The vast number of museums, stunning tulip fields, beautiful canals, amazing windmill farms, and rich history and culture make the Netherlands a one of a kind tourist spot. If you want to visit this exquisite tourist location, you will need a Netherlands tourist visa

A Netherlands Schengen tourist visa will be issued for anyone wanting to travel to the Netherlands as a tourist. Nationals of other Schengen countries and countries that are visa exempt will not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. By being a part of the Schengen C category, the Netherlands tourist visa can be issued as single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry and has a validity of up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

You will need a Netherlands visitor visa if you want to travel to the Netherlands to visit family and friends. As the Netherlands is a part of the Schengen territory, it shares a common visa policy with its other member countries.

This guide will provide you with all the necessary information regarding Netherlands tourist visas. Any queries you may have regarding these visas will be answered in this guide.

Who needs a Schengen visa to enter the Netherlands?

Before traveling to the Netherlands, it is recommended to check whether or not you need a short-stay visa according to your purpose of travel. Following are the categories where you will need a visa to enter the Netherlands or any other country that is part of the Schengen territory.

• You will need a Netherlands visa if you’re from a third-world country that hasn’t reached a visa liberalization agreement with Schengen states.

• You will need a Netherlands visa if you’re from a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with Schengen states, but you were rejected previously from entry into the Netherlands and other Schengen countries.

A Netherlands visa allows you to stay in the country for 90 days within 180 days. If you want your stay to be longer, you will have to apply for a Dutch National visa.

European citizens, nationals from Schengen area countries, EEU, or Switzerland citizens can travel to the Netherlands or any other country in the Schengen area for tourism without requiring a visa.  

Netherlands entry requirements

Due to the common travel area of the Schengen zone, the member states that have abolished borders for citizens belonging to countries in the Schengen area and European nationals only require an identification document for entering the Netherlands. Therefore, if you’re a European citizen or a citizen from any other country in the Schengen zone, you won’t need a visa.

If you aren’t a European citizen or a citizen from any other Schengen country, you will need the following documents for entry.

• A valid travel document or passport. Your valid passport should have a validity of at least three more months beyond your departure from the Netherlands.

• A visa to the Netherlands.

• A confirmed return airline ticket showing that you’re confirmed for returning to your national country.

• You must have a travel insurance that can cover your medical expenses for your entire trip.

• Sufficient funds for your time in the Netherlands.

• Documents that ensure you’re traveling to the Netherlands for tourism and, if it’s a visitor visa you applied for, then proof of invitation from the host.

• You will require proof that your host can cover your expenses for a visitor visa.

When you show up at the Dutch port of entry, the Dutch border officer will ask a couple of questions, such as your purpose for visiting the Netherlands, your duration of stay in the Netherlands, and your location of stay in the Netherlands.

What is a short-stay visa / Schengen visa?

With a short stay/ Schengen visa, you can visit the Netherlands or any other country that is part of the Schengen territory for 90 days within a 180-day period. The visa you apply for will be valid for a specific period, which may be shorter than 90 days.

Applying for a visa

To obtain a short-stay visa/ Schengen visa to enter the Netherlands, you must follow the steps below to apply for the visa.

• Visit VisaHQ, select the Netherlands as the country you want to travel to, and select your national country on the “for citizen of” option.

• Fill out the Netherlands tourist visa application form with accurate information.

• After the form is filled out, take a printout of it.

• Schedule a visa interview at the Netherlands consulate/embassy or VAC.

• Attend the scheduled interview at the Netherlands consulate/embassy or VAC with the completed application form, visa fees, and the required documents. You will also have to provide your biometrics here.

Keep in mind that if you have submitted your biometrics for any Schengen country visa in the past five years, you won’t be required to submit them again. Also, make sure the documents you submit are genuine, and the information you provide is accurate. False information or fake documents will result in your visa getting rejected.