How to apply for a visa for the Netherlands: requirements and process

Travel Insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa

Written by the AXA Schengen team
Date: 07/21/2025

Ready to cruise through the Amsterdam canals, to discover the Golden Age of the Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum, to follow a medical course at Leiden University, to immerse yourself in the History of the European Union in Maastricht or to explore the records of the incredible work done by the Hague’s International Criminal Court?
Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, before cycling through the borders of the ​​Land of windmills and tulips, make sure to check if you need to apply for a visa for the Netherlands to be allowed in the country.

Don’t drop your tulip basket just yet! The AXA team is here to help you through the process, making sure you obtain this precious travel document which will open the doors of the Dutch realm.

• Do you need a visa to visit the Netherlands?
• When should you apply for a visa for the Netherlands?
• Where must you apply for your visa for the Netherlands?
• What type of visa do you need for your trip to the Netherlands?
• How much does a visa for the Netherlands cost?
• What documents must you provide with your visa for the Netherlands application?
• The 10 steps of the visa for the Netherlands application process
• Why choose AXA Schengen Travel Insurance?

Do you need a visa to visit the Netherlands?

3 important facts concerning visas and the Netherlands:

1. The need to hold a visa to visit the Netherlands depends on the traveller’s nationality and how long they intend on staying in the country.

2. The Netherlands are part of the Schengen area and as such apply the European Union’s common policy when it comes to short- stay visas (less than 90 days).

3. However, for long- stay visas (more than 90 days), visa eligibility and requirements are not standardised between Schengen countries.
   The Netherlands, like the other States, can apply their own national visa policy.

Who doesn’t need a visa to visit the Netherlands?

• Citizens of Schengen Member States or of European Union countries as well as the family members living with them

• Third-country nationals with a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country.

• Travellers from about sixty countries which have signed a visa-waiver agreement with the European Union, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Beware! Those third-country travellers exempt from visa obligation still need to comply with a few requirements:

• Their stay must not exceed 90 days over a 180-day period.

• They must travel with a passport issued less than 10 years before their trip and valid more than 3 months after their scheduled date of departure from the Schengen area.

• Starting 2026, they will need to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation (ETIAS).

Who needs a visa to visit the Netherlands?

Anyone who doesn’t belong to one of the three categories mentioned above needs to apply for a visa to be allowed in the Netherlands.

Pro Tip: If you are not completely sure if you do or do not need a visa for the Netherlands,
check out the list of over a hundred countries whose citizens need a Schengen visa,​​ including China, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Philippines, Russia, Turkey.
You can also visit the official Dutch government website.

When should you apply for your visa for the Netherlands?

• You can submit your visa application 6 months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest prior to your scheduled date of departure.

• Processing time is usually 15 calendar days.

• However, in some situations, it can be longer, reaching 45 days maximum:

• If there is a spike in the number of applications.
  This can occur during the busier times of the year (school holidays, bank holidays in Europe, end of the year celebrations…)

• If the Dutch authorities wish to extend their verifications or ask for additional documents.

• For some third-country applicants, the Dutch consular services must, in compliance with the Visa Code, consult the other Schengen States to make sure no other Member is opposed to their decision to grant a visa.

• Remember to book your appointment to submit your visa application file as soon as possible. Available dates can sometimes be hard to find, prolonging the whole process along the way.

Straight from the horse’s mouth!

The Dutch government recommends submitting visa applications 6 months to 45 days before your scheduled date of departure.

Where must you apply for your visa for the Netherlands?

When applying for your visa for the Netherlands, you can be faced with 3 different situations:

1. The Netherlands have diplomatic representation in your country (i.e. embassy or consulate)

​​→ You will submit your visa application file directly ​at the consular services attached to your place of residence.

2. The Netherlands don’t have diplomatic representation in your country

In compliance with the EU Visa Code, another Schengen country has been entrusted with the responsibility of handling the entire processing of visa for the Netherlands applications, from receiving the files to decision-making.

​​→ You will thus ​submit your visa application at the consular services of the Schengen state representing the Netherlands in your country of residence.

3. In some countries, the Dutch authorities have commissioned specialised private companies, aka visa centres, to handle certain aspects of the visa application process.

Visa centres -in the case of the Netherlands, VFS Global and TLS Contact- are in charge of informing applicants, recovering their visa files and handling administrative tasks. They then transfer the visa application files to the Dutch consular services, the only ones authorized to examine the request and decide to grant or deny a visa.

