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Which visa do I need to travel to the Netherlands?

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for less than 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. Whether you need a visa to visit the Netherlands depends on your nationality and your travel plans.

Possible visa requirement

You can see on Netherlands Worldwide whether you need a visa or not . You can also read there how to apply for the visa.

Even if you do not need a visa, you must still meet certain conditions in order to visit the Netherlands . These can be found on the website of Netherlands Worldwide.

Other types of visa for the Netherlands

There are also other types of visa besides the short-stay Schengen visa. One example is an airport transit visa, which you may need if you are transiting through a Dutch airport.

You can find more information on visas for the Netherlands on Netherlands Worldwide.

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Schengen or tourist visa for the Netherlands? A guide on everything you need to know

Getting a Schengen or tourist visa for the Netherlands can be easy or difficult, depending on where you come from.

There’s a lot of information available online so here’s an easy-to-read one-stop guide for all the visa options available if you want to visit the Netherlands.

Maybe you live in the Netherlands and have family or friends visiting, or perhaps you’re embarking on a Dutch adventure yourself. Either way, we have all the information you’ll need to get that visa sorted.

Start planning now so that once it’s safe to travel again, you won’t have to scramble with logistics — you’ll be cruising around the canals and tulip gardens before you know it!

Be sure to check the Dutch government’s website for current coronavirus travel recommendations and effects on visa applications .

First things first: which passport do you have?

The type of visa you’ll need not only depends on what you are going to do in the Netherlands but which passport you hold. If you have a passport from any of the countries within the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you will not need any visa to travel to the Netherlands.

However, if you don’t have a passport from these countries (barring a few exceptions), then you will need a visa to travel to the Netherlands.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Services of the Netherlands has a list of countries that come under this rule. Check it before you make your travel plans because for some countries like Australia, Canada, the USA, etc. a visa is not required.

Remember that if you’re exempt from a visa requirement, you can stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, spread over a 180 day period.

This rule is different if you have a passport from Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Mauritius, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Seychelles, according to the IND website. You can stay for three months within a six month period.

Be sure to check the list to see the requirements for your specific country if you plan to visit the Netherlands. You can use the short-stay calculator  to figure out how many days you can stay depending on your nationality.

Types of visas: why are you visiting the Netherlands?

If you’re making travel plans, or if you’re just passing through the airport to get to your next destination, there are different visas that would apply to you.

These visas are for short-term stays, and should not be used in the same capacity as a residence permit. You can stay and travel through the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, or just transit through the country.

There are four types of visas:

• Schengen visa or tourist visa,
• transit visa,
• return visa, and
• MVV authorisation for a temporary stay.

The Schengen visa is the only one which is purely for tourist purposes.

As of late 2022, nationalities including Brits, Americans, Australians, Japanese and Mexicans will require an ETIAS visa waiver to visit the Netherlands or any other EU member state.

This travel document will be valid for 3 years from the date of issue, allow you to visit for up to 90 days in a 6-month period, and will cost €7. You can find out more on a travel visa service like Byevisa .

Schengen or tourist visa for the Netherlands

Do you need a Schengen or tourist visa for the Netherlands?

The Schengen visa is the visa you need to apply for if you have a passport from one of the listed countries, and if you’re coming for tourist purposes, visiting family, or a business trip.

This visa will allow you to stay in the Schengen zone (including the Netherlands) for up to 90 days. These 90 days can be spread over a period of 180 days and allows you to travel through all the Schengen countries .

This is not to be confused with a residence permit and does not allow you to work in the country or any other Schengen country.

It’s always handy to know the local language before you go to a foreign land. Learn a few Dutch words before you come here, and blend in with the locals!

Single or multiple entry: What does your itinerary look like?

If you choose to only travel through the Schengen zone, you can apply for a single entry visa .

This means that once you depart from any of the countries, you will not be allowed to re-enter. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you choose this option, you have to leave the Netherlands and the Schengen zone and will be able to apply for a visa only after 90 days.

If you choose to apply for a multiple entry visa, you will be able to leave the Schengen zone and re-enter without having to apply for another visa.

