Visas for the Netherlands
If you are planning to visit, work, study or move to the Netherlands, one of the first things to check is whether you need a visa. The answer depends mainly on your nationality, the length of your stay and the reason you are coming to the Netherlands.
It is also important to understand that a visa and a residence permit are not the same thing. A visa generally allows you to enter the Netherlands or the Schengen Area for a certain period, while a residence permit gives you the right to live in the Netherlands for a longer period. Depending on your situation, you may need a visa, a residence permit, both, or neither.
Do EU Citizens Need a Visa?
Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland generally do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. They can travel to the country using a valid passport or national identity card and can generally live and work in the Netherlands under EU freedom-of-movement rules.
If you are actually moving to the Netherlands rather than visiting, there are still practical things you will need to arrange. For example, if you are going to live in the Netherlands for more than four months, you normally need to register with the municipality where you live. This registration places you in the Dutch Personal Records Database (BRP) and provides you with a BSN if you do not already have one.
British citizens should pay particular attention to the rules. Since the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, British citizens planning a new move to the Netherlands are generally treated as non-EU nationals. Different rules may apply to British citizens who were already living in the Netherlands and are protected by the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
Coming From Outside the EU
If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, the rules depend on your nationality and the purpose and length of your stay. Some nationalities can visit the Netherlands and other Schengen countries without obtaining a visa in advance, while others need a visa even for a short visit.
If you are planning to live, work or study in the Netherlands, you should not assume that the rules for tourists apply to you. Long-term stays normally involve a residence permit, and depending on your nationality, you may also need a long-stay entry visa before travelling.
This is why it is useful to start with three simple questions: What nationality do you have? How long are you planning to stay? What are you coming to the Netherlands to do?
Short-Stay Schengen Visa
For short visits, you may need a Schengen visa. This visa is generally intended for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
The 90-day limit applies to the Schengen Area as a whole, not separately to each country. If, for example, you spend part of your trip in the Netherlands and part in Germany, Belgium or another Schengen country, those days generally count towards the same limit.
A short-stay visa may be used for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, certain business visits and other temporary stays. Whether you need one depends on your nationality.
When applying, you may need to provide documents relating to your travel plans, accommodation, financial means, travel medical insurance and the reason for your visit. The exact requirements depend on your circumstances.
Staying Longer Than 90 Days
If you are planning to move to the Netherlands for a longer period, a short-stay Schengen visa is usually not enough. Non-EU nationals who want to live in the Netherlands for more than 90 days generally need a residence permit.
Depending on your nationality, you may also need an MVV, or Machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf. An MVV is a long-stay entry visa that allows you to travel to the Netherlands for the purpose of beginning your long-term stay.
Not everyone who needs a residence permit also needs an MVV. There are exemptions based on nationality and personal circumstances, so it is important to check the rules that apply specifically to you.
In many situations, the MVV and residence permit are applied for together through the Dutch entry and residence procedure.
Moving to the Netherlands for Work
If you are moving to the Netherlands for employment, your immigration requirements depend on your nationality and the type of work you will be doing.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally do not need a visa or work permit to work in the Netherlands. For people coming from outside these countries, there are several possible immigration routes.
These include routes for highly skilled migrants, regular employees, researchers, entrepreneurs and other categories of workers. Depending on the route, your employer may need to arrange part or all of the application process. Certain immigration routes also require the employer to be recognised as a sponsor by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
If an employer or recruitment agency tells you that it will arrange your visa, ask exactly what this includes. A visa, residence permit and permission to work are related, but they are not necessarily the same thing.
Coming to Study
Students from outside the EU may also need immigration permission to study in the Netherlands. If you have been accepted by a recognised Dutch university or other educational institution, the institution will normally play an important role in the residence-permit application.
Depending on your nationality, you may need both an MVV and a residence permit for study. Your educational institution can usually explain which documents are required and which parts of the process it will arrange for you.
If you plan to work while studying, check the employment rules separately. A student residence permit does not necessarily give you unrestricted permission to work in the Netherlands.
Joining a Partner or Family Member
If you are moving to the Netherlands to live with your spouse, partner or another family member, different immigration rules may apply. You may need an MVV and a residence permit depending on your nationality and the residence status of the person you are joining.
The requirements can differ significantly. For example, the rules for joining a Dutch citizen may not be exactly the same as those for joining an EU citizen or a non-EU national who already holds a Dutch residence permit.
Because family immigration depends heavily on individual circumstances, always check the requirements that apply to your particular situation.
Where Do You Apply?
The application process depends on the type of visa you need. Short-stay Schengen visa applications are generally made through the Dutch authorities or the organisation handling Dutch visa applications in your country of residence.
For long-term immigration, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) is the main Dutch authority responsible for residence applications. Depending on your situation, the application may be submitted by you or by a sponsor such as your employer, university or partner.
If an MVV is required and your application is approved, you will normally need to collect the MVV from a Dutch embassy or consulate before travelling to the Netherlands.
Documents and Application Times
Visa and residence applications can take time, so it is a good idea to start preparing well before your planned move. You may need appointments, supporting documents, translations or legalised documents, and there may also be application fees.
The documents required depend on the type of application. They may include proof of identity, employment, study, accommodation, finances, insurance or your relationship with someone living in the Netherlands.
Requirements can change, so always check the current document list before submitting an application. Avoid relying entirely on old online checklists or the experience of someone whose situation may be different from yours.
Visa, Residence Permit or Work Permit?
These terms are often used as though they mean the same thing, but there are important differences.
A visa generally concerns your entry into the Netherlands or the Schengen Area and your permission to stay for a limited period.
A residence permit gives you permission to live in the Netherlands for a longer period for a particular purpose, such as employment, study or family reunification.
A work permit or other work authorisation concerns whether you are allowed to work in the Netherlands.
Depending on your nationality and circumstances, you may need one or several of these documents. EU citizens generally have much simpler requirements, while non-EU nationals should carefully check which immigration route applies to them.
Check Before You Travel
Immigration rules can change, and two people moving to the Netherlands may have completely different requirements because of their nationality, job, studies or family situation.
Olandija can help you understand how the system works, but immigration decisions should always be based on current information from the Dutch authorities. Before applying, paying fees or making important travel arrangements, check the requirements with the IND, NetherlandsWorldwide or the relevant Dutch embassy or consulate.
Be particularly careful with companies or individuals promising a “guaranteed Dutch visa” in exchange for money. A recruitment agency or employer cannot simply bypass Dutch immigration rules. If someone is arranging immigration documents for you, make sure you understand what is being applied for and keep copies of your own documents.
Once you know which visa applies to you, the process becomes much easier to understand. From there, you can move on to the next steps: your residence or work permit, registration and BSN, DigiD, housing, health insurance and everything else involved in starting your life in the Netherlands.