Details On How To Apply For Netherlands Tourist Visa

You may need a Netherlands Tourist Visa to vacation in the Netherlands. Short Dutch stay Tourist visas allow 90-day stays in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Schengen within six months.

To visit family or friends in the Netherlands, you may need a Netherlands Visitor Visa. The Netherlands has a Schengen visa regime like other Schengen countries.

Netherlands Tourist and Visitor Visa Application

To apply for a Tourist visa to Netherlands you must follow these steps:

• Check if you need to apply for a Dutch Tourist/Visitor Visa.
• Know when is the best time to apply.
• Find out where to submit the application.
• Book the appointment.
• Complete the document file.
• Attend the interview.
• Pay the Visa Fees.

Check if you need to apply for a Dutch Tourist/Visitor Visa

If you are from a country whose citizens require a visa to enter the Schengen area, you will also require a tourist visa for the Netherlands.

Nationals of Schengen area nations, as well as nationals of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, are not need to obtain a visa to visit the Netherlands for tourism purposes.

Aside from that, several additional countries are free from a Netherlands tourist visa if they intend to enter the country and stay for a short length of time.

Know when is the best time to apply

The latest you can apply for a Dutch Visitor/Tourist Schengen visa is 15 working days before your trip, and the earliest is three months before your trip. However, it is recommended that you apply a minimum of three weeks prior to your trip.

Find out where to submit the application

You must apply for a tourist or visitor visa to the Netherlands at the Dutch embassy/consulate in your country. If your country does not have a Dutch embassy or consulate, you must apply to the embassy or consulate of the other Schengen area countries to which they have outsourced visa filing.

You should submit your Dutch tourist/visitor visa application as follows:

• At the embassy/consulate of the country, you intend to spend the most amount of time in – if you will stay longer in one specific country.
• At the embassy/consulate of the country which will be your first stop – if you will spend an equal amount of time in each.
• Book the appointment
• Before applying for a visitor’s visa for the Netherlands, you need to book an appointment. This can be done either online or in-person, depending on the country.

Complete the document file

You need to submit the following documents:

• A completed and signed Netherlands Tourist/Visitor visa application form.
• Two recent photos in compliance with the Schengen specifications.
• Copies of any previous visas along with all entry/exit stamps.
• Your passport or national ID along with:
• A copy of your passport’s personal details page.
• Copies of any previous passports’ personal details pages.
• Evidence of accommodation during your stay in the Netherlands. – Hotel reservation, home rental, or proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation from your host.
• Bank statements for the last three months. You must prove that you have sufficient means to provide for yourself during your stay (at least €34 per day).
• Proof of purchased medical insurance that covers your entire stay in the Netherlands.
• Criminal certificate from the police in your home country. Proof that you do not pose “a risk to public order, national peace or national security”, meaning you do not have a criminal record or on-going criminal case
• Proof you will return to your country after your visit. Proof that there is no “risk of settlement” like an employment contract, school information, or home rental contract.
• Documents ensuring your visit is for tourism purposes. A travel itinerary or a reservation with a tourist agency.
  Statement from employer stating the duration of your absence. If employed.

If you will be staying with a host/sponsor in the Netherlands you will have to submit these additional documents to the Embassy/Consulate:

• A proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form. The document should be signed by your host and submitted to the
• Dutch municipality in which they are registered.
• Other documents you plan on visiting them. This applies in the event you will not be staying with them.
• Proof you or your host can financially cover your visit. This includes:
• Copy of your host’s employment contract which is valid for a minimum of 12 months from the date of visa application
• Host’s proof of income – ie. their three most recent payslips
• Your bank statements for the last three months and last three payslips. If you will be financially covering your visit yourself
• Proof of relationship to the person you plan to visit. This only applies in certain cases. It could be a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or a certificate of registered partnership.

Note that depending on your country, there could be a document we have not included that you will be required to have. If you are asked to provide further documents, you must do so as soon as you can.

Attend the interview

You have to show up to your appointment in person holding the required documents. On the day of your application, you will also enter a visa interview and pay a non-refundable Dutch Schengen visa fee

Pay the Visa Fees

You will have to pay a Dutch visa fee which is €80 per person.

Those exempt from a Dutch visa application fee include:

• Children under six years of age.
• An academic researcher.
• A family member of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
• Students or teachers traveling for studying or training purposes.
• People under 25 who are traveling to partake in non-profit organizational events.

The prices for visas to the Netherlands are subject to change. For more information regarding the Netherlands visa fees, visit here.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Netherlands Tourist Visa?

The processing time for a Netherlands Tourist visa can range from 15-30 working days. In some cases, it may take longer and in others, shorter. Make sure to check in with the embassy/consulate you are applying at.

If your Netherlands tourist visa application is accepted, you will receive a visa sticker on your passport which shows the dates during which the visa is valid.

If your Netherlands tourist visa application is rejected, you will receive a letter along with the rejection informing you whether you are eligible for an appeal. If you are eligible, the letter will have information on how to proceed.