Remember, the Schengen zone is different from the European Union, so if you’re planning to travel to Bulgaria or the UK, you will need to apply for this type of visa. Did you know that we now have a train that goes from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, all the way to London?

Once you have a tentative plan in place, it’s time to get your documents together and start preparing for your visa application appointment.

What documents do you need for a Schengen visa?

Get your checklist writing shoes on — this is going to be a long one!

• A valid travel document like a passport which is valid for six months from the date you enter the Netherlands.
• Two passport photos which meet the Dutch passport photo requirements .
• Show your travel purpose . You can do this with your hotel reservations or an invitation from a company in the Netherlands. If you’re staying with a friend or family, you will have to submit a form to show proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation .
• Proof that you can support yourself or anybody else accompanying you for the trip. You can do this submitting bank statements, traveller’s cheques or cash. You need to show you have enough for at least 34 euros a day.
• Medical insurance that is valid during your trip. It’s also worth considering taking on Schengen travel insurance , but this is not compulsory.
• Proof of return to your country of origin . You can do this by showing an employer’s declaration, proof of enrolment at a school, that you own your own house, or a return ticket.

How and when do you apply?

After you have all of these documents together, get an appointment at the Dutch embassy where you’re residing (this can be your country of origin or a country where you have a valid residence permit), and pay the visa application fee .

It is recommended that you apply for the visa at least three months before your travel date, and you only reserve (and not finalise your booking) until you have heard back about the decision. The assessment can take anywhere between 15-30 days before you hear back. You can contact your Dutch embassy for an update about your application.

Where do you go to get your visa?

As soon as your visa application has been approved, you have to get another appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate where you applied and drop off your passport to have the visa sticker stamped. This sticker will tell you the validity of your visa, and an indication of whether it is a multiple or single entry visa.

Once you have this sticker, you’re good to start preparing for your trip!

Have you done everything right and set those travel dates in stone? Find out everything you need to know before you come to the Netherlands for the first time .

Do you have a disability ? Check out the Dutch laws, public transport, and which attractions are accessible (in Amsterdam).

If you’re looking for somewhere tourists don’t frequently go, why not try one of the many national parks  for a hike under the sun?

The Netherlands is a small country, and it is easy to go on  day trips to many places while setting up base in one of the central cities. The country is relatively safe  to visit, and super easy to get around (check our guide for public transport ).

Have you applied for a tourist or Schengen visa? Do you plan to? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Dariusz Sankowski /Unsplash Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in February 2019 and was fully updated in May 2021 for your reading pleasure.

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Entry to Netherlands: Visas, Residence, Work Permits

Immigration law in the Netherlands is complex and you may need to jump a few bureaucratic hoops to live and work in the country. This article gives an overview of entry requirements for the Netherlands. Please consult the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) or a legal specialist for further information or specific questions.

Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is a zone in Europe where internal border controls have been abolished . The Netherlands is a part of the Schengen Area which currently consists of 26 member states:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The area also includes microstates Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.

Note that not all countries in the Schengen Area are European Union (EU) members – this is the case for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are candidate countries and may join the area in the future. The UK and Ireland are not part of the Schengen agreement so travel between UK/Ireland and the Netherlands requires a standard passport control.

There are officially no passport controls for travel between Schengen countries. However, travel has been made more difficult recently due to the regulations in response to the so-called ‘coronavirus’ issue.

Short Stays: Visa-Free, Schengen Tourist/Business Visa

Those coming from the EU (European Union), EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands.

Citizens from the following countries also have visa-free entry for visits up to 90 days to the Netherlands/Schengen area:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

Citizens from all other countries need to apply for a short stay visa – this allows visits for up to 90 days in a 180 day period. There are various types of visa available which will depend on the visitor’s situation.

The most common short-stay visas are the Tourist Schengen Visa (holidays/vacation), Schengen Visitor Visa (visiting family/friends) and a Business Schengen Visa (meetings/business). Visas can be issued as single entry (enter only once) or multiple entry.

