Netherlands Entry Visa – Types, Duration, and Eligibility

Do you plan to go to the Netherlands but do not know how to do it? Yes! You will need a Netherlands entry visa. Whether the purpose of your trip is for tourism, family reunification, studies, or any other reason that will warrant you stepping foot in the Netherlands, you will need the Netherlands entry visa.

The Netherlands is a country that has a little touch of fun and beauty for people of every nationality. This is so because of its unique blend of iconic geography and seasons. So, it’s worth saying that staying in the Netherlands allows you to see the world differently.

The Netherlands government also issues different entry visas to foreign citizens mainly because the purpose of trips to the Netherlands is different for everybody.

Regardless, the first thing you should do when planning a trip to the Netherlands is getting a handful of knowledge about the Netherlands entry visa, the types, and the duration and eligibility.

Read on to uncover more about the Netherlands visa.

About the Netherlands

The Netherlands is located in the northwestern part of Europe. It has a remarkably flat geography with large lakes, rivers, and canal expanses. It consists of twelve provinces and has small island territories in the Caribbean sea.

 The Netherlands is also known as the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It shares borders with Germany (to the east) and Belgium (to the South).

It borders the North Sea coastline to the north and west and shares maritime borders with Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands harbors the most focused, educated, and multicultural international workforce. International citizens are always drawn to the Netherlands because of the reasonable cost of living, good wages, and social security benefits it guarantees.

The Netherlands is a member country of the Schengen Area and the European Union, so citizens of these countries can enter the Netherlands’ territory for almost everything without a visa.

What is a Netherlands entry visa?

A Netherlands entry visa is a document that allows foreigners to enter and stay in the Netherlands legally for a period mentioned therein. This stamp or sticker is attached to the passport of the traveler. And it serves as permission to enter and remain in the Netherlands for a limited duration.

The Netherlands entry visa accompanies every visa that will allow you to move throughout the Netherlands territories. Other visas are issued to foreign nationals when they are already in the Netherlands.  

But the Netherlands entry visa is issued outside the Netherlands to allow entry. Without the Netherlands entry visa, you cannot enter the Netherlands, nor can you cross its borders.

Who needs a Netherlands entry visa?

The Netherlands entry visa is issued to foreign citizens who will stop at the Dutch airport to board a flight to another country. But before you apply for one, you need to check if you need the entry permit or might get it on arrival.

The Netherlands entry visa can be in an electronic or a physical form.  

Who doesn’t need a Netherlands entry Visa?

Suppose you are a national of the countries enumerated below; you do not need the Netherlands entry visa to gain access to the Netherlands territory.

• Citizens of member countries of the European Union (EU).
• Citizens of Liechtenstein
• Norway citizens 
• Iceland nationals 
• Switzerland citizens 
• Citizens of member states of the Schengen Area/.

However, certain conditions are applicable before these nations’ citizens are granted free-visa entry. It is available on the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s website (IND).

Types of Netherlands entry visas?

The Netherlands embassy issues you a Netherland entry visa depending on your purpose of visit or stay. Generally, the problems of the Dutch government are different categories of visas for foreign citizens.

They are;

#1. The Netherlands entry permit:

The Netherlands government issues entry permits below to foreign citizens who wish to enter its territory.

They are:

• Employment entry permit
• Family visit entry permit
• Tourism/transit entry permit
• Mission entry permit
• Entry permit to attend conferences.

#2. The Netherlands Student visa:

This is a type of Netherlands visa that students accepted into a Netherlands college or university are eligible to hold. However, if you intend to study in the Netherlands for longer than three months, you will register with the local Dutch authorities.

If you fall under the above categories and want to study in the Netherlands for over three months, you will register with local Dutch authorities.

The Netherlands students visa is of two types;

• The Netherlands short stay student visa is issued for course training for less than three months.
• The Netherlands long-stay visa ( student residence permit) is issued to students undertaking studies lasting for up to five years. 

#3. The Netherlands Work visa:

The Netherlands work visa is also known as the Dutch work permit. This visa allows foreign citizens to live and work in the Netherlands without being residents.

