government, click here.
• VFS service charge and COVID-19 fee:
  

  Apart from the visa fee, a VFS service charge of 35 Euro will be levied for applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre.

  If you submit on a Saturday, service costs of €21.60 will be charged. These costs are added to the extra service costs of €35.00 that you would normally pay.

• All fees are to be paid in cash in Euro’s
• 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.

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

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. Below you can find out which documents you need to provide and which requirements they must meet.

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 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.