The visa application should be made from your home country – go to the consulate of the Schengen country where you will stay the longest time on your trip. You must pass some basic criteria such as having medical travel insurance, sufficient means of support (showing financial documents), having a return flight reservation and a passport with at least 3 months validity after the visa expiry date. Your fingerprints will also be taken. The short-stay visa should be processed within 2 to 3 weeks at the most.

Latest Visitor and Health Requirements for the Netherlands

Due to the ongoing ‘coronavirus’ travel restrictions you should check the very latest official guidelines and ‘health’ requirements for visitors to the Netherlands. Only check the official Dutch government portal here . There are a number of sites cropping up in search engines offering outdated or inaccurate information – such as ‘passenger locator forms for the Netherlands’ – which are not actually required.

Schengen Transit Visas

Travellers from the following countries:

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka.

also require a transit visa if they are passing through an airport in the Schengen area . There are some exemptions to this visa such as an individual from one of the above countries also holding residency in Canada, Japan or the USA.

For example, an Sri Lankan citizen with a US green card flying from Delhi to New York via Amsterdam would not require the Schengen transit visa to pass solely through Amsterdam Schiphol airport. However, a standard Schengen tourist visa would be required if a stopover in Amsterdam was added, since they would be entering the Netherlands/Schengen.

Living/Working in the Netherlands

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit to live in the Netherlands . If you plan to stay more than 4 months then you must register with the local municipality (gemeente) and obtain a Burger Service Nummer (BSN, the citizen service number). You will also require mandatory Dutch health insurance.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens have an unrestricted right to work in the Netherlands.

UK citizens – The UK officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020. British citizens coming to live in the Netherlands after 1 January 2021 require a residence permit. You can check the current status on the Dutch immigration ‘after Brexit’ page .

Citizens from non-European countries will require a residence permit (VVR – verblijfsvergunning) to live/work in the Netherlands.

The first step is to apply for a provisional residence authorisation (MVV – machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf) which is a visa sticker in your passport that allows entry to the Netherlands/Schengen. The MVV and residence permit are applied for at the same time via the so-called Entry and Residence procedure (TEV – Toegang-en Verblijfsprocedure) – this is normally done by a sponsor such as an employer, university or partner.

Note, citizens from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, United States of America or Vatican City do NOT need the provisional MVV. Other foreign national already holding an EU blue card who have lived in another EU member state also don’t need the MVV.

Once the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) approves your residence application (this can take up to 90 days), you can collect the MVV from the Dutch consulate in your home country. On arrival in the Netherlands you can make an appointment within 2 weeks at the IND desk (or within 3 days without the MVV) to pick up the VVR residence permit card. Note that fingerprints are taken for all residence permit holders.

The residence permit is generally issued for the duration of employment or study. On gaining residence you must then register with the local municipality and get your BSN number. You will also need to purchase Dutch health insurance.

For non-European citizens, sponsors/employers may also need to apply for a work permit (TWV – tewerkstellingsvergunning) to show that the position has been advertised locally without success and that the candidate is suitable. Under the TEV procedure there is a combined single permit for residence and work. Single permits are valid for up to 3 years – after which the residence permit is changed to free access to the Dutch labour market.

See 10 Essential steps for expats arriving in the Netherlands

Highly skilled migrants ( kennismigranten , literally ‘knowledge migrants’) are able to go through a faster and more streamlined procedure via the special IN Amsterdam (International Newcomers Amsterdam, formerly Expatcenter) office run by the IND. Registered employers can lodge an application before the migrant arrives in the country and once in the Netherlands they can start work immediately. Work permits are not required. On a single visit to IN Amsterdam, the migrant gets fingerprinted, collects their residence permit, registers with the municipality, gets issued a BSN number and can also apply for the 30% tax rule.

Highly skilled migrants must fulfil minimum gross salary requirements (not including holiday allowance) which as of 2022 are €4,840 per month for over 30s, €3,549 for under 30s, €2,543 for those who have graduated (PhD or Masters) in the Netherlands within 3 years or €5,670 for EU blue card holders. For more background info on work see Salaries in Amsterdam and Multinational companies in the Netherlands

The IN Amsterdam office is located at the World Trade Center Amsterdam, I-Tower ground floor (entrance via Zuidplein), Strawinskylaan 1767, 1077 XX Amsterdam. This is very close to Amsterdam Zuid station. Opening times are Monday to Friday 0900-1200 and 1300-1630, telephone +31(0)20 254 7999.

There are also official expat desks in The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Wageningen, Groningen and Enschede. Contact details are provided here .

Foreign Investors who invest at least €1.25m into the Dutch economy can get a residence permit for up to 3 years which is extendible.

A Dutch residence permit can be given for family reunion purposes such as joining a spouse or registered partner who lives in the Netherlands. Depending on the status of the resident partner, the residence permit card can be issued for a maximum validity of 5 years. The visa has various restrictions and you may have to take the Civic Integration exam beforehand.

Working Holiday Scheme – Nationals of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay aged 18-30 can apply for a 1 year working holiday visa. Note that visa holders are only allowed to work a maximum of 12 weeks with the same employer.

Citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand can arrive without a visa and then visit an IND desk to apply for the working holiday visa. The other nationalities must generally apply at the Dutch embassy in their respective country. The cost of the visa is €69.

You will be photographed and fingerprinted and will get a sticker in your passport which allows you to work. The residence permit will be processed within a few weeks.

Mandatory ID Law

In 2005 it became mandatory for everyone over 14 in the Netherlands to carry proof of identity at all times . The introduction of the law was controversial and caused particular consternation amongst law-abiding old ladies who had neither passports nor driving licenses (they had to get themselves Dutch ID cards). In fact the last time the country had such strict ID laws was during WW2.

For compliance, acceptable forms of ID are a passport, Dutch residence permit card, EU/EEA driving license or EU/EEA ID card. Copies of ID are not valid, the original must be shown. If you cannot produce such a document when asked by a police officer, public transport ticket inspector or certain other public officials you risk a fine of at least €60.

Permanent Residency and Dutch Citizenship

If you have held a temporary resident permit for a minimum of 5 consecutive years and still hold a valid residence permit you can apply for permanent residency. You will need to speak Dutch and complete the Civic Integration exam. Note that the permanent residency is valid 5 years and needs to be renewed. Permanent residents are free to work without a work permit.

Those with permanent residency who have lived in the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period of 5 years qualify to apply for Dutch citizenship. For those married to Dutch partners, a residency period of 3 years is required. You may have to renounce your previous citizenship as the Netherlands only allows dual nationality in limited cases. On acceptance you will have to attend a citizenship ceremony and swear an oath of allegiance to the Netherlands.

Citizens of the Netherlands can apply for a Dutch passport which is ranked as one of the world’s best travel documents. According to the Sovereign Man passport survey (2022) it gives access to 160 countries visa-free and is globally ranked number 17.

Please note, unfortunately we cannot answer individual questions on immigration issues. Regulations are subject to change. For the latest information check the official Dutch government immigration service ( ind.nl ). Alternatively consult an immigration lawyer.

This article was originally published in 2010. Last updated 28 February 2022 .

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UK Visa Application Centre in Amsterdam

Our Visa Application Centre is open for new appointments .

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Find out all mandatory steps to apply for a UKVI visa.

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BEWARE OF UK VISA APPOINTMENT SCAMS

Only book UK visa appointments through TLScontact.

TLScontact is the only official partner for UK Visas and Immigration in the Netherlands.

Beware of other websites, companies or individuals attempting to sell UK visa appointments.

UK visa appointments are available for free at the TLScontact Visa Application Centre in Amsterdam, but there is a fee of £76.50 to use this Visa Application Centre.

TLScontact also provides some appointments for a fee. These offer additional flexibility or convenience. However, these paid appointments are all optional, and there are always free appointments available at other times or on other days. Please view the Added Value Services page for more information on the fees for these services.

TLScontact cannot guarantee that any appointments arranged through other companies or individuals will be legitimate or accepted when you arrive at the TLScontact Visa Application Centre.

Why do I have to pay an additional fee to use this Visa Application Centre?

