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

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, destination and length of stay. The visa advisor helps you to determine if you need a visa.

Do you have more than 1 nationality? Then the passport with which you travel determines whether you need a visa.

Which visa do I need?

There is only 1 type of Schengen visa. However, you will need to submit different documents depending on the reason for travel/category.

Make a selection:

Before applying, please ensure you are very clear about the purpose of your visit. TLScontact can assist you and help you through the entire visa application process but is not permitted to advise or guide you when it comes to choosing a visa category. Since the work of TLScontact is primarily administrative in nature, TLScontact has no say in whether you will be granted a visa and how long it will take to process your application.

Visiting more than one Schengen country

If you want to visit more than one country in the Schengen area, you should apply to the Schengen country associated with your main purpose of travel. If your main purpose of travel is the same for more than one country, for example a holiday, apply to the country you plan to stay in the longest. If you plan to spend an equal amount of time in each Schengen country, apply to the country you intend to visit first.

How will my application be assessed?

Some Schengen member states want to exchange information on visa applicants. This check (known as ‘consultation’) is mandatory for certain nationalities and can take up to 7 days. For more information please check the website of the European Commission

Your application will also be checked in the Schengen Information System (SIS II). In addition, your application details will be checked and saved in the Visa Information System (VIS).

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs uses information-supported decision-making to make better, quicker decisions on visa applications. For more information on how your data will be processed, see the privacy statement.

For detailed information on travelling to the Netherlands – with and without a visa – go to Netherlandsworldwide.nl.

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, you may need an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV). An MVV is also called a long-stay visa. A long-stay visa will allow you to travel to the Netherlands to collect your residence permit.

You can apply to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) or to the Dutch embassy or consulate in your region for a long-stay visa (check the rules for your region).

For more information on applying for a long-stay visa (MVV), go to the website of the Dutch embassy or consulate. On the website you’ll also find more information on applying for a residence permit, and the IND’s contact details.

The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands consist of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten.

Whether you need a Caribbean visa depends on your nationality and the length of your stay. On the website of the Dutch embassy or consulate you can find out whether you need a visa. The website also gives more information about travelling to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.

Make a selection: