The Netherlands reminds all of us with a postcard beauty, the region being surrounded by flowers, windmills and other scenic attractions. People want to visit this place for enjoying the pleasant breeze and walking along the coastlines. Involving in a cycling expedition to the Veluwe is also a preferred activity. We might have also heard about the warm hospitality of Limburg and North Brabant. The world-famous Dutch culture and the authentic charm of the places, raise in us, a temptation to visit the country at least once in our lifetime. The picturesque villages and the cities with an old-world charm, prompt us to apply for Netherlands visa.
Content Index:
- Types of Netherlands visa
- Visa application process
- Documents required for Netherlands visa
- Step-by-step Process
- Visa processing time
- Netherlands visa fee
- FAQ
Read: How to get your Schengen visa from India?
Types of NetherlandsVisa
Netherlands visa is applicable only for short-term visits to the country. They are not the same as residence permits and are only required by those people who have planned to stay for a short period. By this short period, we mean a stay of 90 days. Transit through the country also calls for the need for a Netherlands visa.
The type of visa required in the country depends on the duration of stay and the purpose of the visit. The EU and the EEA nationals can pay a visit to the country, without a Netherlands tourist visa and perform some other activities. This provision is only when they are visiting the country for a short period of time. They can stay in the country for as long as 90 days in a period of any 180 days. People from other countries will have to apply for a Netherlands visa. Depending on the purpose of the visit, they can be allowed to have a temporary stay or a long-time visit.
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Dutch tourist visa, medical visa or business visa are some other types of visas. All these visas try to cater to the various kinds of needs of the people visiting the country. People travelling to the country from places like Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and some other countries have to opt for Netherlands visa application before deciding to enter the country. The visa rules are applicable for every kind of people who want to immigrate to the Netherlands for studying, travelling or for medical reasons.
Let us have a quick look into the types of visas:
1. Visas for short stays
These visas are for the EEA and EU nationals who will stay in the country for up to 90 days or three months. This kind of visa applies to people who intend to visit the country for travelling purposes or meet their family members residing in the country.
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- Type A short-stay visa: This kind of visa is needed by the nationals who pass through the international airport zone in any of the Dutch airports.
- Type C short-stay visa: This kind of visa is required by the individuals who exit from the Dutch airports and stay in the country for up to three months, in a time frame of 180 days or six months. This is also known as the Netherlands tourist visa or the Schengen visa. These visas are also needed by those individuals who plan to cross more than one Schengen country.
The Lonely Planet has names Netherlands as one of the best travel destinations for the year 2020. Following are some of the reasons:
- 2020 will mark the completion of 75 years of World war II. It also marks 75 years of freedom for the country. The Netherlands will celebrate this achievement with festivals, exhibitions and events.
- People who love cycling, boating and hiking, will discover a paradise in the Groene Hart or the Green Heart. The place is an absolute discovery for people in search of peace. The visitors can also visit Cheese Valley, the place famous for Gouda cheese.
- The Dutch Wadden Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site provides the perfect opportunity to escape from the trivialities of life. It is known for the famous cultural festival, Oreol.
2. Visas for long stays
Every individual interested in staying in the Netherlands for more than three months and those who are not EU/EEA nationals will have to opt for Netherlands visa application for long-stay. In some cases, a residence permit is also required.
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3. Visas for under-age children
Couples often immigrate to the Netherlands and want to settle there for professional purposes. They might also have to come along with their children. The child, if below 18 years, have to apply for a special Netherlands visa and a residence permit. In this case, the parents will have to submit the proofs of their income as well as validate the fact that they have a regular source of income. One of the parents will also have to submit the work contract as well as, the ban statements. For a visa for an under-age child, whose parents are separated, the authority needs a no-objection certificate from the parent living in the other part of the world. Then only, the child will receive a visa legally. The parent who has brought the child to the country should also have his or her custody
4. Visas for business
These are the visas perfect for entrepreneurs. A Netherlands business visa is ideal for those entrepreneurs who intend to visit the country for less than three months. The visa does not entitle the traveller to get a job, though. For securing a job, along with the Netherlands business visa, there should be a work permit as well. The visa application should consist of the invitation letter from any Dutch company with the details of the address. The letter should also mention the purpose of the visit. If the visitor is from a foreign company, there should be enough proofs of previous business correspondences. Often, the authorities also need bank statements for the last six months.
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5. Visas for medical reasons
Visitors from other countries might have to visit the Netherlands, for medical reasons as well. For medical assistance, they need to apply for a visa for medical reasons. The applicant will need a medical report from the country of his residence, specifying the reason for his travel to the country. The applicant should also have an appointment with a Dutch medical practitioner or a hospital. He should carry confirmation of the medical condition from any Dutch authority, which prompted his visit to the country. There should also be a document, which confirms the payment of the fees needed for the consultation.
6. Transit Visa
This is a type-A visa, needed by the airport passengers who travel internationally and who are stopping at any of the Dutch airports. These individuals will need the visa if they are travelling to any destination not belonging to the Schengen area. The transit visas do not allow a trip outside the airport.
7. Return Visa
This kind of visa is for the people living in the Netherlands, but are not the residents of the country. They need the return visa for an urgent purpose of travelling abroad like death or illness. The visa is also needed when their residence permit gets lost, is being processed or gets stolen.
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8. MVV authorization
This document is similar to a visa and stands for Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verbliif. One needs to apply for MVV when he wants to visit the Netherlands for more than 90 days and is required to have a Schengen visa.