In some locations where demand is relatively low, or where there are free to use options in the same country, an additional fee is charged to cover the provision of a user pays Visa Application Centre. This allows customers to attend an appointment at a more convenient location closer to their home. The user pays fee is a regulated fee set by the Home Office. Please find more information about UK visa fees here .

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Making an appointment in the United Kingdom

If you are in the United Kingdom and need a product or service from the Dutch government, you can go to the Netherlands embassy or VFS Global, depending on what you need. To find out what to do, select the product or service you need.

Airport transit visa

Make an appointment online at VFS Global

Preparing for your appointment

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for an airport transit visa in the United Kingdom. 

What you need to know about applying for an airport transit visa

Diplomatic or official passport?

If you have a diplomatic or official passport, make an appointment at the embassy in London by emailing: [email protected]

Caribbean Carpet Programme

To register for the Caribbean Carpet Programme, send your completed application form to the embassy in London by emailing: [email protected] . You do not need to make an appointment.

Prepare your application carefully. Find out what you need to do in advance in order to apply for the Caribbean Carpet Programme.

Full information about registering for the Caribbean Carpet Programme

Civic integration exam abroad

Make an appointment at the embassy in London by emailing: [email protected]

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to take the civic integration exam in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about taking the civic integration exam abroad

Long-stay Caribbean visa

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for a long-stay Caribbean visa in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about applying for a long-stay Caribbean visa

Long-stay visa (MVV)

Make an appointment online at the embassy in London

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for a long-stay visa (MVV) in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about applying for a long-stay visa (MVV)

Orange Carpet Visa Facility

You will need to go to VFS Global. You do not need to make an appointment.

Find out when you can visit VFS Global

Preparing for your application

Arrive at your application well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to be eligible for the Orange Carpet Visa Facility.

What you need to know about the Orange Carpet Visa Facility

Short-stay Caribbean visa (90 days or less)

Preparing for your appointment 

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for a short-stay Caribbean visa in the United Kingdom. 

What you need to know about applying for a short-stay Caribbean visa

Short-stay Schengen visa (90 days or less)

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa in the United Kingdom. 

What you need to know about applying for a short-stay Schengen visa

Visa in case of lost or expired residence permit

Is your residence permit for the Netherlands lost, stolen, or expired in the United Kingdom? And do you need an entry visa to return to the Netherlands?

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for an entry visa in the United Kingdom. 

What you need to know about applying for an entry visa

Dutch nationality

Dutch passport or id card.

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about applying for a Dutch passport or ID card

There are several places you can go. Find out how to make an appointment at each place.

Emergency travel document

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for an emergency travel document in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about applying for an emergency travel document

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Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for Dutch citizenship through naturalisation abroad.

What you need to know about naturalisation

Option procedure

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to apply for Dutch citizenship through the option procedure from abroad. 

What you need to know about the option procedure

Legalisation

Legalisation of a copy of your id.

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to have a copy of your identity document legalised.

What you need to know about having a copy of your ID legalised

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Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to have your signature legalised.

What to know about having a signature legalised

Certificate or declaration

Certificate of life.

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to request a certificate of life in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about requesting a certificate of life

Certificate of residence

You do not need to make an appointment. Request a certificate by emailing the embassy in London: [email protected]

Prepare your request

Prepare your request carefully. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to request a certificate of residence in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about requesting a certificate of residence

Declaration of marital status

You do not need to make an appointment. Request a declaration by emailing the embassy in London: [email protected]

Prepare your request carefully. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to request a declaration of marital status in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about requesting a declaration of marital status

Dutch nationality certificate

How you request a Dutch nationality certificate depends on your situation.

Find out how to request a Dutch nationality certificate

Collecting a DigiD activation code

Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Find out what you’ll need to do in order to collect your DigiD activation code in the United Kingdom.

What you need to know about collecting a DigiD activation code

Collecting a document

Do you want to collect a passport, declaration or other type of document from the embassy? You do not need to make an appointment. You can collect your document on any of the following days:

• Monday: 10:00 - 12:00
• Tuesday: 10:00 - 12:00
• Wednesday: 10:00 - 12:00
• Thursday: 10:00 - 12:00
• Friday: 10:00 - 12:00

Find out the address and closing days of the embassy

Also useful

Contact details and opening hours of the embassy in London

European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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• Visas and immigration
• What you need to do

How to apply for a visa to come to the UK

Choose a visa.

