The Netherlands, whose official name is the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a country sharing borders with Belgium and Germany in northwestern Europe. Known for its scenic waterway towns, comfy coffee shops, and a panorama of windmills, it’s not a surprise that foreigners tend to flock to this beautiful city yearly. One of the most populous countries in Europe, it is a city of multi-culture that is a great destination for immigrants, which is why a fraction of the Dutch population has a migrant background.
As a country in the Schengen Area, European citizens are allowed to travel freely in the Netherlands without a passport. While non-EU citizens require a Visa or permit to live, work, study or reunite with their families.
The Netherlands Immigration services are grouped into two categories:
EU/EFTA Countries
People from EU member states including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland don’t require a visa to visit, live, work or study in the Netherlands. However, they do need a valid ID. Registering their entry with the IND is also not necessary unless they are bringing in a family member who doesn’t hold an EU passport. EU/EFTA citizens must register with their local authority if they intend to stay for more than 3 months, to obtain a BSN, which is used for the opening of a bank account.
Non-EU/EFTA Countries
Non-EU/EFTA citizens must have a visa to enter and live in the Netherlands; the type of Visa depends on the length of stay. Immigrants from the US, Japan, and Australia may travel to the Netherlands without a visa for a duration of up to 3 months. Other migrants require a short-stay visa. To live in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, non-EU/EFTA citizens need a Dutch visa and/or residence permit depending on the purposes of their stay. If they intend to work too, a work permit must be issued.
Type of Visas for Non-EU/EFTA Citizens
- Short stay visas for three months
Short stay visas are of two types: the popular Schengen C visa and Schengen A visa. Schengen C visas are for traveling within the Schengen area, used by tourists on vacations in the country (tourist visa), and business owners in the Netherlands (business visit visa). Schengen A visa is mainly for airport transit stopovers. When applying for a short stay visa, it is important to pay for a multi-entry visa if one intends to travel out of the Netherlands and return within 90 days. Common documents needed when applying for a Visa include a valid passport, bank statements or proof of financial support, proof of health insurance, a return ticket, purpose of traveling, etc… It is important to notice that this type of Visa doesn’t allow its holder to work. However, anyone who wishes to work in the Netherlands while on a short stay visa has to apply for a BSN and obtain a work permit.
- Temporary stay visas for up to a year
Temporary stay visas are for persons looking to stay between three months and a year. Usually issued as residence permits in the Netherlands; they can be issued based on work, study, or exchange purposes, some are renewable and some are not. This serves as a residence permit after entering the Netherlands. You can also apply for a temporary residence permit instead of a visa. To do this, you will have to apply either before traveling or within three months of arriving in the country. Requirements for temporary visas and permits are; a valid photo ID, clean criminal record, and proof of health insurance. Examples of temporary stay visas are;
- A cultural exchange visa is only valid for a year.
- An Au pair visa is for persons looking to work as an au pair for a host family.
- A work experience visa allows the immigrant to work as an apprentice or trainee for up to a year.
- Long stay visas for stays longer than one year
Anyone who wants to reside, study, work or reunite with family in the Netherlands for a period longer than a year requires a long-stay visa. Just like temporary visas, long-stay visas are residence permits, which allow the departure and return of persons to the Netherlands provided they remain valid. Usually, they are for a period of five years. The requirements are the same as the temporary visa. Examples include:
Work visas are issued to persons with paid work purposes for more than three months. This is a residence permit combined with a work permit.
Student visas are issued to students studying in the Netherlands. Getting a residence permit and an MVV is important if the student wishes to stay longer. To be issued a student residence permit, the student must have been admitted into any of the institutions in the Netherlands. The institution usually applies for a residence permit.
Family visas are issued to families of EU/EFTA nationals residing in the Netherlands who want to travel visa-free and reunite with family members.
Those who wish to apply for a permanent residence permit may do so after living in the Netherlands for five straight years. However, they must satisfy all criteria stipulated by the Netherlands immigration office. A person originally from the Netherlands, or is a spouse to a citizen may apply for a permanent residence after three years of stay.
