Netherlands visa requirements for South Africans

• This visa is solely for the purpose of leisure travel including vacationing, cruising, sightseeing and other recreational activities.
• The Passport used in the application should be valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Schengen states. Passport should have at least 2 blank pages.
• South African resident permit valid for at least 3 months after last day of trip is required if the applicant is not a citizen.
• One coloured passport photograph as recent as 3 months on a grey or white background is needed.
  
• Applicants are not allowed to take up paid work or start a business with this type of visa.
  
• Tourist visa holders do not have the privilege of enrolling in one of the schools or training centers in the Netherlands.
• If you are visiting a friend or relative, you'll need a letter of invitation from your host in the country.
• Proof of family ties that show you have an incentive to return to South Africa is required for this visa type.
  
• Full round trip reservation is required to avoid overstaying in the Netherlands.
• Proof of accommodation in the Netherlands is necessary. This could be in the form of  a hotel reservation or a confirmation that you'll be accommodated by your host in the Netherlands. 
• Applicants must show  proof they have enough funds to last them the entire duration of stay. For this, the applicant is expected to provide an up-to-date transaction history of last three months as close to the application date as possible.  This transaction history must show the applicant can spend at least €34 daily while in the Netherlands.
  
• Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 is required. This is to take care of  any possible health problems the applicant might encounter during stay in the Netherlands including death.
• A signed letter from the applicant's employer written on the company's letterhead confirming position & leave approval for the exact travel dates the applicant will be out of South Africa is needed.
• If self-employed, you need to submit your company's documents or a letter from your accountant confirming that the business exist.
• Students are required to provide a letter from their school confirming enrollment, awareness of trip and proof of registration for the year under the university's letterhead.
  
• If you overstay your visa, you will not be allowed entry into the Netherlands again.
• Applications for a Netherlands visa can take time. Applicants are advised to apply well in advance, at least 3 weeks before the intended departure date.
  
• The visa is usually processed for about 10 working days.
• This visa costs €60 for South Africans 12 years and above, €35 for children between 6-11 and is free for children under 6.

• This visa is for those who wish to re-enter Netherlands after travelling abroad and do not have a resident’s permit.
• This visa type allows you to go back to the Netherlands after leaving.
• You need a police report stating what happened to your previous permit.
  
• A coloured passport photograph as recent as 3 months with grey or white background is needed.
• Your Passport must be valid with 2 blank pages for visa stamping.
• A valid residence permit is required for non-South African citizens living in South Africa.
• A copy of Netherland's resident permit or approval letter from Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) is required.
• Copy of bio data page from passport is needed.
• Children under 18 will need to provide a birth certificate.
• For minors, identity document of parents which could be their passports is required.
• The Netherland's return visa is a short-term visa and costs €60 to process.

• This visa is for South African seamen who want to enter Netherlands only.
• One-way flight itinerary with travel date not less than 10 working days from  the application date is required.
• For non-South African citizens, a residence permit valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands is required.
• Applicant must provide a fully signed employment contract.
• Applicants are required to have a seafarer book copy with data page clearly reflected.
• Invitation from the maritime agency of the Netherlands is important. The invitation needs to be signed with the Seal of the Agency and include the following details:

                    - Full name of the seafarer 

                   - Place and date of birth of seafarer 

                    - Passport number

                    - Number of seaman's book

                    - Issue date & validity period of seaman's book.

                    - Position of the sailor at the boat

                    - Date and airport of entry into the Netherlands.

                    - Name of the boat

                    - Port of boarding

• If you are travelling with a minor, ensure to present the original copy of the minor’s birth certificate.
  
• You are not allowed to take up paid employment while in the country.
• You are expected to leave the country at the expiry of your visa or risk being deported.

• This visa is for diplomats traveling to the Netherlands for official purposes.
• Holders of this visa type usually visit the country with the intention of meeting government officials of the Netherlands.
• Visa fees are waived for holders of South African diplomatic, official or service passports.
• Duly completed and signed application form is required.
• One recent passport photograph that meets the general visa photo requirements is needed.
• The Passport used must be valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands.
• The Passport must have at least 2 blank pages.
• A residence permit valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands is required.
• An official note from the traveller's ministry is needed.
• As a diplomat, if the purpose of your visit is non-official, this visa will not be issued to you.
• Visa application forms of minors should be submitted by the parents of the minor.
• Proof of accommodation for the  entire duration of stay in the Netherlands is required.
• You are not allowed to take up work neither are you allowed to enroll in an institution of learning while you are on an official visa.
• The Netherlands official visa takes about 10 working days to be processed.

• This visa is for applicants who intend to conduct business or commercial activities during their time in the Netherlands.
• Applicants on this visa are not allowed to take up paid employment while in the Netherlands.
• If the applicant intends to undertake paid work in the Netherlands, he/she will need to obtain a work permit.
• A duly signed and completed visa application form is required.
• 1 coloured passport photograph that meets the general visa photo requirement is also needed.
• The Passport used should be valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands. The passport is to have at least 2 blank pages.
• A signed invitation letter from the inviting company confirming arrival, departure, purpose of visit & financial responsibility (if any) is required.
• Full round trip flight reservation beginning not less than 10 working days from the application is important.
• A proof of financial capability showing the applicant can spend at least €34 daily in the Netherlands is also needed.
• Applicants are required to submit a letter showing their status in their home country. This could be in the form of a:
  
              - Employment letter from company if applicant is employed
              - Certifications of business for self employed applicants
              - Letter from institution of study confirming applicant is enrolled in the school, and that the school is fully aware of the trip.
• If you are traveling with a minor, the original copy of the minor’s birth certificate should be provided.
• A copy of hotel reservation is needed if the inviting company is not taking up the applicant's financial responsibility.
• Proof of home/car ownership to show applicant will return at the expiry of the visa is important.
• An insurance policy stating that the applicant is fully covered by a Schengen travel medical insurance is needed. 
  
• If going for a conference, proof of conference registration and payment is required.
• This visa costs €60 and takes about 10 working days to be ready.

• This visa is solely for travel undertaken for the purpose of study or other types of training.
• You are not allowed to work with this visa type.
• 1 recent coloured passport photograph is needed.
• Passport, valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands, is required. Please ensure that the passport has 2 blank pages.
• Non-South African citizens are required to submit a residence permit valid for a period of at least 3 months after the applicant’s last day of stay in the Netherlands.
• A well organized travel itinerary is required.
• An insurance policy stating that the applicant is covered by a Schengen Travel Medical Insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000 for all medical expenses is important.
• Letter from intended institution confirming offer of admission for study in the Netherlands is necessary. This letter should confirm applicant's details, travel dates, purpose of trip and financial responsibility in the case of scholarship.
• Proof of sufficient funds for the entire duration of stay in the Netherlands is required. This proof could come in form of an updated transaction history of the applicant from the last three months.
• Proof of accommodation which could be in form of a hostel payment, hotel reservation or rental of holiday home spanning the entire period is important.
• Original birth certificate is required for children under 18. If the child is traveling alone, a consent form signed by both parents should be provided.
• If the child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent must sign the consent form and include a valid means of identification.
• This visa allows multiple entries into the Netherlands.
• You are required to return to South Africa at the conclusion of  your study. Overstaying your visa duration could lead to a ban.