Do I Need a Visa for Amsterdam?
If you are intending to visit the beautiful country of the Netherlands, particularly the city of Amsterdam, it will be precarious to know whether you will need a visa to travel to the city. The answer to this question is determined by the nationalities of the people and the length of visit. This whole blog post will give the essential details on what any first time visitor needs to know regarding the visa to visit Amsterdam.
Visa-Free Travel
Altogether, let me begin with the good news first. The citizens of some countries can enter the territory of Amsterdam without a visa for short-term stay. These countries are in the Schengen area for Europe, which is the agreement which currently joins 26 countries of Europe without passport checks at their borders.
Someone from any of these countries is allowed to stay in Amsterdam for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days without the need for a visa. Some of these countries are the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and many others in Europe.
Short Stay Visa
If your nationality requires a visa, or if you intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, then you will need the following visa called short stay visa. This visa is also called the Schengen visa allows you to enter Amsterdam, and other states of the Schengen zone for up to 90 days for a 180-day period.
How to Apply
For short stay visa, you will need to visit the Dutch embassy or consulate if you are from any of the countries below. They will give you the necessary application documents and direct you when processing the applications. It is recommended that a person should apply for a visa some time prior to the intended travel as it takes roughly weeks for the visa to be processed.
The following documents are necessary when applying for short stay visa;
Completed visa application form
Valid passport with at least six months of validity
Proof of travel insurance
Proof of accommodation in Amsterdam
Proof of some means to cater for your provisions during your stay
Round-trip flight reservation
Proof of ties to your home country (such as employment or property ownership)
Visa Fees
When applying for the short stay visa there is a certain fee that an applicant has to pay. It may also differ in relation to your nationality and the location of the embassy or consulate that you will apply in. It is advisable to reach out to your country’s Dutch Embassy/consulate to get updated information concerning the price of visa fees.
Transit Visa
Persons who have a connecting flight and remain within the transit area of the airport do not require a visa for Amsterdam as a transit station. However, in case you are planning for a city tour around the airport especially in Amsterdam while in transit, then you will be required to apply for a transit visa. It is advisable that you consult your airline or the Netherlands embassy/consulate for further details on the visa specie relevant to your proposed transit.
Additional Tips
Here are some other tips that you should bear in mind:
It is always important to consult the most current visa requirements and visa rules before traveling to a specific country.
Be sure that your passports are still valid for your visits The best passports with an adequate validity should be used for travelling. For visa validity it is advised that one should arrange to have at least six months passport validity before your travel dates.
When travelling, a smart action to take would be to photocopy the documents or make photo reproductions of the passport and the visa in case the originals get lost or stolen.
It is always important to consult with the Dutch embassy or the consulate in case you are not clear on any of the procedures to be followed when applying for the visa.
Please read this writing with keenness because it offers a clear picture of visa requirements for anyone planning to visit Amsterdam. However, before getting a visa-exempt or realizing the wish of getting a short stay visa, you will need relevant preparations and proper understanding on the procedures. Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam!
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