The Netherlands is a picturesque place, which is located in the northwestern part of Europe. The Netherlands includes not only the land between Germany and Belgium but also some areas that are far from the usual Dutch places. These are some of the Caribbean islands you can also visit by any of the visas we will discuss today.
The Netherlands is a modern European country with a rich cultural heritage, which survived the era of naval power. First of all, it has a peculiar architecture, which will impress every casual tourist who looks in these parts. Picturesque bridges, spread across the country, windmills, and charming homes, were as if they crawled out of a fairy tale.
The Netherlands is made up of 12 provinces, which in turn are divided into communities. Also, three particular communities are among the aforementioned Caribbean islands. These islands are also sometimes called the "Caribbean Netherlands".
Sometimes the Netherlands is mistakenly referred to as Holland. And even more, people try to find "Schengen visa to Holland" or simply "visa to Holland" on the Internet. But in fact, this action is highly erroneous since Holland is just two of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. Moreover - since 2020, the Netherlands has wholly abandoned the reference to "Holland" not to puzzle its citizens or the occasional wanderer.
Schengen visa to Holland is not a concept, but the Netherlands is a country that welcomes tourists from all over the world. In addition, the Schengen visa in the Netherlands can be obtained both short-term and long-term.
To do this, you only need to solve one question: what is the difference between a short-term visa and a long-term visa for Netherlands, and how to obtain them.
The difference between a short-term visa and a long-term visa
By world standards, short-term and long-term visas have a lot in common, and the difference is simple. The main difference is in the complexity of registration and, as it is easy to guess, in the duration of validity.
With a short-term visa, you can stay in the Netherlands for a short period, from 1 to 90 days. As for the long-term visa - the maximum period of stay in the country can be up to five years.
It is essential to understand that short-term and long-term visas also have their subcategories, and for some purposes, it is not possible to obtain a long-term visa or vice versa. It is essential to pay attention to this before visiting the Netherlands and any other country on the globe.
Short-term visas:
- Tourist
- Visit
- Business
- Transit
Long-term visas:
- Visitor
- Work
- Student
- Immigration
All of the above types of visas are an international standard that fits, if not all, then really most of the countries available in the world. But each country has its characteristics that complement and sometimes even negate this gradation.
How to apply visa to Netherlands?
As already mentioned, for each different purpose type of visa must be obtained. Due to many factors - and this applies not only to the length of stay. For example, for tourist purposes, most often choose a tourist visa. Still, if someone in the visiting country is willing to take a specific person and compensate for his stay in the country, then a visitor's visa is more suitable. It does not require a detailed description of the route and does not even need to confirm the income level. The main thing is that the host in the country fills out all the necessary paperwork and ensures his guest's stay.
Visa to the Netherlands and the visa of any country in the Schengen Agreement are rich in choice. Therefore, before you start choosing a particular visa, you need to decide on its type.
The first thing to decide on is the difficult choice between the "C-visa" and the "D-visa".
Short-term visa for Netherlands. Also known as the Schengen visa and the C-visa.
A short-term visa to the Netherlands is the most popular, as it meets the needs of most visitors to the country. C visas come in the following categories:
- Tourist visa. In the Netherlands, a tourist visa is the most popular and the fastest to obtain. To get it you need to provide guarantees of a proper level of income, and also you will need photos and a certificate of employment about position and salary. The reasons for possible refusals are previous offenses, non-compliance with the visa policy of Netherlands, and an insignificant amount of income. But in the latter case, you can get a guarantee from another person who will take sponsorship for the tourist.
- Medical visa. Medical treatment in the Netherlands is also popular due to the developed medicine. Unfortunately, a medical visa is not easy to obtain - even having the necessary level of income and a confirmed diagnosis. To get such a visa, you need thorough documentation, including a diagnosis, the causes of the disease, the duration, and the cost of treatment. And even in this case, the embassy may refuse to treat in the Netherlands.
- Student visa. In the Netherlands, the level of education is very high, and this visa is popular. In addition, it is much easier to obtain a study visa than a work visa. To get a study visa C in the Netherlands, you will need to submit a Netherlands visa application form filled out on a particular condition. Also the proof of ability to pay, an invitation from the school, passport, photographs, and most importantly - medical insurance to cover the number of possible costs of at least 30 000 euros. One of the most common reasons for obtaining a student visa is language courses.
