Applying for a short-stay Caribbean visa in South Africa

What do I need to do?

You must always submit your application in person. Children under the age of 18 must also apply in person. If you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme, you only have to appear in person for your first visa application. 

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.

If you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme, state this on the application form for your Caribbean visa.

Passport

You must provide a passport or other travel document containing at least two blank pages. It should be valid for at least 3 months 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) or guardian(s).

If the child will not be travelling with their parents, or if only 1 of child’s parent will be accompanying the child, you must provide a declaration of consent signed by both parents or whoever has parental responsibility. If only 1 parent has parental responsibility for the child, you will need to provide a court judgment or a statement from a court confirming this.

Proof of legal residence

You must be able to prove that you are legally resident in the country you are applying from. To do this, you can provide your passport, residence permit or a visa.

Photo

Bring a photo that meets the Dutch requirements for passport photos.

Travel itinerary

You must clearly demonstrate your travel itinerary. For example, by providing your flight reservation. You are advised not to buy tickets before you have received your visa.

If you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme, you do not have to show a flight reservation or hotel reservation.

Proof of transit

If relevant, you must also prove that, after leaving the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, you can legally transit through another country. To do this, you can show a passport, residence permit or visa.

Proof of sufficient funds (tourists and business travellers)

You must provide proof that you have enough money to cover the cost of your accommodation and stay. On average, this is between USD 150 and USD 200 a day.

You should provide 3 recent bank statements (paper or digital) bearing your name and address. You can also show signed traveller’s cheques bearing your name.

Proof of sufficient funds (travellers visiting family or friends)

You must provide proof that you have enough money to cover your stay with family and friends. On average, this is around USD 100 a day.

You should provide 3 recent bank statements (paper or digital) bearing your name and address. You can also show signed traveller’s cheques bearing your name.

Guarantor’s declaration

If you cannot prove that you have enough money, a family member or friend from the part(s) of the Kingdom you are visiting must act as a guarantor. They do this by applying for a financial guarantor’s declaration. The guarantor must arrange this in person with the local authorities, who must also legalise the declaration.

In the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, your guarantor can arrange a guarantor’s declaration through the following bodies:

• Aruba: Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs (Directie Wetgeving en Juridische Zaken)
• Curaçao: Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao
• St Maarten: Civil Registry Department (Dienst Burgerzaken)
• Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba: IND Caribbean Netherlands

When applying for your visa, you must show that your guarantor has enough money to cover your stay. On average, this is around USD 100 a day. To do this, you must provide the following documents (obtained from your guarantor):

• the legalised guarantor’s declaration
• their 3 most recent bank statements
• their 3 most recent payslips
• an employer’s declaration or employment contact
• a photocopy of their passport or identity card.

Documents for employees, students or independent business travellers

• Employees: you must provide an employer’s declaration stating your job title, number of years of service, monthly income and permission to take holiday leave.
• Students: you must provide proof that you are registered as a student at your school or university.
• Independent business travellers: you must provide official proof that you own a registered business and show a tax return for the past year.

Additional information on the purpose of your visit

• Visiting family or friends
  You must provide a guarantor’s declaration, letter or email proving that you will be staying with the person in question.
• Tourism
  You must provide a copy of your accommodation reservation containing the contact details and your reservation number. Or you must provide proof that you are taking part in a group trip. You do not have to show a hotel reservation if you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme.
• Business
  You must provide a letter of invitation from a company in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and a letter from your employer. Both letters must contain the following information:
  • your job
  • the reason for your visit
    At least 1 letter must give information on where you will stay during your visit and who is covering the cost of your trip.
    If you are participating in the Caribbean Carpet Programme (CCP), make sure this is stated in the invitation letter. If you have not been invited, state on the application form for your Caribbean visa that you are participating in the CCP.

Medical insurance

You must show an official document from your insurance company. The document must prove that the insurance is in your name. It must also prove that your insurance policy provides medical cover:

• in all Caribbean parts of the Kingdom
• for the entire duration of your stay
• for at least USD 15,000
• for hospital care, emergency treatment and repatriation (including in the event of death).

If your insurance policy does not cover the above, or if you do not have an official document proving this, you must take out a policy that does provide this cover.

Please note: Providing these documents does not automatically entitle you to a visa. The embassy or consulate can refuse your application or request additional information.

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?

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you intend to travel. In most cases, you’ll be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful.