EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Netherlands.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Not yet researched
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
Residence permit for full-time study at an IND-recognised Dutch university or HBO; the institution (recognised sponsor) applies on the student's behalf. The student must show means of EUR 1,130.77 per month for 2026 (EUR 928.58 for secondary vocational education) and achieve at least 50% of credits each year. Permit covers the study duration plus 3 months (max 5 years); students may work 16 hours/week (or full-time June-August) with an employer work permit, or be self-employed without limit, and can move to the orientation year after graduating.
Exchange Program Visa
One-year cultural-exchange permit for unmarried, childless applicants aged 18-25, applied for exclusively through an IND-recognised au pair agency. The au pair lives with a Dutch host family (which must meet income norms, EUR 3,441.60/month for couples in 2026), performs at most 8 hours/day and 30 hours/week of light household duties with 2 days off weekly, and may not pay the agency more than EUR 34 in registration fees. Not extendable and cannot be repeated after a previous exchange permit.
Not yet researched
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Self-Employment Visa
Residence permit for entrepreneurs whose business serves an essential Dutch interest, assessed by RVO under a points system: at least 30 points in each of personal experience, business plan and added value for the Netherlands (or 45+45 on the first two). Requires sustainable gross profit of at least EUR 1,734.57 per month (incl. holiday allowance, 2026 norm) shown via a business plan and KVK registration. Permit valid up to 2 years, renewable; decision within 90 days, extendable up to 6 months when RVO advice is needed.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
One-year permit for founders launching an innovative product or service under the guidance of an RVO-recognised facilitator; both founder and facilitator must be registered with the KVK. The founder must have sufficient means of support (the 2026 single-person norm, EUR 1,606.08 gross/month excl. holiday allowance, via savings or income). Not extendable as such; after the year founders typically switch to the self-employed permit under relaxed conditions. A separate scheme allows start-ups to hire essential personnel at a reduced EUR 3,122/month salary plus equity.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
EU-wide highly qualified work permit; requires a higher-education diploma of at least 3 years (or equivalent recognised professional experience, e.g. for IT) and a Dutch job contract. 2026 gross monthly salary threshold is EUR 5,942, or EUR 4,754 reduced criterion for recent graduates; the employer does not need to be an IND-recognised sponsor (decision within 30 days if it is, otherwise up to 90 days). Grants intra-EU mobility after 12 months and an accelerated path to EU long-term residence.
Skilled Work Visa
Employer-sponsored work residence permit; only an IND-recognised sponsor can apply. Gross monthly salary (Jan-Jun 2026) must be at least EUR 5,942 (age 30+), EUR 4,357 (under 30) or EUR 3,122 (reduced criterion for Dutch graduates/orientation-year holders), excluding holiday allowance, and must be market-rate. Permit matches the employment contract up to 5 years; statutory decision period is 90 days but recognised-sponsor applications are typically decided in about 2 weeks; counts toward permanent residence after 5 years.
Skilled Work Visa
One-year, non-extendable job-search permit (mapped here to skilled_work; it is a post-study/post-research job-seeker route) for those who, within the past 3 years, completed a Dutch bachelor's/master's/PhD, held a Dutch research permit, or graduated from a top-200-ranked university abroad. Holders have free access to the labour market with no income requirement, but may not use public funds. Finding a job lets them switch to the highly skilled migrant permit at the reduced EUR 3,122 salary criterion.
Seasonal Work Visa
Single permit (GVVA) combining residence and work authorisation for seasonal labour in the Dutch agricultural sector for a maximum of 24 weeks. The employer applies and a UWV labour-market test applies (priority for EU/EEA workers), so approvals are rare in practice; pay must meet the statutory minimum wage. The permit states the specific employer and conditions and is not a path to longer residence; decision period up to 90 days.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
Combined work-and-residence permit for managers, specialists and trainees transferred from a group entity outside the EU to a Dutch branch of the same corporate group. Salary must be market-rate and meet the highly-skilled-migrant norms (2026: EUR 5,942/month, or EUR 4,357 if under 30, excl. holiday allowance); the transferee must not have held an ICT permit in the previous 6 months and must return to the group outside the EU afterwards. Maximum 3 years for managers/specialists and 1 year for trainees, not renewable beyond those caps; allows short- and long-term mobility to other EU states.
Not yet researched
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Investor residence scheme requiring a EUR 1.25 million investment, in force since 2013, was abolished on 1 January 2024 (fewer than 10 approvals ever granted). The Netherlands has no golden visa, residence-by-property or citizenship-by-investment route, and no digital nomad visa as of June 2026.
Business Investor Visa
Treaty-based self-employment route for US nationals (a parallel treaty exists for Japanese nationals) that bypasses the points-based test: the applicant must run a business in the Netherlands and invest and maintain at least EUR 4,500 of capital in it. First-time applicants must register with the KVK and make the deposit within 6 months of receiving the permit; no MVV is required for US citizens, who can apply from within the Netherlands. Permit is valid 2 years and renewable as long as the business and capital requirement continue.
