Where can I obtain an adequate travel insurance?
Firstly, one's travel insurance policy should be covering medical
expenses including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation. The policy
must have been taken out with an insurance company in the UK and provide cover
for all Schengen countries, with a minimum cover of EURO 30.000.
In case you are insured through your bank, you have to submit proof of this as
well.
Please be advised that the so-called 'E111-form' or its successor, the EHIC
card, is not an adequate travel insurance.
What is a Visa?
A Visa is an authorisation issued by the representative of the Government of a
country permitting a person, not resident in that country, to enter its
boundaries.
Who issues Visas for Netherlands in UK?
In the United Kingdom, The Embassy of Netherlands is the sole representative of
Netherlands, who issues visas for their country.
How do I know if I need a visa?
Depending on your purpose of travel, you should log on to the website of the
Embassy of Netherlands to check whether you are eligible or require a visa.
Visit http://www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk
Can I apply at the Netherlands Visa Application Centre if I want
to go to Spain or Paris? I can arrange for bookings accordingly?
If you plan to apply for your Schengen visa at the Embassy of Netherlands,
your main destination and the maximum period of stay in the Schengen States
must be in Netherlands only. Please provide proof to support this information.
Is the visa valid for Netherlands only?
The Embassy of Netherlands issues visas for Netherlands and for the other
Schengen states. The Schengen visa issued by the Embassy gives access to 24
Schengen countries in total. However, the Schengen Visa applications will only
be accepted by Netherlands Visa Application Centre if Netherlands is the
country of maximum stay. Should the duration of the stay be the same in several
Schengen States, Netherlands must be the first point of entry if making an
application at the Netherlands Visa Application Centre.
Who is VF Services (UK) Limited?
VF Services (UK) Limited is the preferred outsourced partner to the Embassy of
Netherlands in the UK. The Netherlands Visa Application Centre of VF Services
(UK) Limited functions as a collection and processing centre to guarantee a
better service in response to the growing demand for Netherlands Visas from
applicants residing in the United Kingdom.
How can I contact the Netherlands Visa Application Centre?
You can contact the Netherlands Visa Application Centre via the Helpline, by
email or in person. Please see our contact information section for details.
How early can I apply?
Applicants are free to apply up to 90 days prior to their date of travel. The
Embassy recommends that you apply at least 3 weeks prior to your date of travel
to accommodate any unforeseen processing delays.
Can the Netherlands Visa Application Centre prepare my
application for me?
The Netherlands Visa Application Centre does not prepare visa applications, but
accepts and processes applications in accordance with the Embassy's
instructions.
I don't live in the UK, can I apply for my Schengen visa from
the Netherlands Visa Application Centre in London?
The Netherlands Visa Application Centre in London is available to all UK
Residents. If you are a visitor in the UK, you are free to make your
application too; however, you need to ensure that your UK Visa or UK Resident
Permit (if resident in the UK) needs to be valid for 03 months longer than your
intended Schengen visa. Applications from visitors may take upto 15 working to
be processed.
What are the hours of opening for Submission at the Application
Centre?
Applicants must book an appointment to submit your application click on Schedule Appointment
Do I have to come personally or can I send the application to
the Netherlands Visa Application Centre?
All visa applications must be submitted in person, by the applicant only. You
can however, have your processed passport collected if you are unable to make
it in person. A letter of authorisation by you and proof of relationship will
be required to allow your relative to collect on your behalf.
What is the application procedure at the Netherlands Visa
Application Centre?
Applicants will be asked to take a token at the entrance and be seated in the
waiting area. (You can approach our Submission Counters when your token number
is displayed). Our officers at the counter will collect your visa application
form to check for completion and your photograph to see if it meets the
required specifications. Your passport will be checked for validity, empty
pages and previous travel information. Your fees will be collected in
accordance with the visa category you have chosen and the documents you submit
will be readied in the manner in which they are required by the Embassy. You
will be issued a receipt for the fees paid and given an acknowledgement for the
submission of your passport.
Which visa [category] should I apply for?
The Netherlands Visa Application Centre is an acceptance centre and, as such,
is not authorised to advise/recommend any visa type to a prospective applicant.
The Applicant will have to find out the visa category he/she is eligible for
based on the purpose of travel. He/she can do so by visiting the websites of
the Embassy of Netherlands which is http://www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk
What are the documents required for a Netherlands Visa?
After deciding the eligible visa category, applicants can log on to
http://www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk or on to the Netherlands Visa
Application Centre's website http://nl.vfsglobal.co.uk
to check the recommended documents for the Visa category they have chosen.
Photocopies are recommended as documents will not be returned. Submit originals
only where specified.
What if I do not have all the documents?
If your application is not accompanied by the documents that are recommended by
the Embassy, you will be asked if you wish to proceed with the application as
it is, i.e. without all the recommended documents. Should you consent to this,
your application will be registered in our system and accepted for visa
application submission. Incomplete applications will lead to processing delays.
What proof will I have that Netherlands Visa Application Centre
has my visa application?
When your application is registered in our system, you will be issued a receipt
for the fees you have paid. You will be given a receipt along with an
acknowledgement of the acceptance of your passport in the form of a stamped
copy of your passport Bio/Data page.
Will the application centre give me acknowledgement of the
documents that I have submitted?
The Netherlands Visa Application Centre will not issue any documents other the
receipts for fees collected and the stamped passport copy to an applicant.
What are the applicable fees?
