Visa Requirements for Dutch Citizens
Visa requirements for Dutch citizens are the rules and conditions set by each country that apply when crossing borders.
Visa requirements determine whether visitors from the Netherlands need a visa and whether they must prepare additional documents for entry. Dutch citizens can travel freely abroad because the country has significant freedom of movement.
Over a hundred destinations welcome Dutch citizens visa-free with a valid passport or even just with valid ID in hand! Additionally, 35 countries offer the possibility of applying for an eVisa online a few days before the planned trip from the Netherlands.
This is the second easiest way to travel abroad as the entire visa application process only takes a few minutes and can be done entirely at home.
Another 37 countries allow Dutch passport holders to apply for a visa on arrival through any border checkpoint.
This visa processing option is not the most difficult to accomplish; however, this often involves long queues and uncertainty. Dutch citizens only need to apply for a regular embassy visa when visiting 25 countries.
These destinations include China, Syria, Yemen and Nigeria.
Traditional visas are the most difficult to obtain because they require numerous supporting documents and embassy visits.
Visa-free entry, eVisa and visa on arrival all allow Dutch citizens to stay abroad for short periods of time, usually between 30 and 90 days.
Embassy visas can be issued for short-term and long-term stays, even those related to work, study and even living abroad. Each country sets its own rules and regulations that apply when foreign visitors cross its borders.
Further information on current visa requirements for Dutch citizens, country lists for each visa type, visa-free destinations and additional information on required supporting documents can be found.
found below.
Electronic visa
Electronic visas or e-visas are simpler alternatives to regular visas, which can be obtained entirely online with little effort.
eVisa can be applied for at home or any other location using any enabled device with an internet connection.
List of countries offering eVisas for Dutch citizens
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Ivory Coast
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
35 countries have decided to implement the eVisa system and include the Netherlands in the list of eligible countries.
This means visiting any of the destinations listed above is now as easy as completing a simple online registration process!
The eVisa application process consists of three simple steps that can be completed on a phone, laptop, PC or tablet.
Once the registration process is complete, travelers will receive approved documents via email.
The submitted PDF file will then be printed or stored as an electronic copy and presented upon arrival.
An approved eVisa allows its holder to stay abroad for a short period of time, typically 14, 30, 60 or 90 days.
Short-term travel with an eVisa can be for leisure, business or transit.
Dutch citizens traveling on an eVisa can therefore go on vacation, visit friends and family, conduct any business abroad or simply transit on their way to another final destination.
Visa on Arrival
Visa on arrival is a type of visa that can be issued upon arrival to the selected country after filling in an application form collected at the nearest border crossing.
This type of visa often comes with long queues and the need to complete formalities upon arrival.
List of countries offering a Visa on Arrival for Dutch citizens
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Currently, 37 countries offer visas on arrival for Dutch citizens. There is no need to apply for a visa before traveling to any of the countries listed above from the Netherlands.
However, the process of applying for a visa at the border gate is not simple and complicated. VoA countries may still require travelers to confirm the purpose of their visit by providing appropriate supporting documentation and paying an issuance fee. Dutch passport holders wishing to apply for a visa on arrival must first check the current VoA requirements of the destination they wish to visit and prepare the necessary documents (if any).
In addition, sometimes when it is necessary to cover issuance costs, tourists need to have the necessary local amount in cash.
Then, after getting ready, Dutch citizens must go to the nearest border checkpoint after arriving at their chosen destination and request a visa application form on arrival. After that, the form must be filled out carefully and checked for possible errors in the data provided. Additional steps may need to be taken, such as covering issuance costs or submitting certain supporting documents.
An approved entry visa allows its holder to engage in any tourist, professional, or transit-related activity abroad for a short period of time, usually 30, 60, or 90 days.
It’s worth noting that many countries that offer a VoA option also offer an eVisa option for travelers who want to be prepared for their trip and avoid long lines once they arrive.
Therefore, it is best to check whether the destination country offers an additional eVisa option.
Embassy visa
Embassy visas are traditional or regular visas that are processed only when visiting the embassy of the selected country.
The process of applying for this type of visa can seem daunting and requires gathering a lot of supporting documents.
List of countries that require Dutch citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bhutan
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Nauru
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Yemen
25 countries require Dutch citizens to present a valid embassy visa upon arrival.
Visiting any of the destinations listed above requires first applying for a regular visa. To obtain an embassy visa, Dutch citizens must first check the current general visa requirements applicable to the selected country.
Then it’s time to start preparing the necessary documents and filling out the application form.
The form should not contain any errors in the data provided and the required documents should be complete.
The documents collected along with the completed application form must be submitted to the embassy.
Additional steps may be required, such as paying an issuance fee or completing a visa interview. As Dutch citizens must apply for an embassy visa upon arrival in 25 countries, it is best to start the application process and check current requirements at least a few weeks before your planned trip .
Preparation for the application process as well as processing time can take several weeks.
Visa-free countries
118 countries offer visa-free entry for Dutch citizens.
Additionally, the Netherlands has free movement agreements with European Union countries, allowing Dutch citizens to visit these countries with only valid identification documents in hand.
List of visa-free countries for Dutch citizens
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraqi Kurdistan
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- The Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Suriname*
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- The Vatican City
- Venezuela
Visa-free travel from the Netherlands to any of the destinations listed above is more than simple!
Dutch citizens need a valid ID document or a valid passport, depending on the selected country. Some destinations may require certain supporting documents to be presented upon arrival, such as a return ticket, hotel reservation or proof of sufficient funds for the planned trip.
Therefore, it is best to check whether additional documents are required before arriving at your chosen destination.
Visa-free travel allows Dutch citizens to engage in all leisure, business and transit activities abroad.
Short-term travel for vacation, visiting friends or family, business and transits abroad becomes easy with visa-free travel!
