Tourist Visa

Visa requirement

A foreign national from the EU, EEA or Switzerland is exempt from the visa requirement. For some nationalities outside the EU there is no visa requirement either. Full details can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken).

Click here for the list of countries whose nationals require a visa (visumplichtige landen) for a stay up to 90 days.

Click here for the list of countries whose nationals do not need a visa for a stay up to 90 days.

Shengen area

A tourist visa allows a foreign national to stay and travel in the Schengen area for up to three months within a six month period. The following countries are part of the Schengen area: Sweden, Norway, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Greece and Belgium.

Stays longer than three months

If a person wishes to stay in the Netherlands for longer than three months this cannot be classed as a tourist stay. He or she must apply for a temporary residence permit (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, MVV). EU members and a few other countries however are exempt from this, however please note that an application must still be filed. Click here for a list of countries who do not require an MVV for longer stays.

How to apply

When a foreign national applies for a tourist visa he or she must supply a letter of invitation. There are some exceptions. The letter of invitation is also called a guarantor’s declaration (garantverklaring). This form is available from the Department of Civil Affairs (Burgerzaken) and the person with whom the foreign national is staying in the Netherlands must complete it. This person must also bring his or her passport or identity card to enable the signature on the letter of invitation to be checked (i.e. authenticated). The official will need to witness the signing. The authentication of the invitation form costs € 13.75 (2007 rates). 

You can also download the form for the guarantor’s declaration here.

Following authentication, the person who has completed the invitation form will send it to the person applying for the visa, who will take it to the Dutch embassy or consulate in his or her country.

Where to apply for and collect a visa

Foreign nationals apply for tourist visas at the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country of origin where they can collect them later. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for a list of Dutch missions. A tourist visa is a sticker. The embassy or consulate will affix this tourist visa to your passport.

Upon arrival in the Netherlands

A foreign national must report to the chief constable (korpschef) of the Aliens Police (vreemdelingenpolitie) in the municipality where he or she is staying temporarily within three working days of arrival. Foreign nationals do not have to report to the Aliens Police if they are staying in a hotel, bed & breakfast or at a campsite with a night register.

Costs

There is a non-refundable administration fee when applying for a visa. Visa costs have been harmonised in Schengen countries. Details of the costs can be obtained at the mission in the country where the application is made. Visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for a list of Dutch missions.

Conditions

Depends on the purpose of the stay. Find more information about conditions on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or the Residence Wizard of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Contacts

Personal Data Department (Dienst Persoonsgegevens)
Location: Stadhouderskade 85, 1073 AT Amsterdam     
Postal address: Postbus 2752, 1000 CT Amsterdam
Telephone: (General) 14 020
Fax: +31 (0)20 551 9206

Website: www.amsterdam.nl/dpg

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 - 16:00

Ministry of Foreign Affairs DPV/VV
Postal address: Postbus 20061 2500 EB Den Haag
Email: dpv-info-vv@minbuza.nl
Website: www.minbuza.nl
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 16:30.