First entrances and visas - NL Host Nation
1. First entrance and visas
1.1 Visas
A visa may be required for legal entrance into the Netherlands. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assists the following people in obtaining a visa to travel to the Netherlands: newly arriving foreign staff members of diplomatic missions and consular posts posted to the Netherlands; family members (spouse or partner and dependent children) forming part of privileged staff members’ households who wish to join them; and any private servants.
1.2 When is a visa required?
Whether or not a visa is required depends on the following:
1.3 Visa procedure for privileged staff members and their family members
Privileged staff members and family members forming part of their household should follow the same visa procedure regardless of whether they plan to stay for more or less than 90 days. They are advised to submit their visa application well in advance of their departure for the Netherlands.
They must apply for a visa at a Dutch diplomatic or consular mission in their country of origin or of habitual residence before they travel to the Netherlands.A country of habitual residence is one where the person concerned resides or has a permit to reside for longer than 90 days. If there is no Dutch diplomatic mission in their country of origin or habitual residence, they are requested to send an email to the Short Stay Visa Service of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) of the Ministry of Justice and Security (email address: visa.posten@ind.nl). The Short Stay Visa Service will give advice about visa issues on a case-by-case basis.
Processing a visa application can take up to four weeks, as it is sometimes necessary to consult one or more of the other Schengen countries: other schengen countries.
Visas issued for the Netherlands are in general valid for 90 days in all countries that are party to the Schengen Agreement.
A copy of the note Verbale from the diplomatic mission or consular post in the Netherlands stating that the staff member will be employed there should be submitted to DPG-Service@minbuza.nl. Without this copy of the Note Verbale, the visa application cannot be considered.
The Note Verbale should include the following details (DPG-MIN-BuZa.2021.8661-23 of 10 june 2021):
No documents should be sent to the Short Stay Visa Service
1.4 Visa procedure for non-privileged staff members, relatives, friends, other guests and delegations
Visa applications for short stays (90 days or less) should be submitted well in advance to a Dutch diplomatic mission or another diplomatic mission abroad representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands (for contact details, use the search feature on contact).
Please note that, as a rule, no documents should be sent to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visa fees must be paid by the applicant. Visas for official delegations and official guests are issued free of charge if the individuals in question are required to be present for official purposes.
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A visa may be required for legal entrance into the Netherlands. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assists the following people in obtaining a visa to travel to the Netherlands: newly arriving foreign staff members of diplomatic missions and consular posts posted to the Netherlands; family members (spouse or partner and dependent children) forming part of privileged staff members’ households who wish to join them; and any private servants.
1.2 When is a visa required?
Whether or not a visa is required depends on the following:
- Nationality
Nationals of most non-EU countries need a visa to enter the Netherlands. A list of the countries whose nationals need a visa for a stay of up to 90 days can be found on the Dutch government’s website: short-stay Schengen visa. - Type of travel document
A person’s travel document determines whether or not a visa is needed, even if that person has more than one nationality. A person travelling on a passport of a country whose nationals require a visa must have a valid visa. - Special travel document
Holders of certain countries’ diplomatic or service passports may be exempt from the visa requirement, even if visas are normally required for the country in question. Information about these exemptions may be obtained from the Short Stay Visa Service of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) of the Ministry of Justice and Security (email address: visa.posten@ind.nl).
- Length of stay Foreign visitors planning to stay more than 90 days in the Netherlands must obtain a special visa known as ‘authorisation for temporary stay’ (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV). However, privileged foreign staff members and their immediate family forming part of their household are not required to obtain an MVV, regardless of their nationality, but should register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon their arrival (see chapter 3).
1.3 Visa procedure for privileged staff members and their family members
Privileged staff members and family members forming part of their household should follow the same visa procedure regardless of whether they plan to stay for more or less than 90 days. They are advised to submit their visa application well in advance of their departure for the Netherlands.
They must apply for a visa at a Dutch diplomatic or consular mission in their country of origin or of habitual residence before they travel to the Netherlands.A country of habitual residence is one where the person concerned resides or has a permit to reside for longer than 90 days. If there is no Dutch diplomatic mission in their country of origin or habitual residence, they are requested to send an email to the Short Stay Visa Service of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) of the Ministry of Justice and Security (email address: visa.posten@ind.nl). The Short Stay Visa Service will give advice about visa issues on a case-by-case basis.
Processing a visa application can take up to four weeks, as it is sometimes necessary to consult one or more of the other Schengen countries: other schengen countries.
Visas issued for the Netherlands are in general valid for 90 days in all countries that are party to the Schengen Agreement.
A copy of the note Verbale from the diplomatic mission or consular post in the Netherlands stating that the staff member will be employed there should be submitted to DPG-Service@minbuza.nl. Without this copy of the Note Verbale, the visa application cannot be considered.
The Note Verbale should include the following details (DPG-MIN-BuZa.2021.8661-23 of 10 june 2021):
- the personal details (name, date and place of birth and nationality) of the visa applicant;
- the number, expiration date and type (ordinary, service or diplomatic) of passport; • the position the applicant will hold at the diplomatic mission or consular post;
- the name of the predecessor or mention if it concerns a new position the applicant will hold at the diplomatic mission or consular post;
- the starting date and duration of the posting.
- a copy of the passport(s).
No documents should be sent to the Short Stay Visa Service
1.4 Visa procedure for non-privileged staff members, relatives, friends, other guests and delegations
Visa applications for short stays (90 days or less) should be submitted well in advance to a Dutch diplomatic mission or another diplomatic mission abroad representing the Kingdom of the Netherlands (for contact details, use the search feature on contact).
Please note that, as a rule, no documents should be sent to the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visa fees must be paid by the applicant. Visas for official delegations and official guests are issued free of charge if the individuals in question are required to be present for official purposes.
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