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[Go to content](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/schengen-visa/apply-united-states#first-content) [To the homepage of www.netherlandsworldwide.nlGovernment of the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/) - Menu [Home](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/) - [Education](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/education) - [Family](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/family) - [Health](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/health) - [Identity](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/identity) - [Living](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/living) - [Money](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/money) - [Transport](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/transport) - [Travel](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/travel) - [Work](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/work) - [Topics A-Z](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/theme/topics) - [Contact](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/contact) - Search [Status visa application? Check this online](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/visa-application-status) NetherlandsWorldwide - [Home](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/) - [Visa for the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands) - [Applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands. Choose your country.](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/schengen-visa) # Applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in the United States If you will be visiting the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days – for a holiday, to do business or to see family, for example – you can apply for a Schengen visa. Follow the steps below to apply in the United States. Information: You can also apply for a Schengen visa for Luxembourg at the Netherlands’ visa application location in Miami. ## Step 1: Check before applying Before starting your application, check whether you need a visa for the Netherlands and, if so, where you can apply for it. ### Do I need a visa? If you are the holder of an American passport, you do not need a visa to visit the Netherlands. If you have a different nationality and are unsure what the visa requirements are, [check whether you need a visa to visit the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/visa-required). If you plan on applying for a Schengen visa for Luxembourg, check with the embassy of Luxembourg to find out what visa requirements apply to you. #### Don’t need a visa? If you don’t need a visa for the Netherlands, see what documents you do need to travel to the Netherlands. [Check what you need to travel to the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel-netherlands) ### Where can I apply for a visa? To apply for a Schengen visa in the United States go to the VFS Global application centre in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco or Washington D.C. You can only submit an application there if you live in the United States. You can also submit an application at the VFS Global application centre in Miami if you live in one of the following places: - Bahamas - Bermuda - Cayman Islands - Puerto Rico - Turks and Caicos Islands - US Virgin Islands If you live somewhere else, go to the page [Applying for a Schengen visa](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/schengen-visa) and select the country where you live to find out where to submit your application. If you still want to submit your application in the United States, first check if that’s possible. [Check whether you can apply for a visa outside your country of residence](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/where-to-apply) #### I want to visit more than one Schengen country If you want to visit another Schengen country besides the Netherlands, check whether you should apply for a visa for the Netherlands or the other country. [Find out which Schengen country you should apply for a visa for](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/visiting-more-than-one-schengen-country) ## Step 2: Gather the documents you need You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all the documents required. Your application can be rejected if you do not do this. Find out which documents you need to gather for your application. ### Application form You will need a completed and signed Schengen visa application form. Print this form and submit it along with the other documents. [Fill out the Schengen visa application form online](https://consular.mfaservices.nl/schengen-visa/short-stay?lang=en) 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. #### ### Documents on checklist You will need all the documents on your checklist. On the VFS Global website you’ll find a checklist with the documents you need based on your purpose of travel. If you have more than one purpose of travel, select the checklist that corresponds to your primary purpose of travel. [Find out which documents you need](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/netherlands/usa/visa-services/#Short) #### Family member of an EU/EEA national or Swiss national? If you are travelling with a family member who is a national of an [EU/EEA](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/eu-eea-efta-schengen-countries) member state or Switzerland, or you’re travelling to visit that family member, you may be eligible for free Schengen visa facilitation [Find out whether you are eligible for visa facilitation](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/facilitation) ## Step 3: Make an appointment Once you have all the documents you need for your Schengen visa application, make an appointment at VFS Global. You can apply for your visa up to 6 months ahead of your trip. Apply no later than 45 days before your trip. ### How do I make an appointment? [Make an appointment online at VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld) - Avoid unnecessary costs and book your appointment yourself. Do not make an appointment through an intermediary. - If you are applying for visas for multiple people, make a separate appointment for each person. ### Can someone else submit my application for me? You must appear in person at your appointment to submit your application, even if you’re under 18. ### How can I change or cancel my appointment? To change or cancel your appointment, [contact VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/contact-us). ## Step 4: Go to your appointment Go to your appointment at VFS Global, and bring all the documents on your checklist from step 2 with you, plus the checklist itself. [See the address of VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/attend-centre) ### What happens at my appointment? At your appointment you: - submit the documents that are on your checklist, together with your passport - provide your fingerprints (only if you are 12 or older) - answer questions about your trip - pay the visa fees - indicate whether you want to collect your passport (with visa affixed) or have it sent to you - receive a reference number to track the status of your application #### Applicants from the Caribbean