The Schengen area
The Schengen area consists of a group of European countries which have abolished border controls at their shared borders. The Netherlands is part of the Schengen area.
The Schengen area countries have agreements with each other on visa policy, asylum policy and cooperation between their police forces and judicial authorities.
Valid travel documents within the Schengen area
You must always carry a valid travel document when travelling within the Schengen area, so you can identify yourself. You will be subject to the laws of the countries you are visiting or travelling through, including legislation on foreign nationals.
Schengen visas
Most people from outside the EU need a Schengen visa to enter the Schengen area. Whether they need a visa depends on their nationality. A Schengen visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days’ stay in any 180-day period (short-stay visa).
If a person from outside the EU wishes to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, they will require a Dutch long-stay visa (MVV) or a residence permit. National visas fall outside the scope of the Schengen Agreement, so decisions on applications are made by the individual Schengen countries.
Schengen countries must inform and consult each other
Since a short-stay visa for one Schengen country is also valid for the whole Schengen area, the Schengen countries have agreed to:
- inform each other about applications for visas by nationals of certain listed countries;
- consult each other about the issuing of visas to nationals of certain listed countries.