Netherlands Caribbean Visa – Application, Processing and Fees
Are you looking for how to obtain a Netherlands Caribbean Visa? If yes, this blog post has all information that would clear your doubts and guide you.
Without a doubt, a Netherlands Caribbean Visa is a unique type of visa. It authorizes foreigners to enter Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten, which are islands in the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands. There is no separate visa for each of these islands. Hence, a Netherlands Caribbean Visa is all you need whenever you have to travel to one of the six islands.
By reading this blog post, you’ll get to know whether you need a visa to enter any of the islands. You will also learn how to obtain a Netherlands Caribbean Visa, meet its requirements, pay its fee, and more.
What is a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
A Netherlands Caribbean Visa is a multiple entry visa that permits its holder to travel anywhere in the Caribbean regions of the Netherlands. The visa allows a maximum stay of 90 days in a six months time interval.
With a valid Netherlands Caribbean Visa, you can freely enter and exit Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten on several occasions using the same visa.
Bear in mind that there is an exemption on using a Dutch Caribbean Visa. However, a Dutch Caribbean visa holder can’t enter a Schengen area country or the European part of the Netherlands.
Netherlands Caribbean Visa Fees
While processing your Dutch Caribbean Visa application, you have to pay a fee of €80 for the embassy or consulate to consider your application.
People who have an exemption from paying this fee include academic researchers, children aged below six years old, close relatives of Swiss, EU, or EEA nationals, people below 25 years old whose purpose of travel is for humanitarian, as well as teachers and students who are entering the region for training or academic purposes respectively.
Netherlands Caribbean Visa Requirements
Here are the requirements to fulfill before applying for a Dutch Caribbean Visa.
- A valid passport, travel document, or Identification Document (ID)
- Two (2) photographs
- Proof of purpose of travel such as a hotel booking, invitation, or evidence of sponsorship
- Police clearance certificate showing if you have any previous criminal convictions
- Proof of funds like a recent bank statement
- Flight tickets and a travel itinerary
- Evidence of accommodation reserved for you in the Netherlands
- Medical insurance (short-term or long-term, depending on your duration of stay in the Caribbean Netherlands)
- Evidence of no settlement risk, such as your job offer letter, home rental agreement, or proof of academic enrollment (applicable only to short-stay visa applicants)
Exemptions for Netherlands Caribbean Visa
The following persons do not need a Dutch Caribbean Visa to enter any of the islands in the Caribbean Netherlands.
- Holders of Schengen short-stay visa, with multiple entries
- Persons who hold a visa or residence permit of a Schengen Area country
- Foreigners who possess a valid UK or Ireland visa (multiple entries) or residence permit
- Permanent residents of Canada and the United States
- Travelers who hold an American or Canadian multiple-entry visa and are citizens of Guyana, Peru, Jamaica, China, India, Cuba, Haiti, Bolivia, or Dominican Republic (applicable only to foreigners who want to enter St. Maarten)
- Persons on board a cruise ship who intends to stay in a port for not more than 48 hours
- Crewmembers of a commercial plane or ship who wish to stay for a maximum of 48 hours
- Foreigners who possess a laissez-passer permit from the UN, World Bank, or the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Diplomats who possess accreditation for the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Diplomatic passport holders of Russia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Tunisia, Malawi, Indonesia, Morocco, Turkey, Pakistan, Chad, Senegal, Jamaica, Georgia, Thailand, North Macedonia, or Ukraine
- Travelers who desire to travel through a Caribbean Netherlands airport to Aruba must pass between 7 am to 11 pm. Besides, you must make a passage the same day, supposing you intend to travel through a Caribbean Netherlands airport to St. Maarten.
Additionally, foreign nationals who want to travel through a Caribbean Netherlands airport to Saba, Curaçao, Bonaire, or St. Eustatius must pass through in less than 48 hours.
How to Get a Netherlands Caribbean Visa
Below are a few easy steps to take toward getting a Dutch Caribbean Visa.
- Make ready all required documents
- Arrange an appointment with a Dutch diplomatic mission
- Fill out the Netherlands Caribbean Visa application form
- Attend your visa interview at the embassy or consulate
- Pay your visa fee
- Allow time for visa processing
Step 1: Make ready all required documents
To get a Netherlands Caribbean Visa, you first must prepare all documents listed above, as they are essential in completing your application. In addition, you’ll surely need the documents to submit along with your visa application.
Step 2: Arrange an appointment with a Dutch diplomatic mission
The second step in getting a Dutch Caribbean Visa requires you to fix an appointment with a Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country. Most persons book their appointments with diplomatic missions online or via a phone call.
Step 3: Fill out the Netherlands Caribbean Visa application form
Next, you must complete an application form for a Dutch Caribbean Visa. This is necessary as it lets you express your interest in a visa to enter any Dutch Caribbean islands.
The most recommended time to apply for the visa is three weeks before your planned travel date.
Step 4: Attend your visa interview at the embassy or consulate
The fourth step in getting a Dutch Caribbean Visa involves visiting the embassy or consulate for your visa interview. Be sure to attend the interview at your appointment date and time.
You must also submit your supporting documents to the consular officer on your appointment date.
Step 5: Pay your visa fee
Afterward, you have to complete your visa fee payment of €80. It is equally important to pay the visa fee at the appropriate time.
Step 6: Allow time for visa processing
Lastly, you must wait for two to three months to receive a decision from the Dutch diplomatic mission.
Supposing your Netherlands Caribbean Visa application got approval, you can now get your flight ticket and travel to any of the Dutch Caribbean islands.
Netherlands Caribbean Visa Processing Time
It takes at least two weeks for a Dutch embassy or consulate to process Netherlands Caribbean Visa applications. At times, it can take up to three months for its processing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who needs to get a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
Citizens of about a hundred countries need a Dutch Caribbean Visa to enter the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands. These include Romania, France, Cyprus, Chile, Canada, Brazil, Albania, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Norway, Monaco, Mexico, Israel, Honduras, Finland, El Salvador, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom, Denmark, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Singapore, etc.
How long does it take to get a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
The Netherlands Caribbean Visa processing takes between 14 to 90 days. However, the time it takes can vary depending on the Dutch embassy or consulate you apply through.
How long can I stay with a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
With a valid Dutch Caribbean Visa, you can stay in any of the six (6) islands in the Netherlands Caribbean for a maximum of 90 days.
Is it easy to get a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
Yes, it is very easy to get a Dutch Caribbean Visa. The best way to apply for this visa is through a Dutch embassy or consulate. Its application process is not complex and takes only a few minutes to finalize.
How much is Netherlands Caribbean Visa fee?
The cost of obtaining a Dutch Caribbean Visa is €80. Nevertheless, not everyone needs to pay the fee, as a few exceptions exist.
Who can get a free Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
You are not required to pay for Dutch Caribbean Visa fee if you’re a child not up to six years old, an academic researcher, a close relative of an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, or an individual aged below 25 who intends to travel for humanitarian purposes. You are also exempt from paying the fee, supposing you’re a teacher or student who is traveling to the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands for either to participate in a training or study program.
When should I apply for a Netherlands Caribbean Visa?
The ideal time to apply for a Dutch Caribbean Visa depends on several factors, which include your country of origin, your purpose of travel, and your intended departure date. However, submitting your application at least four weeks before your planned travel date is best.
Conclusion
In summary, getting a Dutch Caribbean Visa gives you the ultimate authorization to enter six (6) islands in the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands. This offers an opportunity to have an exclusive tourism experience in a vast area using just one visa for entry.
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