​​→ You will have to ​submit your visa application at the visa centre attached to your place of residence.

What type of visa do you need for your trip to the Netherlands?

While the Netherlands have several visas with exciting names such as the Orange Carpet or the Caribbean visa, here we will focus on the 3 main types which can be issued when you are travelling to the Schengen area.

The purpose and duration of your stay in the Netherlands will determine which one you need to apply for.

The short-stay visa for the Netherlands

• Officially called the type C visa, it allows its holder to stay and travel in the Netherlands but also in ​​all the countries part of the Schengen area according to ​​the 90/180 day rule.

• It is granted to applicants travelling for the most common purposes such as:

• Tourism,

• Visiting family or friends,

• short internships and training courses,

• attending professional, cultural or sports events.

• The Schengen visa is the most commonly applied for.

• It is so popular, it bears many names: the Schengen, the type C, the uniform, the short- stay or even the tourist visa!

• It is called a uniform visa because the issuing criteria and the rights granted are identical regardless of the Schengen country where the application was submitted or where the visa was issued.

Please note!

The type C visa allows you to enter and stay in the Netherlands for 3 months.
However, it does not grant you the right to work there, even for short missions or contracts. To do so, you will need to apply for a type D visa.

I plan to work or study in the Netherlands during my stay. Do I need a different visa?

Yes, if you intend to work or study in the Netherlands, you will need a specific type of visa known as a long-stay visa (also called a D visa). This visa is required for stays longer than 90 days and is necessary whether your purpose is employment or academic studies.

1- To obtain a long-stay work visa, you must provide:

• A valid employment contract from a Dutch employer

• If you are self-employed: a business license and recent company bank statements

2- To obtain a long-stay student visa, you will need:

• Proof of enrolment at a Dutch educational institution (such as an official invitation letter or acceptance letter).

The long stay visa for the Netherlands

• If you wish to stay longer than 90 days in the Netherlands to study, work or be reunited with your family, you will need to apply for a national type D visa.

• The type D visa is also known as the national visa because its requirements are not standardized among Schengen States and thus each nation establishes its own rules.

• In the Netherlands, the Dutch authorities call it the MVV and consider it as a provisional residence permit, a first step before establishing permanent residence in the country.

• A specific procedure called TEV, 'Toegang en Verblijf' or Entry and Residence Procedure, allows one to simultaneously apply for an entry visa and a residence permit.

• Procedures to obtain an MVV and/or a permanent residence permit in the Netherlands are long (several months) and complicated, often requiring sponsorships by Dutch companies or organisations. Make sure to plan ahead if this is the visa you need.

The Airport Transit Visa for the Netherlands (the ATV)

• Also known as the type A visa, the ATV allows its holder to transit through a Dutch airport while waiting for a connecting flight. They must, however, remain in the international area and are not allowed to enter the Netherlands and thus the Schengen area.

• The ATV is compulsory for certain third-country travellers flying from and to a country located outside of the Schengen area and making a stop at a Dutch airport.

• If you need to leave the airport to reach a train station or even another airport, you will need to apply for a type C visa.

• To find out if this requirement applies to you, read our detailed guide on the type A, Airport Transit Visa.

Pro Tip: Visit the official Dutch government page for more information on what type of visa you need, where to submit your application, what documents must be enclosed, etc.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) is in charge of examining visa applications.

How much does a visa for the Netherlands cost?

Visa fees

Visa fees are set by the European Union and collected by the Dutch government.

They vary depending on the age of the applicant and sometimes their nationality or the purpose of their trip.

Standard rate:

• Travellers aged 12 and over: full price

• Children between ages 6 to 12: reduced fee

• Children younger than 6: free of charge

The AXA tip:

For more details on how much you will pay for your visa for the Netherlands, read our article detailing the costs entailed by a Schengen visa application.

Specific situations:

● Depending on the purpose of their trip (school trips, research, humanitarian work, etc.), some travellers can enjoy a reduced visa fee or even visa fee exemption.

● Specific reduced fees can also apply to citizens of countries which have signed visa facilitation agreements with the European Union.

Service fees

If you have to submit your visa application file through a visa centre - such as VFS Global or TLS Contact- you will pay additional fees to the service provider.

Please note!

Visa fees are never refundable even if your visa application is denied. However, in some (rare) cases, service fees can be.

What documents must be enclosed with your visa for the Netherlands application?

When applying for a visa for the Netherlands you will need to prepare an application file which must include several supporting documents.