islands If you live in the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, the Turks and Caicos Islands, or the US Virgin Islands, you don't need to leave your passport at the application centre. You can return home with your passport after submitting your application. After returning home, send your passport back to the VFS Global application centre in Miami as soon as possible. The application center will need your passport to process your visa application. ### How much does a visa cost? See the overview of [consular fees in the United States](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/consular-fees/united-states) to find out how much a visa costs and what forms of payment are accepted. In some situations you are not required to pay. [Find out in which situations you do not need to pay the visa fee](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/visa-costs) You will always need to pay service costs to VFS Global. ### How long will it take for my application to be processed? [Find out more about processing times for a visa application](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/waiting-time-after-visa-application) ### How can I track the status of my application? When you submit your application you’ll receive a reference number from VFS Global that you can use to [track the status of your application online](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/track-application). ## Step 5: Collect your passport or have it sent to you You will receive an email once your application has been processed. The email won’t say whether your application was successful. You can collect your passport or have it sent to you. If your application was approved, the visa will be affixed to a page in your passport. ### Having your passport sent to you If you choose to have your passport sent to you, you’ll discuss at your appointment how to arrange this. ### Collecting your passport If you choose to collect your passport, you’ll discuss at your appointment when you can collect it. You can also have someone else collect your passport for you. If you collect your passport yourself, bring the following with you: - a valid form of ID - the proof of payment provided by VFS Global If someone else collects your passport for you, they must bring the following with them: - a valid form of ID - a signed letter from you authorising them to collect your passport - the proof of payment provided by VFS Global ### Check the information on your visa Check whether the information on your visa is correct. Your name and the visa’s validity period, for example. [Find out more about the information on your visa](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/information-on-a-visa) If any of the information is incorrect or you can’t use the visa, for example because the period of validity is later than the dates of the plane tickets in your application, contact the Dutch embassy in Washington D.C. as soon as possible. If there’s a mistake on your visa, the airline may not let you board your flight or you may be refused entry into the Schengen area. [Email the Dutch embassy](mailto:was-ca@minbuza.nl) ### What if my application was refused? If your application wasn’t approved, you’ll receive a letter stating why. If you disagree with this decision, you have several options. [Find out what you can do if your visa application was refused](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/objecting-refuse-application) ## Step 6: Prepare for your trip With your Schengen visa you can travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country. The visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Your visa will be valid for a specific period, which may also be shorter than 90 days. You must show the visa upon departure and arrival. Border control may also ask you for other documents. Find out what other documents you need in the checklist for travelling to the Netherlands. [Check what you need for travel to the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel-netherlands) ## Contact Do you have a question about making an appointment at VFS Global or about the status of your application? [Contact VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/contact-us) Do you have a question about something else? [Contact NetherlandsWorldwide](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/contact) Was this information useful for you? Yes No  NetherlandsWorldwide About this website - [About NetherlandsWorldwide](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/about-netherlands-worldwide) - [About this website](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/about-the-website) Deze website in het [Nederlands](https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/)

If you will be visiting the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days – for a holiday, to do business or to see family, for example – you can apply for a Schengen visa. Follow the steps below to apply in the United States. Information: You can also apply for a Schengen visa for Luxembourg at the Netherlands’ visa application location in Miami. ## Step 1: Check before applying Before starting your application, check whether you need a visa for the Netherlands and, if so, where you can apply for it. ## Step 2: Gather the documents you need You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Always submit all the documents required. Your application can be rejected if you do not do this. Find out which documents you need to gather for your application. ## Step 3: Make an appointment Once you have all the documents you need for your Schengen visa application, make an appointment at VFS Global. You can apply for your visa up to 6 months ahead of your trip. Apply no later than 45 days before your trip. ## Step 4: Go to your appointment Go to your appointment at VFS Global, and bring all the documents on your checklist from step 2 with you, plus the checklist itself. [See the address of VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/attend-centre) ## Step 5: Collect your passport or have it sent to you You will receive an email once your application has been processed. The email won’t say whether your application was successful. You can collect your passport or have it sent to you. If your application was approved, the visa will be affixed to a page in your passport. ## Step 6: Prepare for your trip With your Schengen visa you can travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country. The visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Your visa will be valid for a specific period, which may also be shorter than 90 days. You must show the visa upon departure and arrival. Border control may also ask you for other documents. Find out what other documents you need in the checklist for travelling to the Netherlands. [Check what you need for travel to the Netherlands](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel-netherlands) ## Contact Do you have a question about making an appointment at VFS Global or about the status of your application? [Contact VFS Global in the United States](https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/nld/contact-us) Do you have a question about something else? [Contact NetherlandsWorldwide](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/contact)