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Applying for a visa
Where can I apply for a visa?You can apply for a visa at a diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) of a Schengen country, even if you are not a national of the country where the mission is situated. Under the Schengen Agreement, honorary consuls are not authorised to grant visas. You should apply for a visa at a mission belonging to the Schengen country that is the main destination of your journey. If you cannot specify your main destination, you should apply at a mission belonging to the Schengen country you will enter first. In places where the diplomatic mission uses the services of a private company to collect visa applications, it is also always possible to apply for a visa directly at the diplomatic mission.
How do I apply for a visa?The first step is to complete a visa application form (download the form in pdf from the link on the right). You should then go to the mission, taking the completed and signed application form and one passport photo (also if you are applying for an authorisation for temporary stay).When submitting your application, you must be able to produce a travel document that will be valid for at least three months after your visa expires. What conditions must I meet?The number and type of supporting documents to be enclosed will depend on the circumstances in the country where you are applying and the nature of the visa application.You can obtain more information from the mission where you submit your application or from its website. In some cases you can obtain information about visas in the local language. The visa-issuing authority will establish whether your visit poses a danger to public order, national security or international relations, and whether you have already been refused entry to the Schengen Area. It will also take account of the purpose of your visit in assessing these risks and the risk that you may remain in the country illegally. You should be able to prove that you have enough financial means at your disposal to cover your travel and accommodation expenses. You need to have a travel medical insurance to cover any expenses for repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment. The insurance must: 1. be valid throughout the Schengen territory
The amount of financial means considered “enough” will depend on the purpose of your visit (you may for instance intend to buy goods), your accommodation (whether you intend to stay in hotels or with friends or relatives), and the duration of your visit. Alternatively, you can give the name of a “guarantor” – a person in the Netherlands willing to guarantee payment of any costs the Dutch state may incur as a result of your visit. The applicant should obtain the travel medical insurance in their state of residence. Where this is not possible the applicant can obtain the insurance in another country or the host can obtain the insurance for the applicant in his own place of residence. When submitting your visa application, you should also enclose supporting documents relating to your visit (such as a return ticket), its purpose (such as an invitation), and your ability to pay all your travel and accommodation expenses (such as traveller’s cheques, bank statements, and payslips).
How long does it take to get a visa?It can take a minimum of a few days up to a maxiumum of two months to process a visa application, depending on whether further investigation is necessary in the Netherlands. In exceptional cases, an investigation will take longer than two months. You should therefore apply for a visa as soon as possible to avoid the disappointment of having to postpone your visit.What can I do if my visa application is refused?If the visa-issuing authority refuses your application, it will send you a copy of the decision explaining why. You may object to this decision within four weeks of its issue (details of where to send your objection are enclosed with the decision). You may also authorise a person in the Netherlands to object to the decision on your behalf or to represent you at any hearing. This person (usually your “guarantor”) must have written authority to do so (in Dutch, French, German, or English) signed by you. The visa-issuing authority will then decide on your objection. If it decides in your favour, it will authorise the mission to issue you with a visa. If it decides against you, it will send you a copy of its decision, explaining why it has rejected your objection.
What does a visa cost?When you submit a visa application, you must pay a fee. If your application is refused, the fee will not be refunded but retained to cover the processing costs. The Schengen countries have harmonised visa fees. As a rule, you must pay the fee in the local currency. In exceptional cases (for instance, if the local currency is not convertible), you must pay in another currency. You may also have to pay other costs incurred in processing your application (such as the cost of sending faxes). Visa fees:
How long is a visa valid for?Visas are normally issued for the duration you specify, with a maximum of three months (90 days) per six months. The visa-issuing authority will want to see your flight ticket to check the dates on which you will be entering and leaving the country. In the “duration of stay” box on the sticker, you will find the number of days during which you may remain in the Schengen Area. In the “from” box, you will find the date on which your visa becomes valid. You may enter the Schengen Area on that date or afterwards. In the “to” box, you will find the date on which your visa expires. As soon as you enter the Schengen Area, the days in the “duration of stay” box start to count down. You must leave the Schengen Area no later than the day on which you have reached your maximum number of days or on the date stated in the “to” box. I want to enter the Netherlands more than once. Can I do so?A visa can also be “multiple entry”. This will be stated on the visa sticker. The holder may enter and leave the Schengen Area an unlimited number of times during the visa’s period of validity (see the “from” and “to” boxes). But he may stay no longer than the number of days stated in the “duration of stay” box. Nor may he stay longer than three months within a six-month period or six months within a 12-month period, since to do so would amount to settling in the Netherlands, for which an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV) is required.Who decides whether my visa application is accepted?Most embassies and consulates may take independent decisions on visa applications. But in the case of certain nationalities, they have to pass visa applications on to the authorities in the Netherlands. A Schengen visa is valid for 15 countries, some of which want to be informed about visa applications. This is why the application process takes two weeks. You should take this into account when applying for a visa. Even when it does not have to do so, a mission may choose to send a visa application to the authorities in the Netherlands for advice or further investigation. Depending on the purpose of the visit, these applications will be assessed by either the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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