Important to know
- Do not use this checklist for short-term or temporary stays in the Netherlands. Use this checklist only if you will be living in the Netherlands together with your child who is a Dutch national and under 18. This applies to biological parents, step-parents, foster parents and NIDOS-appointed foster parents.
- If you have another child under 18 who is your Dutch child’s sibling or half-sibling and this other child will be travelling with you to the Netherlands to live with their Dutch sibling, you can also use this checklist for them if they need a visa.
- If you meet the requirements for this visa, you do not need to pay any visa fees. You will still have to pay service costs if you apply though an external service provider.
- Arrive at your appointment well prepared. Choose your country of residence to find out how to apply for Schengen visa facilitation.
- In most cases you must submit your application in person. This applies to babies and children too.
- If you have had your fingerprints taken for a Schengen visa in the past 5 years (59 months), someone else may submit your application for you. However, if your fingerprints were taken but not saved, you will need to appear in person to have them retaken.
- The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs may request an interview or additional documents.
- You must sign a document at the appointment, declaring the following:
- you understand that you must submit all documents in order for your application to be processed
- you are aware that an incomplete application may be rejected
Personal documents
Bring: original document
You will need a completed and signed Schengen visa application form. You do not need to answer question 21, 22, 30, 31 or 32. Print the form and submit it with your other documents.
Complete your own application form online. Only then will you receive a form with a unique code. Forms without this code may cause issues while processing your application. For that reason, do not use someone else’s form.
Bring: original document
You will need a valid travel document, such as a passport. We recommend you make sure your travel document meets the following requirements:
- it is no more than 10 years old
- it must have at least 2 empty visa pages
- it must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to travel to the Netherlands
- it must bear your signature
Bring: original document
You will need to submit a photo that meets Dutch requirements:
- colour photo
- no more than 6 months old
- 3.5cm by 4.5cm
- white or light-coloured background
Find out where you can have a photo that meets Dutch requirements taken outside the Netherlands
If you are applying for a visa through an external service provider, you do not need to submit a photo. A digital photo will be taken at your appointment.
Bring: original document and colour copy
You will need valid proof of legal residence in the country where you are applying for a visa. You can show that you are legally residing in the country where you submit your visa application using, for instance:
- a passport or other travel document
- a residence permit, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area
- a visa
- a work permit
If you are not a resident of the country where you are submitting your application, you must show why you cannot apply in your country of residence.
Documents relating to your child
Bring: colour copy of the document
You will need proof that your child aged under 18 has Dutch nationality. For instance, your child’s valid Dutch travel document or another document showing that your child has Dutch nationality.
Bring: colour copy of the document
You will need a valid Dutch travel document belonging to your child’s other parent. If you do not have this because that parent has died, for example, you must be able to show this using a death certificate or other proof.
Bring: colour copy of the document
You must be able to show that you are the parent of the Dutch national who is under 18. You can do that using one or more of the following documents:
- the child’s birth certificate bearing your name
- the declaration of acknowledgement of parentage bearing your name
- adoption papers showing that you are the child’s adoptive parent
- documents proving that you are the child’s foster parent
- the result of a DNA test carried out by a laboratory accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RVA) or the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
Bring: original document and colour copy
You will need proof that you have parental responsibility for the child. For instance, an extract from the parental responsibility register (gezagsregister) or a foreign official document. If you do not have parental responsibility, you must be able to explain why.
Find out more about parental responsibility and guardianship
Bring: colour copy of the document
You will need proof of where your Dutch child lives.
Bring: colour copy of the document
You must be able to show that you are (or were) responsible for the care of your Dutch child.
Bring: colour copy of the document
You will need proof that your Dutch child is dependent on you and that your child would have to leave the Netherlands if you were not to come and live in the Netherlands.
If you have another child under 18 who is your Dutch child’s sibling or half-sibling and this child needs a visa, you will need the following documents for the child requiring a visa:
- all 4 documents stated below ‘Personal documents’
Bring: original document and colour copy
- a recent extract of the birth certificate of the child requiring a visa bearing your name, or an official document showing that you have parental responsibility for this child
- a consent form signed by the parents or guardians not travelling with the child
Bring: colour copy of the document
- proof that you are responsible for the care of the child requiring a visa and for their upbringing
- proof that the child requiring a visa is dependent on you and cannot remain in the country where they currently live
- a valid passport or other travel document of the parent/guardian who is not travelling with the child, bearing their signature
- if 1 of the parents or guardians has died: the death certificate of the deceased parent or guardian
- if a guardian has been appointed: official proof of guardianship
- if there is a court order in place: permission to travel from the court for the child requiring a visa
Documents relating to your travel
Bring: colour copy of the document
You will need a reservation in your name for your travel to the Netherlands, or another document showing your travel plans. You do not need a paid travel ticket.