You may need a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family.

There are different visas depending on:

• where you come from
• why you want to come to the UK
• how long you want to stay for
• your personal circumstances and skills

Before you apply, you must check if you need a visa and what type you need. Depending on your nationality, you might not need a visa to visit or transit through the UK.

Your application must be approved before you travel.

You do not need to apply for a visa if you’re an Irish citizen.

If you want to visit the UK

Apply for a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for up to 6 months. For example:

• for a holiday or to see family and friends
• for a business trip or meeting
• to do a short course of study

You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to get married or register a civil partnership.

If you have a visitor visa you cannot take a job in the UK.

If you’re travelling through the UK

You might need a visa if you’re travelling through the UK on your way to another country, for example if you have a layover between flights.

Apply for a visa to travel through the UK .

If you want to study in the UK

Your course length, type and place of study affect which visa to apply for.

A Standard Visitor visa lets you do a short course of study that lasts no longer than 6 months.

A Short-term study visa lets you come to the UK to study an English language course that is over 6 months and up to 11 months.

A Student visa is usually for a longer course. You must be sponsored by a licensed college or university and have a confirmed place. On this visa, you may be able to do some work.

A Child Student visa is for 4 to 17 year olds who want to study at an independent school. If you’re 16 or over, this visa lets you do some work.

If you want to work in the UK

You can work in the UK on a short or long-term basis with a work visa. There are many types of work visa .

The visa you need depends upon:

• your skills and qualifications
• if you have a job offer and sponsorship
• if you want to bring your family with you
• what you’ll be doing - for example sporting, charitable or religious work

You can set up a business with an Innovator Founder visa .

If you want to join family in the UK

If you’re a spouse, partner or family member of someone who has British citizenship or settlement in the UK, you can apply for a family visa to join them. They may need to show that they can support you financially.

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain ( ILR ) after a set amount of time living in the UK.

If your family member is in the UK on a visa

You may be able to apply for a visa to join a family member who’s in the UK on a visa. They must be either:

• your spouse or partner
• your parent if you’re 18 or under

Check what visa you’ll need to join them.

Family reunion visas for refugees

If you were separated from your partner or child when you were forced to leave your country, they can apply to join you in the UK.

Your family members can apply if you have been given asylum or 5 years’ humanitarian protection, and not have British citizenship.

If your family member is from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You can apply for a free EU Settlement Scheme family permit to come to the UK if you have a close family member who:

• was living in the UK by 31 December 2020
• has pre-settled or settled status
• you had a relationship with by 31 December 2020 (unless you’re applying for a child who was born or adopted after this date)

Close family members include your spouse or civil partner, child, grandchild, parent or grandparent.

A family permit lets you live, work and study in the UK for up to 6 months. You can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to stay in the UK after your family permit expires. You usually need to apply within 3 months of arriving in the UK.

Other ways to get permission to live in the UK

If you’re from the eu, switzerland, norway, iceland or liechtenstein.

If you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme instead of applying for a visa. The deadline to apply was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you can show reasonable grounds for the delay in applying.

Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme .

You can only apply from outside the UK if you have a valid passport or national identity card with a biometric chip.

Commonwealth citizens

You can apply for an Ancestry visa to work in the UK if you have a British grandparent and meet other eligibility criteria.

You may have right of abode to live in the UK.

If you’re a Commonwealth citizen and cannot prove your right to be in the UK, read about the Windrush scheme .

Returning residents

You’ll need to apply for a returning resident visa to come back to the UK if one of the following is true:

you had indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme (‘settled status’) and left the UK for more than 5 continuous years (or 4 continuous years if you’re a Swiss citizen or their family member)

you had permanent permission to stay in the UK (‘indefinite leave to remain’) but it was not under the EU Settlement Scheme and you left the UK for more than 2 years

Other visas

There may be another visa that’s right for you based on your circumstances. Check if you need a visa and what other visas you’re eligible for.

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