Netherlands visa application process
The process of Netherlands visa application follows some strict yet simple procedures. We can apply for the Netherlands Schengen Visa from the year 1995. It was in 1995 that the Netherlands became a member country of the Schengen area. When we have decided to apply for a Netherlands visa, we should be very clear about the Netherlands visa requirements.
Documents needed for applying for a visa to the Netherlands:
- We have to download the application form and fill it without committing any mistakes. We should read the instructions carefully and fill the Netherlands Schengen Visa application form. After filling the form, we can take a print out.
- We have to attach two photographs of passport size, with the form. The photographs should be a full-face format, captured recently and in a light background.
Read more: Guide To Visa Photo Size Requirements
- The passport and the copies of the earlier visas are essential for the application purpose. It should be valid for at least 3 months after the completion of the return journey. The passport should also have two blank pages.
- The next important thing when it comes to Netherlands visa requirements, is the possession of a minimum amount of 30, 000 € within the Netherlands and the entire Schengen area.
- A cover letter, explaining clearly, the purpose of visit and the itinerary.
- Any proof of accommodation for the whole period of stay.
- The flight itinerary with flight numbers and dates, mentioning every detail about the entry and the exit from the country.
- Proof of enough financial resources for the entire period of stay.
- Proof of civil status i.e., birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates etc.
For employed professionals, employment contract, bank statements, leave permission and ITR are compulsory. For self-employed people, a copy of the business license, ITR documents and bank statement of the company are of utmost importance. A student has to submit enrolment proof and NOC from his university or school. A retired person can just submit his pension certificate.
If we are travelling from India, we have to apply for a visa in the Netherlands embassy India. We will have to schedule an appointment with the Netherlands embassy India, to submit our application. We will have to carry all our supporting documents on the day of this appointment. When our application gets approved, only then can we expect to get a visa from the Dutch mission.
Read: UK Visa for Indians
Let us have a detailed look into the process of application:
Step 1: We should be clear of our purpose of visit to the country. The cost of visas would be decided accordingly. The purpose of our stay and our country of origin often makes a huge difference in our visa application. Some significant factors affecting our eligibility are:
- The passport must be at least 6 months old
- No existing criminal record during the visa application.
- Financially stable enough to support our stay there.
- Medically fit; a medically unfit candidate can only get a visa under a Medical visa or Visitor visa.
- A better educational qualification helps us avail the visa easily.
Step 2: The second step is generally booking an appointment with the embassy. We should be ready with all the required documents ready before booking an appointment. The embassies will only schedule our visit with a prior appointment.
Step 3: When our documents are ready and we have booked an appointment with the embassy, we come to the third step. The third step is to visit the embassy. After our turn comes, the officials will check all our documents and will provide us with a receipt. The receipt helps us to track our applications.
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Step 4: The fourth step is applying for the visa. While submitting our visa application, we should make sure that all the details in the form are filled correctly. We should also attach the photocopies of all the said documents. After the application is submitted, it takes up to 20 minutes for the verification process.
Step 5: The fifth step comes just after the fourth step. After the verification of all your documents, you will be provided with a hard copy of the same. The Netherlands visa requirements need us to sign the hard copy in front of the embassy officials.
Step 6: The last step is the fingerprint scan. After the fingerprint scan, our visa process will be complete. If we have attached the documents in the right order and filled the application form properly we will soon get the visa to the Netherlands.
Visa processing time
The processing of Netherlands visa applications generally takes around 15 days. Sometimes, in case of additional formalities, it can take up to 60 days. For scheduling an urgent visit, like attending a funeral or visiting a terminally ill patient, we can apply for an emergency visa.
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Netherlands Visa fees
Let us summarise the Netherlands visa fees as under:
- For Schengen visa single entry, it is 60 euros.
- For Schengen visa multiple entries, it is 60 euros.
- Schengen visa for children aged 6-12 years costs 35 euros.
- Schengen visa for children aged 0-6 years, it is not chargeable.
- Transit visa for anyone above 12 years costs 60 euros.
- For children aged 6-12 years, the Transit visa costs 35 euros.
- Transit visa for children till 6 years is not chargeable.
- The return visa costs 148 euros.
The extra costs of legalising the documents can add to the Netherlands visa fees.
A visit to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and often people have to visit this city for travelling or professional reasons. Amsterdam is also the commercial capital of the country and a very prominent financial place in Europe. If any of these reasons prompts us to visit the city, we need an Amsterdam visa. To visit the city for a maximum period of 90 days, we need a Schengen visit scheduled for short-stay. If we have a Schengen visa for the Netherlands, we can travel to other countries which belong to the Schengen area. A separate Amsterdam visa will not be needed if we have a Schengen visa.
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FAQ
1. Do I need a visa to visit Amsterdam?
If we have to visit Amsterdam for official or personal reasons, we will have to apply for a Schengen visa. The validity of this visa is for a maximum of 90 days.
2. How long does it take to get a visa to the Netherlands?
We should apply for a Netherlands Schengen visa at least 3 months before we have planned the trip. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, the processing time will take 15-30 days. In some rare cases, it can also take 60 days if there is a discrepancy in the documents submitted.
3. How much is visa fee for the Netherlands?
Depending upon the profile of the applicant and the category of visa he has applied for, the cost of the visas ranges from 35 euros to 60 euros. In certain situations, the visas for children below 6 years are not charged.
4 .How can I get Amsterdam visa from India?
The Indians can visit the Netherlands with the help of a Schengen visa. At first, he has to apply for this visa in the embassy. Once his appointment is confirmed, he can submit the necessary documents and undergo the formalities. On the scheduled date, the applicant has to attend an interview. If the authorities in the embassy are happy with the formalities and have received all the documents, they will approve the visa.