Not yet researched
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Working Holiday Visa
One-year cultural-exchange residence permit for nationals of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay aged 18-30 at application. Annual quotas apply: 100 each for Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan, 200 each for Japan and South Korea (Japan's 2026 quota filled by 7 April 2026); Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians need no MVV and apply in the Netherlands. Only incidental work to fund the stay is allowed (no full-year single employer, no self-employment); not extendable.
Not yet researched
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Residence for minor children (and in limited cases other relatives) joining a parent or family member legally residing in the Netherlands; the sponsor must prove actual family ties and sufficient, sustainable income (2026 couple norm EUR 2,294.40 gross/month excl. holiday allowance; EUR 1,606.08 for single parents). MVV-required nationals follow the TEV procedure; the child's permit runs as long as the sponsor's permit. Lower fees apply to applicants under 18; asylum-related family reunification follows a separate free procedure with a 9-month decision period.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Residence for the spouse, registered partner or durable unmarried partner of a Dutch resident; both partners must generally be 21+ (18+ if the marriage was concluded abroad) and will live at the same address. The sponsor must earn an independent, sustainable income of at least EUR 2,294.40 gross/month excl. holiday allowance (2026 couple norm); MVV-required nationals must first pass the basic civic integration exam abroad (A1) under the TEV procedure (MVV fee extra). Permit valid up to 5 years if the sponsor is Dutch or settled, with free labour-market access, and leads to permanent residence after 5 years.
Not yet researched
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
Permit for third-country researchers (including PhD candidates) hosted by an IND-recognised Dutch research institution, which applies on their behalf, often together with the MVV. Requires a higher-education degree giving access to doctoral programmes and a hosting agreement or employment contract; income may come from salary, grant, stipend or own means at the applicable norm (single norm EUR 1,606.08/month excl. holiday allowance in 2026). Valid as long as the research contract, up to 5 years, with intra-EU researcher mobility and access to the orientation year afterwards.
Long-Term Residence Permit
EU-law permanent status after 5 consecutive years of legal residence in the Netherlands (absences under 6 consecutive / 10 total months; favourable cumulation rules for EU Blue Card holders). Requires sufficient independent income and passing the civic integration requirement (A2). The status itself does not expire (document renewed every 5 years), gives free labour-market access and facilitates moving to other EU member states; decision within 6 months.
Permanent Residence
National permanent residence permit after 5 consecutive years on a non-temporary Dutch residence permit with main residence in the Netherlands. Requires sufficient independent income, BRP registration and the civic integration exam at A2 level (or exemption); the right is open-ended while the card is renewed every 5 years. Grants free access to the labour market without a work permit; decision within 6 months.
Not yet researched
Data verified against official sources — see how.
Completed application form
Complete the official visa or residence application form for your destination. Most consulates now use an online portal where you fill in the form, upload documents and book an appointment; print and sign the confirmation page.
| Issued by | Destination consulate / immigration portal |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Usually free (the visa fee is separate) |
| Typical time | 30–60 minutes to complete |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Passport
Apply for or renew your passport at your country's passport authority (often the foreign-affairs or interior ministry, a passport office or designated post office). Most visa portals want a clear colour scan of the bio-data page; keep the passport valid at least 6 months beyond your trip with two blank pages.
| Issued by | National passport authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $20–$150 |
| Typical time | 1–6 weeks (expedited often available) |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Passport photo
Have a recent passport photo taken at a pharmacy, photo booth or photographer, or use a compliant online photo tool. The common size is 35×45 mm with a plain light background, neutral expression and no glasses; the US and a few others require 2×2 in (51×51 mm). Get 2–4 prints plus a digital copy.
| Issued by | Any photographer or photo booth (ICAO 9303 standard) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $5–$15 |
| Typical time | Same day |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Travel medical insurance
Buy a travel-medical insurance policy covering your whole trip and every destination country, then print the certificate. For the Schengen Area the EU Visa Code requires at least €30,000 of cover for medical emergencies and repatriation, valid across all member states.
| Issued by | Any approved insurer |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$60 per trip |
| Typical time | Immediate |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of accommodation
Show where you will stay: a hotel booking, a signed tenancy/lease, a host's invitation with their address, or an address-registration document. For longer stays a registered rental contract is usually expected.
| Issued by | Landlord / host / municipality |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Return / onward ticket
Provide a flight reservation or an onward/return ticket itinerary. Many travellers use a held reservation (not a paid ticket) from an airline, travel agent or flight-itinerary service so they are not committed before the visa is granted.
| Issued by | Airline / travel agent |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$30 for a reservation |
| Typical time | Same day |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of sufficient funds
Show you can support your stay using bank statements, a salary or pension certificate, a sponsorship/affidavit of support, or evidence of savings or income that meets the published minimum for the visa. Combine several documents if one is not enough.
