The Orange Carpet Visa Facility is mainly for staff of companies with current or future economic interests related to the Netherlands. The same conditions and benefits can also apply to other types of organisations e.g. cultural, scientific, government or non-governmental.

The Embassy decides whether the company meets the Orange Carpet Facility conditions. Please take into account, this process might take up to 14 working days.

To apply, the company or organisation must meet the following conditions:

1. The company or organisation does not engage in activities that are illegal under Dutch law

2. The primary destination of business travel, while making use of the Orange Carpet Facility, is the Netherlands. If it becomes clear that you have not been using the Orange Carpet Visa Facility accordingly and your primary destination of travel is to another Schengen country, your status will be withdrawn

3. The company adheres to the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

• Dutch companies with a subsidiary in Côte d'Ivoire
• Ivorian companies with a subsidiary in the Netherlands
• Organisations who are part of the impact cluster belonging to the horti- and combi-tracks confirmed by RVO
• Ivorian organisations that receive direct financing from the Dutch government

*Only contracted + registered employees. Family members are excluded.

• You will need to make an appointmet at VFS

• You will need to show less document to get a visa
  - No need to show proof of financial means or salary slips
  - No need to show proof of hotel booking

• Your visa application will be treated with priority

• You only have to apply for a visa in person once every 5 years if your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) are still in the system
  - Please note that your dossier needs to be delivered physically at VFS every time but it does not have to be the person applying

• Your visa will be valid for a longer period (6 months instead of 90 days the first time; a longer duration visa might follow for consequent applications)

Step 1: How to apply for the Orange Carpet Facility? (needs to be done by companies or
organisations)

When applying for the Orange Carpet Visa Facility, the company needs to register at the embassy of the Netherlands in Côte d’Ivoire. Send the documents mentioned below to the embassy in Abidjan (abi-ez@minbuza.nl) with the subject ‘Application Orange Carpet’.

• A filled in and signed Orange Carpet registration form in English or in French

• A stamped and signed list of the employees of the company enlisted for the Orange Carpet Facility

• A proof of registration at the chamber of commerce in the Netherlands/ Côte d’Ivoire with proof of your subsidiary in the Netherlands/ Côte d’Ivoire

The embassy will evaluate your application and inform you of their decision, normally within 14 working days.
Once your company is registered, the employee needs to submit the visa application form at the VFS office in Abidjan. The Belgian Embassy issues the visas for the Netherlands. 

Step 2: How to apply for a visa under the Orange Carpet Facility? (needs to be done by the
employee)

Go to the VFS office to deposit your documents. You can either make use of the premium lounge (costs for own account at XOF 22.100) or wait in the normal line.
The first time you apply for a visa you must go to VFS in person, so your biometric data (fingerprints) can be taken.
The applicant must submit the following documents at least 15 working days before departing:

• A filled in and signed visa application form. Please find the form on the website of VFS

• A passport, valid longer than 3 months after the desired visa period, and with at least 2 blank pages to insert the visa sticker + copy of the personal/information page + copy of pages with (Schengen)visa

• Proof of Orange Carpet Facility membership through a signed and stamped letter by the CEO on company letterhead, specifying you are on the list of the Orange Carpet Facility and the required visa is for business travel. Also mention the specific dates of the business trip

• Proof of flight ticket

• 2 passport size photographs (coloured, and must be recent)

• Schengen insurance (minimum of EUR 30.000)

• Visa fee as applicable

A processing time of a maximum of 7 working days should be taken into account. Please note that for some nationalities a consultation is obligatory which could mean a supplementary processing time.

VFS will inform the applicant via email when the visa is ready and the passport can be collected at the VFS office.