Applying for an entry visa for the Netherlands in Canada
If you are in Canada and your Dutch residence permit has been lost or stolen, or has expired, follow the steps below to apply for an entry visa.
Step 1: Check whether you need a visa
In some cases, you may not need a visa to return to the Netherlands. Select the situation that applies to you.
My residence permit has expired. Check whether you need a visa
My residence permit has been lost or stolen. Check whether you need a visa
Step 2: Gather the documents that you need
The checklist tells you which documents you need for your entry visa application.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you have all the documents you need for your entry visa application, make an appointment with VFS Global in Canada or the Netherlands embassy in Ottawa.
Make an appointment online at VFS Global in Canada
Make an appointment at the Netherlands embassy in Ottawa
- Making an appointment is free of charge. Do not make an appointment with an intermediary because they will charge you money.
- If you are applying for visas for multiple people, make a separate appointment for each person.
You must appear in person at your appointment to submit your application, even if you’re under 18.
Exception
You don’t need to appear in person to submit your application if:
- you have applied in person for a Schengen visa within the past 5 years (59 months), and:
- you submitted a photo with that application, and:
- your fingerprints were taken for that application (only applies if you are 12 or older).
If you meet all 3 conditions, you can have someone else submit your application for you. The appointment must be under the name of the person submitting your application.
If you are not certain whether VFS Global or the embassy has your fingerprints on record, you should submit your application in person. Neither VFS Global nor the embassy can check this for you.
To change or cancel your appointment at VFS Global, contact VFS Global in Canada.
If you made an appointment at the embassy, you will receive a confirmation by email. The email contains a link that you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Step 4: Go to your appointment
Go to your appointment, and bring all the documents on your checklist from step 2 with you, plus the checklist itself.
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 or tracking number to track the status of your application
See the overview of consular fees in Canada 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
You will always need to pay service costs to VFS Global.
You’ll usually find out within 15 calendar days whether your application was successful. Sometimes it can take longer and may take up to 45 calendar days.
If you submit your application at VFS Global, you’ll receive a reference number that you can use to track the status of your application online.
If you submit your application at the embassy, you'll receive a tracking number that you can use to track the status of your application online.
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.
For applicants at VFS Global
If you choose to have your passport sent to you, you’ll discuss at your appointment how to arrange this.
For applicants at the embassy
For applicants at VFS Global
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
For applicants at the embassy
You can collect your passport on any of the following days:
- Monday: 13:00 - 15:00
- Tuesday: 13:00 - 15:00
- Thursday: 13:00 - 15:00
- Friday: 13:00 - 15:00
You do not need to make an appointment.
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
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 Netherlands embassy in Ottawa.
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
Step 6: Prepare for your return trip
Return to the Netherlands within 7 days of the date shown on your visa.
Your entry visa is valid for 7 days after the date shown on the visa. You must return to the Netherlands within that period.
You are only allowed to travel to the Netherlands via another country in the Schengen area if this is stated on your visa. The visa states the countries you are allowed to travel through on your way to the Netherlands. The entry visa does not give you the right to stay in any country other than the Netherlands.
When you arrive in the Netherlands or another Schengen area country, the visa in your passport will show border control that you are allowed to stay in the Netherlands.
Apply to the IND for a new residence permit once you have returned to the Netherlands.
Contact
Do you have a question about applying at VFS Global?
Do you have a question about applying at the embassy?