This type of visa includes;

• Work visa for regular paid work (as an employee). Issued to foreign nationals who want to work as employees (labor migrants) in the Netherlands.
• Work visa for seasonal labor. The Netherland government issues this visa to foreign citizens working on seasonal bases (i.e., in agricultural sectors) in its country. This visa lasts for a minimum of It is 24 weeks.
• Work visa for an employment contract. The government issues a single permit ( a combined residence permit and work permit).
• Work visa for Intra corporate transfer if you are an employee of a company outside the Netherlands and will be transferring to a branch of the company based in the Netherlands.
• Work visa for a highly-skilled migrant. Highly skilled migrants ( or knowledge workers) are foreign individuals whose expertise will contribute to the Dutch knowledge-based economy.
• Work visa for self-employed individuals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. You can put in for this visa if you intend to start your own business or freelancing work in the Netherlands.

#4. Netherlands visa for Au Pairs:

This Dutch residence permit allows the holder to remain in the country for up to one year and perform light chores for households.

#5. The Netherlands working holiday visas:

This visa allows young foreign citizens from certain countries to live and work in the Netherlands for up to one year. This visa, however, is not available for every country. It is only available for Argentina, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Korean citizens.

#6. The Netherlands family reunion visa:

This visa allows family members of Netherlands residents to join them in the country.

#7. The Dutch American Friendship Treaty Visa:

The DAFT Visa allows investors from the USA to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands.

Documents required in the processing of the Netherlands entry visa

Like every Netherlands visa, the documents required for the Netherlands entry visa include;

 #1. A Netherlands visa Application form.

You are to complete the application online, print the document, and sign and submit it to the embassy. You can download one from the Netherlands consulate’s website.

#2. A copy of an international passport.

This passport copy must capture your personal details page, cannot be older than ten years, and must have at least two empty visa pages. It also needs to be valid for a minimum of three months from the expiration date. 

#3. Two copies of passport photographs.

You must submit a passport photograph on a white background.#4—proof of legal residence. 

This document confirms that you are a legal resident in the country you are applying from.

#5. Complete Travel itinerary. 

Must include travel reservations and a flight ticket.

#6.Confirmation that you will return to your home country following your visit. 

This could be a document that proves that you or your children (if a parent) are attending school in your country or a document that proves that you own property in your country.

#7. A Netherlands Schengen visa health insurance. 

Must have minimum insurance coverage of about €30,000.

#8. Proof of travel purpose.

This can be an employment contract or an invitation letter.

#9. Proof of visa application fee payment.

If you don’t submit this receipt, your visa application will not be processed.

#10. Proof of sufficient financial means.

A proof that you can cater to yourself throughout your stay.

Steps to applying for a Netherlands entry visa

After researching the Netherlands entry visa fee requirements, proceed with the steps below;

• Find out the type of Netherlands entry visa that you need.
• Determine when and where you are going to suit your application.
• Schedule a Netherlands visa appointment.
• Download and complete the Netherlands visa application form.
• Put together all required documents.
• Attend your visa interview.
• Pay the visa application fee and attach the receipt to other documents.
• Submit your application at your local consulate.
• Await response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to process the Netherlands entry visa?

It takes 15 to 30 days to process the Netherlands entry visa application. However, it might exceed this time should the embassy experience a hitch. Therefore, you can apply for the Netherlands entry visa 15 working days before your trip. Anything less than this will not come out early.

You will receive a notification within the same interval if the embassy accepts your Netherlands entry visa application. You will need to visit the embassy if you don’t receive a notification after this time interval.

Is the DAFT visa different from the regular freelancer visa?

Yes, the DAFT visa is different from the regular freelancer visa. The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa is particularly for investors of American nationality. 

But the regular freelancer visa allows non-EU and non-Schengen Area citizens to work in the Netherlands.

How many times can I travel to the Netherlands with a Schengen visa?

This depends on the Netherlands entry visa that you hold. Suppose the Netherlands government issues you a Uniform Dutch Schengen Visa (USV), for example, single entry or multiple entries. In that case, you can travel within the time frame and duration of stay that the Schengen visa allows.

What is a Dutch Limited Territorial Validity Visa (LTV)?

This Schengen visa allows you to travel to the Netherlands alone.

Conclusion

The Netherlands entry visa is issued to a foreign citizen for every travel visa they apply for. This permit allows you to cross the borders of the Netherlands and gain entry into its territory.

It is the first entry document that the Netherlands government issues to foreign citizens who want to travel to its country for whatever purpose.