Applying for a long-stay Caribbean visa in the United States
If you live in United States and need a visa to collect your residence permit for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, find out about the rules and how to apply.
What do I need to do?
You can only apply for a long-stay visa if you have also applied for a residence permit.
You must always submit your application in person. Children under the age of 18 must also apply in person.
Bring the following documents with you. For every document, you must bring the original and one photocopy with you. The embassy or consulate-general cannot make photocopies for you.
Application form
You must submit a completed Caribbean visa application form. You must sign the form during your appointment in the presence of a consular officer.
Passport
You must provide a passport or other travel document containing at least two blank pages. It should be valid for at least 3 month after you leave the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
When you submit your application, you must also submit your passport. If you need proof that your passport is being held by the embassy or consulate-general, bring an extra photocopy with you. The embassy or consulate-general will stamp the photocopy for you free of charge.
Documents for minors
If you are applying for a visa on behalf of a child under the age of 18, you must bring the child’s birth certificate and proof of identity for the child’s parent(s).
Proof of legal residence
You must be able to prove that your are legally resident in the country you are applying from. To do this, you can show your passport, residence permit or a visa.
Photo
Bring a photo that meets the Dutch requirements for passport photos.
Photocopy of letter from immigration service
Has your residence permit application been approved by the local immigration service? If so, you must submit a photocopy of the letter your sponsor received.
- Aruba: temporary admission document (VTA)
- Curaçao: letter of notification
- St Maarten: landing permit
- Bonaire, Saba, St Eustatius: authorisation for temporary stay (MVV-BES)
You should also bring any additional documents listed in the letter.
How much does a visa cost?
When you apply for a visa at a Netherlands embassy or consulate-general, you must pay a fee. You can find the fee here. If you are applying through an external service provider, you will pay more.
How long does it take?
In most cases, you’ll be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful.
Applying for a visa in this country or region
Visa applications can be submitted at the Netherlands visa application centers (VAC) of VFS Global.
You can submit your application at the VAC in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco or Washington. Check the required documents and book an appointment online via the website of VFS Global.
Applications from the islands
Applicants from the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the US Virgin Islands can only submit their application in person at the VAC of VFS Global in Miami (after having made an appointment).
Check the required documents and book an appointment online via the website of VFS Global.
Once you have submitted your application, you can return to your home town with your passport and send your passport back to the VAC in Miami as soon as possible. The visa application center in Miami will need the passport to process your visa application.