- Transit visa. If the purpose of the trip is not the Netherlands, but it is on the way, you can do it without a visa. In this exceptional case, the freedom of movement and acquaintance with Dutch culture will be limited to the expanse of the airport. But to better pass the time waiting for the plane to your final destination, you will need to get all the documents required for the usual tourist trip. Except that the embassy will act a little more lenient, and if you are late or for other reasons do not appear on the flight to the final point, it will be considered a flagrant violation of visa laws.
A short-term visa to the Netherlands, also known as a C-visa, refers to a short-term stay in the Netherlands - 3 calendar months once every six months. Of course, in the case of proper authorization and approval from the Netherlands Embassy.
Netherlands long term visa
A long-stay visa for Netherlands implies a long period of stay in the Netherlands. It is essential to take this visa if you intend to immigrate. As with the C visa, the D visa has several subcategories, depending on the country's purpose.
- Student visa. For a visit to the Netherlands for study purposes, both short-term and long-term visas are acceptable. As you can easily guess, a long-term visa is suitable for long-term studies, such as college admission. The procedure is no different from the already mentioned short-term study, but, depending on the details of training and stay in the country, it will require some more documents - for example, a check on payment of the first academic year. It may also be necessary to obtain a residence permit, but this is usually taken care of by the educational institution.
- Visitor visa. If the purpose of your visit is to reunite with relatives, friends, or relatives for a short time or as long as possible, it will issue. To obtain it, you need an official invitation, which will play an essential role in the embassy. A peculiarity of visa is that all documents are prepared by tourists and those who host them.
- Family reunion. This visa does not differ much from the last option; there is only one key point: it is recommended to obtain it if the residents of the Netherlands, who are hosting, are close relatives of the tourist. In the case of family reunification is a much more thorough examination of the candidate for a visa than in an ordinary guest visit. Still, there is a right to obtain a residence permit.
- Work visa. The Netherlands is one of the most developed countries in the entire European Union. It is worth bearing this in mind before choosing a job in Europe. Many people wish to become immigrant workers in the Netherlands, and therefore obtaining a work visa is a long and challenging process, which in most cases leads to rejection. You can only count on getting it if you have a ready-made invitation from a Dutch employer or the owner of a business or self-employed person operating on the territory of the Netherlands. Also, you should have no debts, no problems with the law of your own country and European countries; also, you should have a professional license and confirmation of deals on a property purchase in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Embassy is sure that you will have a place to live in the territory of the country.
Netherlands long term visa allows you to stay in the country for an extended period, up to 5 years.
Visa of the Netherlands: registration
Generally speaking, the Netherlands painstakingly examines applicants for a visa, but in general, this country is favorable to tourists from all over the world. To obtain each type of visa to this European country is necessary to comply with many subtleties and nuances concerning all types of visas and each type of visa separately. A Dutch visa in any of its hypostasis will require the presentation of the following documents to the Netherlands visa center:
- A copy of the passport of the country of citizenship
- Original and a copy of each page of your passport, including the blank pages.
- Biometric data - applications for biometric analysis are accepted at the visa center.
- Netherlands visa application form of a particular sample - there is a sample form for every type of visa.
- Medical insurance is obligatory for visiting any European country.
- A bank statement or letter from a sponsor proves that the visa applicant can support himself/herself for the entire period of stay in the Netherlands.
- Photographs - must be recent and in 3.5x4.5 cm format.
- Transport tickets to the Netherlands - it is advisable to have round trip tickets to have a few questions as possible at the Netherlands visa center.
- Proof of accommodation - depending on the type of visa, this may be a hotel reservation and real estate transaction certificates. It is not required if you take a transit visa or if you have a visitor's visit.
- Proof of employer - indicating the position and salary level. There are also its peculiarities and uniqueness depending on the type of employment of the candidate.
Accordingly, for each type of visa, you will also need other documents, and even in two cases of obtaining the same visa, the package of documents may be different. It all depends on the specific purpose of visiting the Netherlands.
Documents justifying the purpose of the trip are the final step in obtaining a visa to the Netherlands.
