Are you a Dubai resident and planning a trip to the Netherlands soon? It is important to know whether you are required to obtain a Netherlands visa from Dubai or not for a smooth travel experience!
Given the fact that Netherlands is one of the countries which constitutes the Schengen area and they have common visa rules, when you want to apply for a visa to Netherlands, you should apply for the Schengen visa.
With the Schengen visa for Netherlands, you can enter Netherlands and any other country within the Schengen zone. However, your point of entry should be Netherlands. After that, you can use the same visa you used to enter the Netherlands to travel to any other country in the Schengen area.
In this guide, we have in-depth details about everything that you need to know regarding the Netherland visa from Dubai — from the types of visa you can apply for to the best things to do in the Netherlands during your visit.
The Netherlands visa is an authorized document issued to a foreign national who wants to visit Netherlands. The visa gets stamped onto their passport.
The type of visa you are supposed to apply for depends on your nationality, the reason behind your visit and for how long you want to stay in the Netherlands.
You can be issued with the Netherlands visa if:
UAE citizens or passport holders are not required to apply for a Netherlands visa from Dubai. They are allowed to enter Netherlands visa-free and stay there for up to 90 days.
However, at the point of entry to the Netherlands, there are several documents that you will need to present to the officials. They include:
You are required to apply for Netherlands visa from Dubai if you are a Dubai resident and you are not a passport holder of a country which is under the Schengen visa-exempt countries.
Also, you have to obtain multiple-entry Caribbean Visa if you are travelling to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Caribbean parts of Netherlands include:
Note: You cannot use the Netherlands Caribbean visa to travel to the European part of the Netherlands or other Schengen countries.
Below is a list of countries whose citizens are visa-exempted when traveling to the Netherlands and any country within the Schengen area for short-term purposes:
| Albania | Israel | Saint Lucia |
| Andorra | Japan | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Kiribati | Samoa |
| Argentina | Kosovo | San Marino |
| Australia | Macau | |
| Bahamas | Malaysia | Serbia |
| Barbados | Marshall Islands | Seychelles |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Mauritius | Singapore |
| Brazil | Mexico | Solomon Islands |
| Brunei | Micronesia | South Korea |
| Canada | Moldova | Taiwan |
| Chile | Monaco | Timor Leste |
| Colombia | Montenegro | Tonga |
| Costa Rica | New Zealand | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Dominica | Nicaragua | Tuvalu |
| El Salvador | North Macedonia | Ukraine |
| Georgia | Palau | United Arab Emirates |
| Grenada | Panama | United States of America |
| Guatemala | Paraguay | Vanuatu |
| Honduras | Peru | Vatican City |
| Hong Kong | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Venezuela |
There are different types of Netherlands visa from Dubai categorized according to the reason of your visit and your period of stay.
If you want to enter the Netherlands and stay there for less than 90 days, you should apply for a Short-Stay Netherlands Visa. On the other hand, if you want to enter the Netherlands and stay there for more than 90 days, you should apply for a long-stay visa.
If you want to enter the Netherlands and stay there for less than 90 days, you should apply for a Short-Stay Netherlands Visa. On the other hand, if you want to enter the Netherlands and stay there for more than 90 days, you should apply for a long-stay visa.
The Short-term Netherlands Visa or Schengen Visa-C is issued to an applicant who wants to enter the Netherlands for a period of less than 90 days.
When submitting application for this visa, you have to specify your reason of visit and you will be issued with the relevant visa. For instance, if you want to visit Netherlands for tourism, you will be issued with Netherlands tourist visa.
The following are the short term visa for Netherlands you can apply for according to the reason of your visit:
Family or friends’ visits (Schengen Visit Visa)
Tourism (Netherlands Tourist Visa)
Business (Schengen Business Visa)
Medical (Schengen Medical Visa)
Short term study and Research
Culture/Sports/Religious Events
Official visits
This visa is issued to foreign nationals who are transiting through Netherlands to a destination outside the Schengen area. The requirement to obtain the transit visa depends on your nationality.
There are two types of transit visas for the Netherlands:
Citizens of the countries listed below should have a transit visa to transit via Netherlands:
| Afghanistan | Guinea | Sierra Leone |
| Bangladesh | Guinea-Bissau | Somalia |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Iran | South Sudan |
| Cuba | Iraq | Sudan |
| Eritrea | Nepal | Sri Lanka |
| Ethiopia | Nigeria | Syria |
| Ghana | Pakistan |
When submitting the Netherlands visa application, below are the documents you will be required to gather.
When applying for Netherlands visa, you are required to fill-in a visa application form and sign it. Then submit it during your appointment at the embassy. You should always enter correct details as any mistakes can result in your visa application being rejected.
The passport you will submit should be:
The Dubai or UAE residence visa you submit should be valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure from the Schengen zone.
You are required to submit your recent 2 photos that meets the International Civil Organization (ICAO) standards.
The letter is required to state the reason of visiting Netherlands and details about your travel itinerary. Our visa consultant will help you draft the letter.