The list of mandatory documents varies depending on the traveller’s profile and the purpose of their stay.

Here, you will find the most common documents required for a Dutch visa.

Documents mandatory for all Dutch visa applicants

• The application form completed, dated and signed.

• A valid passport.

• An ICAO ID picture meeting international standards.

• A travel insurance certificate.

Documents more specific to your situation

These documents specify and/or justify:

• The purpose of your stay.

• Your accommodation arrangements during your stay in the Netherlands.

• Your ​​ability to cover your financial needs during your stay.

• Proof of your intent on leaving the Schengen area at the end of your trip.

The Netherlands Visa Application process: 10 Essential Steps

1. Find out what type of visa you need and where you should apply.

2. Check that your passport meets all the criteria to be accepted with a visa application, i.e.:

• Issued less than 10 years ago.

• Valid more than 3 months after the scheduled date of the end of your trip.

• Must include 2 blank pages

Good to know! If you don’t own a passport, check what other travel documents are accepted by the European Union with your Schengen visa application.

3. Fill out a short-stay or airport transit visa form online.
Once you are done, you will download, print and sign the newly created and official visa request form, featuring all the information you have provided.

4. Book your appointment to submit your file.

5. Subscribe to certified and compulsory travel insurance.

Remember!

According to article 15 of the EU visa Code, all applicants must subscribe to travel insurance which covers medical expenses as well as repatriation in case of accidents or illness during their stay in the Schengen area.

6. Prepare the required supporting documents.

7. Attend your appointment in person to submit your visa application file which must include:

• The letter confirming your appointment,

• The printed application form duly completed, dated and signed,

• Your passport,

• The required supporting documents (originals and copies),

• The accepted means of payment to settle the visa fees and service fees when applicable.

8. The day of your appointment, you will meet with a visa agent who will:

• check that your file is complete and that your supporting documents comply with visa requirements.

• record your biometric data (fingerprints and photo).

• collect the visa and service fees.

• keep your passport.

Good to know! Children under the age of 12 are exempt from biometric data collection, but are still required to attend the appointment.

9. Track the progress of the examination of your visa application on line.

10. Once your application has been examined, you will be informed by text/email/phone and asked to come recover your passport where you have left it.

​​→ If ​your visa is granted, a visa sticker will feature on your passport.

​​→ If ​your visa is denied, a document will be enclosed, explaining the reasons why and how you can appeal the decision.

Why choose AXA travel insurance for your visa application?

AXA Schengen travel insurance meets all the criteria established by the European Union to obtain a visa.

Certified by the consular services of all Schengen countries, it is systematically accepted with visa applications.

Our ​​Travel insurance for the Netherlands also offers many other advantages:

• Quick and easy online subscription. Your travel insurance certificate is immediately available, allowing you to enclose it with your application file.
• Excellent value for money and decreasing rates based on the length of your stay.
• Refundable if your visa application is denied.
• A zero-deductible policy.
• No age limit.
• Free 24/7 medical consultation and assistance.
• A wide territorial coverage: all the Schengen States + the EU countries + the United Kingdom depending on the chosen option.

Don’t leave without us!

To find out which AXA option is the best suited to your needs and budget, discover and compare

our different Schengen travel insurance plans.

Get your commitment-free, online quote now!

You might find these articles interesting:

• How to apply for a visa for Belgium?
• How to apply for a visa for Germany?
• Where is the Schengen visa approval rate the highest?

FAQ

What is the Orange Carpet Program in the Netherlands?

This program is meant for people submitted to visa obligations and who travel to the Netherlands on a regular basis for professional purposes. This program eases and speeds up the visa process (fewer supporting documents, no appointment necessary, VIP welcome desk, priority processing, etc.) Modalities vary depending on the country of residence, ask the Dutch consular services of your country for more information.

What is the Caribbean visa in the Netherlands?

This visa allows its holder to visit the Dutch territories located in the Caribbean: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius or Sint Maarten.
Bear in mind, this visa whether short or long stay does not grant the right to visit the Netherlands.

Is it possible to refuse to use a visa centre and to submit a visa application directly to the Dutch Embassy or consulate?

In practice, no. The Dutch authorities determine country by country the procedure to submit a visa application. If in your country of residence, the process must be carried out using a visa centre, you have no other choice.

Only in some very specific situations, such as for the family members of a Dutch citizen, might it be possible to submit the application file directly at the embassy or consulate.