Short stay visa
19 May 2010
Depending on your nationality, you might need an entry visa for the Netherlands. For stays of up to 90 days, this entry visa is called a short stay visa or Schengen visa. These terms may be used interchangeably.
Check our student visa wizard to find out if you need a Schengen visa. Below you will find information on how to apply for this type of visa and what requirements you must meet.
Sticker
A Schengen visa is a sticker in your passport. The sticker will mention information such as the expiry date of the visa, the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay, and the countries you have been granted access to.
‘Tourist visa’
This visa is sometimes referred to as a tourist visa. This is not entirely correct, as the visa is always issued for a particular purpose of stay. ’Tourism’ is one possible purpose of stay, but so is ’study’ or ’business’.
Validity
The Schengen visa will usually allow you to travel throughout all countries in the Schengen area. Sometimes the visa might be limited to a single country (e.g. the Netherlands) or a few countries (e.g. the Netherlands, Belgium and France). In that case, the Schengen visa will only allow you to travel to and through that particular country or these particular countries.
Multiple entry and single entry
Bear in mind that with a multiple entry short stay visa you are allowed to travel in and out of the Schengen area during the validity of your visa. With a single entry short stay visa you are also allowed to travel within the Schengen area, but once you have left the Schengen area you can not return without a new Schengen visa.
If there is a valid reason, you can change your single entry visa to a multiple entry visa. In that case you will need to make an appointment with the IND.
Also note that your stay in the Schengen area is limited to a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. This means that once you have been in the Schengen area for 90 days you may not return until another 90 days have passed.
More information
Read more information on how to apply for a Schengen visa and what documents you need.