Unlike residence permits, which cover long-term stays, visas apply to short-term stays in the Netherlands. A Dutch visa is necessary for some nationalities who plan to stay for a short period (up to 90 days) or transit through the Netherlands.
There are four types of visa for the Netherlands:
The Dutch startup visa, aimed at entrepreneurs who want to set up a business in the Netherlands, is actually a type of residence permit.
Since Dutch immigration law can be complicated, it's a good idea to contact an immigration lawyer when it comes to difficult cases.
Whether you need a visa to enter the Netherlands depends on your nationality.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries do not require a visa or a residence permit for the Netherlands.
On top of this, many countries have reciprocal agreements with the Dutch government which allow their citizens to enter the Netherlands without a visa.
If your country is on the list of nationalities that do not require a Schengen visa then you can travel to the Netherlands without a visa and stay for up to 90 days (within a 180-day period). If you want to stay longer than 90 days you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Citizens of countries that are not included in the above list will need to apply for a Dutch visa before travelling to the Netherlands.
If you want to stay for 90 days or less, you must apply for a Schengen or short stay visa. If you want to stay longer than 90 days in the Netherlands, you will need to apply for a residence permit with an MMV, also known as the TEV Procedure.
Regardless of whether you require a visa or not, all internationals must fulfil a set of general requirements to be able to enter the Netherlands:
There are four main types of visas in the Netherlands, as follows:
If you want to come to the Netherlands for a short time for a reason such as a holiday, business trip or family visit, and your country does not have a non-visa agreement with the Netherlands, then you need to apply for a short stay visa. The Schengen visa, also known as a short stay visa (C-visa), is for a temporary stay of up to 90 days (over a 180-day period) in the Schengen Area, which includes the Netherlands. The 180-day period starts the day you enter the Netherlands or another Schengen country.
The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries that removed border control at mutual borders and introduced a common visa policy.
| Austria | Liechtenstein |
| Belgium | Lithuania |
| Czech Republic | Luxembourg |
| Denmark | Malta |
| Estonia | The Netherlands |
| Finland | Norway |
| France | Poland |
| Germany | Portugal |
| Greece | Slovakia |
| Hungary | Slovenia |
| Iceland | Spain |
| Italy | Sweden |
| Latvia | Switzerland |
You can use the short stay visa in two ways: either as one consecutive 90-day stay, or as two or more stays spread over the 180 day period.
If you wish to spread out your visit, you will need to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. You can specify when you apply whether you want single or multiple entry. For example, if you travel to the UK during your visit, you should ask for a multiple entry visa as the UK is not part of the Schengen Area.
If you stay for 90 days consecutively, you need to stay outside the Netherlands (and the Schengen Area) for another 90 days before applying for a visa again.
If you want to enter and exit the Schengen Area two or more times on a multiple entry visa then you may want to calculate the total number of days you spend within the area to make sure you don’t exceed the 90-day limit. Use this Schengen calculator to see how many days you have spent in the Schengen Area and how many days you have remaining.
When you submit your visa application you must also provide certain documents. It is advised to contact your nearest Dutch embassy or consulate in advance to know the exact requirements, but you will usually be asked to submit the following:
The transit visa or airport transit visa (A-visa) is for international airport passengers making a stopover at an airport in the Netherlands or another Schengen country, while travelling to a destination outside the Schengen area.
With a transit visa you are not permitted to leave the airport. If you wish to exit the airport or continue your journey by car, train or bus to another Schengen country, you need to apply for a Schengen visa. See how to apply for a transit visa on the Netherlands Worldwide website.
The return visa is for internationals living in the Netherlands who have an urgent reason to travel abroad such as a family wedding, illness or death, and whose residence permit is either lost, stolen or being processed.
The return visa allows you to travel abroad and then legally re-enter the Netherlands, even if your residence permit is lost or invalid. The return visa is a national (Dutch) visa so it is not valid in other Schengen nations. You can apply for a return visa at your closest IND desk in the Netherlands.
If you want to come to the Netherlands for more than 90 days, and you are required to have a Schengen visa, you need to apply for an MVV and a residence permit (TEV Procedure) before you travel.
The MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) is a kind of long-term visa or provisional residence permit that allows you to come to the Netherlands and pick up your residence permit. Most non-EU nationals will need an MVV to come to the Netherlands. You can read more about the MVV and TEV procedure on our residence permit page.
If you are required to have a visa to enter the Netherlands then you must apply for one before you travel.
You must apply for a visa for the Netherlands in person at the Dutch mission (embassy or consulate) in your country of residence. If there is no Dutch mission in your country then you should contact a Dutch mission in a neighbouring country.
You will need to schedule an appointment to submit your visa application. You must bring all the required supporting documentation to your appointment. If your application is approved, the Dutch mission will put a visa sticker in your passport.
It is recommended that you don't pay for your travel to the Netherlands before your visa has been confirmed.
| Type of visa | Fee |
|---|---|
| Schengen visa single entry (90 days) | 60 euros |
| Schengen visa multiple entry (90 days) | 60 euros |
| Schengen visa children 6-12 (90 days) | 35 euros |
| Schengen visa children 0-6 (90 days) | 0 euros |
| Transit visa (ages 12 and above) | 60 euros |
| Transit visa children (6-12 years) | 35 euros |
| Transit visa children (0-6 years) | 0 euros |
| Return visa | 148 euros |
Note: You may incur additional costs, for instance if you need to have documents translated or certified.
The EU has an agreements with certain countries to reduce the cost of the short stay and transit visas from 60 to 35 euros. These countries are: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine, Russia and Serbia.
You are not permitted to work in the Netherlands while on a visa unless your employer has organised a work permit for you.
Schengen visas are valid from your stated arrival date for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. The Schengen visa is not valid before that period. A transit visa is valid for the time that you are transiting between flights in a Dutch airport.
If you have compelling personal circumstances that force you to stay longer in the Netherlands, you can request to extend your visa. Otherwise, if you want to stay longer in the Netherlands, you will need to return to your country of residence and apply for a MVV and residence permit (known as the TEV procedure).
Under exceptional circumstances, it is possible to extend your Schengen visa. This is done via the IND and you must meet the following conditions:
A visa extension due to compelling personal circumstances costs 30 euros. A visa extension due to a force majeure such as a natural disaster, or for humanitarian reasons, is free.