Netherlands Schengen Visa: Tourist Visa Requirements

The Netherlands, I thought, was the perfect destination for people who love architecture and nature.

My group of fellow students and I had this spontaneous idea to go and travel to the Netherlands for inspiration and insight into the world of architecture.

As I mentioned, it was a spontaneous decision, and we did not have an idea of what we had to do to get to the Netherlands.

In this post, I will tell you precisely what you will need to do a Schengen Visa application and all the essential information you will need to know.

Now let’s get to it:

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The easiest way to apply for your Schengen Visa is through Atlys. This helped us for a quick and easy application process.

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Now let’s talk about the Netherlands Schengen Visa, which is also called the Netherlands Tourist Visa. This visa allows typically only for a short-stay Schengen Visa.

A short-stay visa is generally for 90 days, but you can apply for a long-stay visa for a 180-day period, but more on that later.

In this post, I will cover the type of visa you will need when applying for a Netherlands tourist visa:

• The Conditions You Have To Meet Before Applying For Your Netherlands Schengen Visa
• Which Countries Need To Apply For A Schengen Visa To The Netherlands
• Determining Your Purpose Before Applying For A Schengen Visa Is Crucial
• The Netherlands Schengen Visa Duration

The Conditions You Have To Meet Before Applying For Your Netherlands Schengen Visa

As my fellow students and I researched the Netherlands Tourist Visa, we came across a conditions page.

This is pretty straightforward and is a must when applying for your Netherland Schengen Visa:

• It is essential to have a valid travel document when traveling to any Schengen country. This is part of the visa requirements and must be valid for 3 months after your visa period. It is also crucial to note that your passport, for example, cannot be older than 10 years.

• You will also need to disclose the purpose of your visit. As for my friends and me, our primary objective was tourism. The purpose of your trip will identify the type of visa you are applying for. Later in the post, I will explain this in detail and the different travel purposes that can be used for a Schengen Visa application.

• Another essential condition is that you have to prove financial sufficiency. This means you have at least €55 to spend per day. Alternative proof can also be your family member or sponsor in the Netherlands, which means they have a sufficient and stable income.

Travel insurance, also known as medical insurance, is essential to obtain a Schengen Visa. Your medical insurance can be taken out by the country of origin. Alternatively, your sponsor can take it out in the Netherlands with a residence permit.

• Lastly, you have to prove sufficient reasons to return to your country of origin. This will typically be proof that you still have to complete your studies, which was our case. Proof of a return ticket is not enough to process your Schengen Visa application.

Which Countries Need To Apply For A Schengen Visa To The Netherlands

This was tricky for my friends and me as we are from different countries. When you want to enter one of the Schengen areas, you have to determine which countries have to apply for a Schengen Visa.

In our case, we were doing a Netherlands Visa application. However, because I am a US Green Card holder and do not enjoy the benefit of Visa-free travel, I had to apply for a Schengen Visa.

Some of my friends are US citizens and therefore do not have to apply for a Schengen Visa.

If you are unsure whether or not you require a Schengen Visa to enter the Netherlands, look no further as I have found the ideal information hub. This will take you to the official European Union website.

To navigate the page, go to “Table of contents.” When you open the table of contents, go to “Annex 1”. It will display all the countries whose nationals need to own a Schengen Visa to enter the Netherlands.

Determining Your Purpose Before Applying For A Schengen Visa Is Crucial

The purpose of travel is vital for your Netherlands Schengen Visa application as it will determine your length of stay. For example, we wanted to travel to Amsterdam as tourists, which means our purpose to visit the Netherlands was for tourism purposes.

According to the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs, we had to state our purpose of travel in our application. The reason, therefore, is to establish what type of visa you are applying for.

Other purposes would be chosen for different types of Dutch visas. Other purposes usually include medical reasons, visiting family or friends, and business.

I found a trustworthy source that can tell you more about the purposes of entry that you can rely on when planning your trip.

The Netherlands Schengen Visa Duration

The duration of a Netherlands tourist visa is valid for up to 90 days. Other factors that are also applied are the number of entries you choose. Like us architectural fanatics, we decided multiple entries as one trip would just not cut it.

We wanted to visit Norway, Iceland, and Belgium. Unfortunately, this entry visa was only applicable for 180 days. I also found a nifty short-stay visa calculator that you can use when planning your trip. Alternatively, you can apply for a long-stay visa, allowing you to stay for more than 90-days (MMV). This will then be for a different purpose than a tourist visa.

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I can already sense that you are getting tense when reading the heading. However, have no fear, as here is a complete list of all the additional documents that will accompany your Netherlands Schengen Visa application.

Here I will briefly explain the documentation you will need to experience the great Kingdom of the Netherlands:

• A valid travel document, for example, a valid passport.
• 2 passport photos. Ensure that the passport photos meet the Dutch passport requirements. Ensure that you have at least two open pages in your passport.
• Documentary evidence indicates you have sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay in the Netherlands. This can either be a bank statement or an original form for proof of sponsorship.
• A copy of the travel medical insurance.
• Documentary evidence that you have reason to return to your country of origin.
• Your return flight ticket to your country of origin.

Above I only briefly explained all the required information. You can read more about required documents for a Schengen Visa application.

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Here I will explain the step-by-step instructions you can follow for your Netherlands Schengen Visa application:

• Submit Your Application
• Application Assessment
• Wait For The CSO To Approve Your Application
• Collect Your Visa

Submit Your Application

After all the required documents, you can start with the application process.

You can make an online application, but please note that the website is complicated to navigate. If you choose to make an online application, navigate the Kingdom of Netherlands online visa application form. Here you will find a visa advisor who can help with your application.

My advice would be to go to the Dutch representation in your own country. You can only submit your application 6 months before your departure date to the Netherlands.

There are also cases where you must make use of external agencies. These external service providers such as VFS Global. This specific agency forwards your application to the Dutch consular or representations for the assessment process.

Schedule And Attend Your Schengen Visa Appointment

After you have submitted your application, you will have to schedule your visa interview appointment. No need to worry as this will only be a short in-person interview.

This will be at the Dutch representative where you will submit all your documentation that was mentioned earlier. Here you will also submit your biometrics and additional documents that may be required.

Don't stress too much about this interview as I know you will ace it. Here is a quick guide on what you can expect in your next Schengen Visa interview

Application Assessment

After successfully submitting your Netherlands Tourist application, it will be sent to the Central Support Offices (CSO).

In some cases, it would be sent to the Dutch Embassy to handle the visa application themselves.

The decision ultimately stands with the CSO but is sometimes put in front of the Visa Service of the IND (Immigration and naturalization service) in rare cases.

Wait For The CSO To Approve Your Application

The CSO checks that you meet all the conditions mentioned earlier.

This decision typically takes about 15 days. If you have not heard anything within 15 days, you can contact the Dutch representation to check the status of your application.

If the application is put before the IND, it may take up to 45 days to decide.

Collect Your Visa

The last thing you need to do is collect your visa at the Dutch representation where you submitted your application.

Ensure that you keep all your documents and information when you travel, as sometimes the IND will recheck everything upon entering the Netherlands.

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Now that you have your visa in hand and all your documents ready, you are free to travel to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.