Every Visa application needs to be accompanied by a visa fee for the amount
applicable to your chosen visa category. This can be paid by Debit or Credit
card, Postal Order or cash. Besides this, there is a service charge of £24
(inclusive of VAT) applicable per application. Please see
http://nl.vfsglobal.co.uk.com for the existing fees. You also have the
option of requesting for the return of your documents by Special Delivery for
an additional fee of £7.40 per application.
Can I make a collective payment for the visa fees and logistic
fees?
Yes, the Netherlands Visa Application Centre will accept collective fees
at the centre at the time of submission.
What is procedure to get my passport back?
You will need to bring your receipt and submission proof (the Netherlands Visa
Application Centre stamped passport Bio/Data page) with you on the second day
after submission anytime between 1400-1500hrs, Monday to Friday except declared
holidays, to check for the status of your application.
What if I cannot return to collect my passport in person?
In your absence, along with your receipt and stamped passport copy, an
authority letter from you in the name of your relative will be required. We can
post the application to you by Special Delivery at an additional nominal cost.
However, this request needs to be made at the time of submitting your
application and cannot be requested at a later date. This service is restricted
to Royal Mail coverage in the UK and Northern Ireland only.
What should I provide as proof of relationship or my spouse's
nationality?
Photocopies of your Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate are the only
documents that will be accepted as proof of relationship. Photocopies of your
spouse's national passport can be accepted as proof of nationality.
Can the Netherlands Visa Application Centre post my passport
back?
The Netherlands Visa Application Centre can post your application as long as
the address is provided at the time your application is being registered.
Applications will be returned via Special Delivery mode only. You must make
your preferred delivery mode known at the time of submission, as once your
receipt is issued; we cannot change the mode of return of your application.
This service is restricted to Royal Mail coverage in the UK and Northern
Ireland only.
Is there a charge for the postal service?
The postal facility is an optional service at an additional fee of £7.40 per
visa application. This fee has to be paid at the time your application and
cannot be opted for later. This service is restricted to Royal Mail coverage in
the UK and Northern Ireland only.
Will I get my visa at the end of the process?
As an application centre, the Netherlands Visa Application Centre will not be
able to guarantee you a visa. The issuance or refusal of a visa is the sole
prerogative of The Embassy of Netherlands. The Netherlands Visa Application
Centre cannot influence this decision in any way.
If I have to travel elsewhere and my passport is still with the
Embassy of Netherlands, is it possible for me to have only my passport back for
travel? What if I decide to withdraw my application?
If your passport is with the Embassy of Netherlands and you have interim
travel plans, please prepare a covering letter which has your contact and
passport information. Mention the reason why you would like your passport in
the interim in this covering letter and bring this to the Netherlands Visa
Application Centre. Along with this letter, a form needs to be completed and
submitted at the Application Centre. Once your travel is complete, please
return your passport to permit you application processing.
Should you wish to withdraw your application completely, please follow the same
process but mention that you would like to withdraw your application
completely. We would like to inform you that your fees will not be refunded at
any stage.
Who should I contact to find out why I was refused?
You will receive a letter from the Embassy of Netherlands in your return
application which will mention the reasons for refusal.
When can I reapply; is there a timeframe after the refusal that
I must wait before reapply?
You are free to re-apply at anytime if your application has been refused
earlier. There is no time gap to be observed after a Refusal to make a fresh
application. However, it is recommended that you note the reasons for the
earlier Refusal before submitting a new application and make amendments where
applicable.
If I do not have a bank account myself, can someone else in the
UK act as my sponsor?
No, if you do not have your own bank account, you can either submit traveller
cheques (£30 multiplied by the number of days of your stay) or your sponsor in
the Netherlands - who also has to provide you with a legalised letter of
guarantee - has to submit his / her salary slips. Please be advised that an
overdraft is not accepted.
How long will my application take to process?
The length of time it takes to process your application depends entirely on the
circumstances of your case. However, processing time for a short term visa is
generally 72 hours, for some nationalities 14 days.
Does my UK visa have to be endorsed in my current passport?
Yes, it is international practice that a residence permit must be endorsed in
the passport. It is also an absolute condition of all member states of Schengen
for any visa application. No visas can be issued to persons without the
residence permit in the passport.
A confirmation letter from the Home Office is not acceptable.
The border guards of any Schengen country do not know these confirmations and
cannot judge the validity of such a letter.
The only exception is in case you can submit both your current as well as your
previous passport in which your valid residence permit is endorsed.
Where can I obtain information if I require a work permit for
travelling to The Netherlands for business purposes only?
Please be aware that your sponsor in The Netherlands is responsible for
ensuring that you have all the necessary permits and licences to carry out your
duties. In order to prevent to be in breach of the national employment
regulations in The Netherlands, you are advised to contact the CWI (Centrum
voor Werk en Inkomen, Vergunningen en Maatregelen) in Zoetermeer on telephone
number: +31 (0)79 750.2903, or fax number: +31 (0)79 371.2999, to verify
whether you require a work permit.
If I have received visas in the past, do I have to submit a
full set of documents when applying for a new visa for another trip?
Yes, with every new application you have to submit all the required documents
again. Furthermore, the documents must be recent.
Is an invitation of the UK based office sufficient in case I
will be regularly visiting its Dutch representative office?
No, you have to submit both; the letter from your UK employer as well as the
original invitation from The Netherlands. Please be advised that e-mail
invitations are not accepted. All letters have to be on official letterhead.
Do I qualify for a transit visa if I have a visitor's visa for
the United Kingdom?
No, unless you obtained a transit visa issued by the Dutch Embassy in your
country of residence which recently expired and you changed your departure
date.