You are required to submit documents to show that you have obtained a travel insurance to cover your medical expenses in case of medical emergency or need reparation.
The insurance should cover you when you are within Netherlands and other Schengen countries for up to 30,000 Euros.
Submit a proof of booked round-trip flight tickets. The documents should have the entry and departure dates from the Schengen zone.
As a proof of accommodation, you can submit documents such as hotel reservation documents. If you will be hosted by a friend, you can show an invitation letter.
To prove you have enough money to cover your expenses while you are visiting Netherlands, you can submit your bank statement.
To show your civil status, you can submit documents like a birth certificate, a marriage license, a ration card, or the death certificate of a spouse.
Here are the steps to follow and apply for a Netherlands visa from Dubai:
Reach out to the Arooha visa consultant
Send all the required documents to the visa consultant in-charge
The visa consultant will look at your documents and help you determine the Netherlands visa type to apply for
Pay the visa fee and consultation fee
The visa consultant will help you to fill out a visa application form and cross-check the documents to verify the details
Arooha will then book you an appointment with the Dutch consulate in Dubai. When you attend the appointment, you will submit the visa application and biometric
The embassy officers will start to process your application
You will get a message when your visa is ready
Lastly, you will get your passport with Netherlands visa stamp
| Netherlands Visa Application | Visa Fee in Euro | |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands Visa for Adult Travellers | 80 | |
| Netherlands Visa for children (6 – 12 years) | 40 | |
| Netherlands Visa for children (under six years) | FREE |
Note:The Netherlands visa fee is non-refundable whether your visa application is accepted or rejected.
The Netherlands visa from Dubai takes around 15-30 working days to process. Sometimes, it may take longer, depending on the number of visa the consulate is currently processing and also on your nationality.
For quicker visa processing, you should ensure that you have submitted your visa application with all the required documents and filled the application form with the correct details. Our visa consultant can help you with this.
When you visit Netherlands, you will get to enjoy a lot of experiences, ranging from exploring the iconic landmarks, beautiful windmills and flower fields to visiting the seashore and relaxing at the beach.
Furthermore, you can visit national parks, tour different cities and enjoy delicious cuisines and so much more. Hence, Netherlands has so much to offer no matter what your preference is.
Here, we have listed the best things to do in Netherlands to include in your bucket list for a memorable experience in the Netherlands.
Keukenhof Gardens is the largest flower park in the entire Europe. The garden is located at southwest of Amsterdam, on the edge of small town called Lisse.
The garden sits on 32 acres of land featuring over 7 million perfectly trimmed displays of flowers, with themed pavilions and a spectacular windmill.
When you visit this garden, you will get to learn about different types of flowers and enjoy their beauty.
Amsterdam is a well-known city in Europe because it has so much to offer to the tourists. Some of the places you can visit in Amsterdam include Dam Square, Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum), Van Gogh Museum, Leidseplein, and the Royal Palace.
You can also immerse yourself in the nightlife of the city where you can enjoy live music or go clubbing. There are also restaurants where you can try different cuisines.
The Hoge Veluwe National Park is huge park with sandy heath, dunes, lake, museum, and woodland crisscrossed by cycle trails.
When you visit the park you can spot wild animals like deer. Also, you can visit the Kröller-Müller Museum where you can enjoy private art collection displays.
The Burgers’ Zoo is located in Arnhem and sits on 45-hectares of land. In this zoo, wild animals are allowed to live in ther natural habitat, unlike those zoos where animals are caged.
When you will visit this zoo, you will get to about the different animals in their natural habitat, showcasing their natural behavior. There are different theme sites suited to fit both the adults and children.
The Biesbosch, also known as the Reed Forest is among the largest national parks in the Netherlands. The park is situated on the border of Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Holland and is one of the few remaining freshwater tidal areas in the Europe.
The park extends for around 15 square kilometers to the south and east of Dordrecht covering the river, creek, March, and read.
The best way to explore this park is using a boat. You will enjoy stunning sceneries and get a spectacular view as variety of bird’s species fly by in the skies.
When can I submit my Netherlands Visa application?
You should submit your Netherlands visa application at least three months before your trip or at least 15 working days before your intended travel dates.
Is an interview at the consulate mandatory?
Yes! You are required to attend the visa interview on the specified date and time.
Can I travel to Netherlands with a Schengen visa?
Yes, with a Schengen visa you are allowed to enter the Netherlands.
What are the qualification criteria for a Netherlands visa from Dubai?
The type of visa you want to apply for and your nationality are the two main factors which determine the qualification criteria for a Netherlands visa from Dubai.
Can I study in Netherlands with a tourist visa?
No. If you want to study in the Netherlands, you should apply for a student visa.
Can I work in Netherlands with my valid Netherlands Tourist visa?
No! A Netherlands Tourist Visa cannot be used for employment or any other profit-generating activities. If you want to work in Netherlands, you should apply for a Netherlands work permit.
