Visiting the Netherlands, especially Amsterdam, ranks high on the list of most travelers to Europe. Top Amsterdam attractions, such as visiting the Van Gogh Museum and touring the canals, as well as day trips to Delft, which is home to beautiful blue porcelain, and the Keukenhof Gardens, will keep you busy in this small country.
If a tourist requires a visa to enter the Netherlands, it all depends on their nationality. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of other countries can spend up to 90 days in the Netherlands without a tourist visa. Nationals of member countries of the European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are exempt from all visa requirements. Visa-exempt tourists can spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
The Schengen area consists of 26 European states that have officially abolished passport controls and other types of border control at their mutual borders.
Schengen visas
For nationalities that require a visa to enter the Netherlands, a Schengen visa must be obtained in person from the Dutch embassy or consulate of the traveler’s home country. Schengen visas are valid for the 26 countries of the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Countries Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Supporting documents may be required, such as proof of financial means, hotel reservations or letter of invitation from a personal contact in the Netherlands, proof of intention to return to the country of origin or proof of travel medical insurance. (Visa holders should carry copies of these documents with them on their travels.)
If the visa applicant intends to visit more than one Schengen country on the same trip, the visa application must be sent to the mission of his main destination; If no country meets this requirement, the visa can be obtained from the mission of the first Schengen country the applicant will enter.
Visa applications take 15-30 days to process; Visas are issued no more than three months before the trip. Visa holders must inform the local municipality within 72 hours of arrival. This requirement does not apply to visitors who rent accommodation in a hotel, camp or something similar.
Tourist visas are issued for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Once your short stay visa (Type C) is issued, it will include the following details:
- The start date of the validity of the visa.
- The number of days you are allowed in the countries of the Schengen Area
- The expiration date of the visa validity.
- Whether you can travel once (single entry) or several times (multiple entries) to the Schengen Area with the valid visa
Visas for more than 30 days
Non-Dutch citizens who wish to spend more than three months in the Netherlands must apply for a specific temporary residence permit and, in some cases, a visa. Permits and visas for Dutch residents include visas for family visits, work, study and cultural exchange.