| Issued by | Your bank / employer / sponsor |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$20 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of enrolment
Once you are accepted, request an admission/acceptance letter or certificate of enrolment from the school or university's admissions or registrar office. It should confirm the programme, the dates and that tuition is arranged.
| Issued by | School / university (admissions office) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Usually free |
| Typical time | A few days–2 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Diplomas and transcripts
Use your original diploma or degree certificate; for a replacement or official copy, ask the issuing institution's registrar. For use abroad it usually needs to be apostilled or legalised and translated.
| Issued by | Issuing institution / education ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 (plus apostille) |
| Typical time | Days–weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Antecedents certificate
Request a criminal-record certificate from your country's police or justice/interior ministry — many issue it through a national online portal, sometimes requiring fingerprints. For foreign use it usually must be apostilled or legalised and translated, and most consulates accept one issued within the last 3–6 months.
| Issued by | National police / justice ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | A few days–4 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
TB test declaration
Book a medical examination with a doctor or, where required, a clinic on the consulate's approved-panel list. Tests may include a general exam, a chest X-ray/TB screening and blood tests; the clinic issues the certificate directly.
| Issued by | Licensed doctor / panel clinic |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $30–$200 |
| Typical time | 1–2 weeks including results |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Legalised civil documents
Prove the family link with civil documents — marriage and birth certificates connecting you to the relative, a family or household register, or, for unmarried partners, evidence of cohabitation (joint lease, bills, photos). Civil documents often need an apostille and translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Varies |
| Typical time | Days–weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Au pair agency sponsorship
Obtain a signed copy of your employment contract from your employer's HR. It should show the parties, job title, salary, duration and signatures; some consulates want it stamped or, for work visas, registered with the labour authority.
| Issued by | Employer / labour authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Signed daily/weekly schedule
Have documents translated by a sworn or certified translator and, where required, notarised. For cross-border use obtain an apostille (in Hague Convention countries) or consular legalisation from the competent authority in the country that issued the original.
| Issued by | Sworn translator / notary / apostille authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $20–$60 per page |
| Typical time | Days–2 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of unmarried/no children status
Order a certified copy of your marriage (or divorce) certificate from the civil registry that recorded it. For foreign use add an apostille or legalisation and a certified translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–3 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Business plan
Prepare a business or project plan describing the activity, market, financial projections and job creation. You usually write this yourself; some startup or investor visas require it to follow a set template or be reviewed by an approved incubator.
| Issued by | Self-prepared (sometimes incubator-endorsed) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–consultant fee |
| Typical time | Varies |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
KVK registration
Get an up-to-date extract from the commercial/companies register (chamber of commerce or trade registry) showing your company's registration, or your trade or professional licence. Many registries issue this online for a small fee.
| Issued by | Commercial register / chamber of commerce |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of personal experience
This is a destination- or programme-specific supporting document. Follow the exact instruction on the official consulate or immigration checklist for your visa; if it is unclear, contact the consulate or visa application centre for guidance on how to obtain it.
| Issued by | Destination consulate / immigration authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Varies |
| Typical time | Varies |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of professional experience
Request a letter on company letterhead from your employer stating your position, start date, salary and that your leave or continued employment is approved, signed by HR or a manager. For work visas this may instead be a formal work permit or job-offer letter issued by the employer or labour authority.
| Issued by | Employer (HR) / labour authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | A few days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Sponsor declaration
Have your sponsor sign a letter or affidavit of support undertaking to cover your costs, attaching their ID and proof of funds or income. Some countries require a notarised affidavit or an official guarantee form.
| Issued by | Sponsor (sometimes notarised) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of salary meeting threshold
Ask your employer's HR or payroll department for your most recent payslips (usually the last three) or a salary certificate stating your role, start date and gross/net pay.
| Issued by | Employer (HR / payroll) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | Same day–a few days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of registration in BRP
Obtain a national ID card or a citizenship/nationality certificate from your civil-registry or interior ministry. For ancestry- or origin-based routes, request the birth, naturalisation or archive records that prove the qualifying lineage.
| Issued by | Civil registry / interior ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–several weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Birth certificate / proof of family ties
Order a certified copy of your birth certificate from the civil-registry/vital-records office where you were born (often available online). For foreign use it usually needs an apostille or legalisation and a translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry / vital records |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–3 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Civic integration exam abroad certificate
Take the required language test (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL for English, DELF/TCF for French, Goethe or telc for German, or a national integration exam) at an accredited test centre and collect the certificate. Book early, as test slots fill up.
| Issued by | Accredited test provider |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $100–$300 |
| Typical time | 2–6 weeks including results |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Partner offers
Search opens pre-filled for this destination — compare fares and pick flexible options while your paperwork is in motion.
Some links are affiliate links — booking through them supports VisaPassage at no extra cost to you. Check fare and refund terms with the provider before you book.
