Applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in Benin
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 Benin.
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.
Not everyone needs a visa to visit the Netherlands. If you’re unsure what applies to you, check whether you need a visa to visit the Netherlands.
If you plan on applying for a Schengen visa for Finland or Luxembourg, check with the embassy of that country 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.
To apply for a Schengen visa in Benin go to the Netherlands embassy in Cotonou. You can only submit an application there if you live in Benin.
If you live somewhere else, go to the page Applying for a 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 Benin, first check if that’s possible.
Check whether you can apply for a visa outside your country of residence
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
Step 2: Gather the documents you need
You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Which ones you need depends on your purpose of travel.
- A completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
Fill out the Schengen visa application form - All the documents on your checklist. To find out which documents you need, select the checklist that corresponds to your purpose of travel. If you have more than one purpose of travel, select the checklist that corresponds to your primary purpose of travel.
Checklist - tourism
Checklist - visit for business, sports, study or cultural event
Checklist - visit to family or friends
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 member state or Switzerland, or you’re travelling to visit that family member, you may be eligible for free Schengen visa facilitation.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you have all the documents you need for your Schengen visa application, make an appointment at the embassy. You can apply for your visa up to 6 months ahead of your trip. Apply no later than 45 days before your trip.
Make an appointment online at the Netherlands embassy in Cotonou
- 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 the embassy has your fingerprints on record, you should submit your application in person. The embassy cannot check this for you.
After making 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 at the embassy, and bring all the documents from step 2 with you, including your checklist.
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 tracking number to track the status of your application
See the overview of consular fees in Benin 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’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.
At your appointment you will 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.
If you choose to have your passport sent to you, you’ll discuss at your appointment how to arrange this.
If you choose to collect your passport, you’ll discuss at your appointment when you can collect it.
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 Cotonou.
If your application wasn’t approved, you’ll receive a letter stating why. If you disagree with this decision, you can lodge an objection with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Find out more about lodging an objection if your visa application was refused
Step 6: Prepare for your trip
With your Schengen visa you can travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country. 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.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.