Visa for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

As from 10 October 2010 the Netherlands Antilles has been dissolved as a political entity. The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands henceforth consist of Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands (of which the latter comprises the Dutch public bodies of Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba). This political reform will directly affect the issue of visas: the four Caribbean parts of the Kingdom (Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands) will have a single visa. This means that travellers who want to visit more than one Caribbean part will need only to apply and pay for a single visa which enables them to visit the four different parts.

To what parts can be travelled with a Carribean visa?
The Caribbean visa is valid for all four parts: Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands. However travelling from one part to the other still requires passing through normal immigration procedures for each separate part.

Who needs a Caribbean visa?
Every national of the Peoples Republic of China needs a visa for Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands. Nationalities other than Chinese should check the following link or contact the Embassy/Consulate General. For nationalities who do NOT need a Caribbean visa

Who does NOT need a Caribbean visa?

• holders of a valid residence permit for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or one of the Schengen countries
• holders of a valid residence permit for the French part of Sint Maarten
• holders of a valid residence permit (for a stay for longer than 6 months) for Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten or the Caribbean Netherlands
• captains, passengers or crew of ships or aircraft landing in Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten or the Caribbean Netherlands for a period of not more than 48 hours who do not constitute a threat to public order or security in the Caribbean Netherlands
• passengers on cruise ships staying not more than than 48 hours on the island/country
• holders of a Laissez Passer issued by the United Nations and its affiliated organisations

How to apply for a Caribbean visa?
It is compulsury to make an appointment for visa applications at the Embassy or at the Consulate General in Guangzhou and Shanghai. There is no need to make an appointment for visa applications in Hong Kong.

Which application form should be used?
There is a special application form which should be used for all four parts: Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands. Click here for the application form.

How long does it take to get a Caribbean visa?
Applications for nationals of the PRC who want to travel to Curaçao, St Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands must be submitted to the relevant Caribbean authority. The process time takes up to four (4) weeks. For a visa to Aruba the processing time will take up to five (5) working days.

What will be the duration of the Caribbean visa?
The standard visa is a multiple entry visa valid for 6 months. Each entry is limited to 30 days. Not more than 30 days can be spent on any one part for each stay. The maximum length of stay is 90 days in 1 year, starting from date of issuance of the visa.

Bona fide businessmen can apply for a visa with a maximum validity of four (4) years.

What are the visa fees?
The handling fee for a Caribbean visa is € 35,-- (to be paid in local currency as indicated by the Embassy/Consulate General). In case of a negative decision, the visa fee will not be reimbursed. Children younger than 6 years as well as holders of diplomatic and service passports do not pay any fee.

Is it required to apply in person?
Yes, it is required to apply in person except for the following persons: 

•  members of parliament; 
•  government representatives (applications accompanied by a Note Verbale);
• government representatives without a Note Verbale who are well known to the Antillean authorities or the mission;
• official delegations including people who are not government representatives, provided the application is accompanied by a Note Verbale;
• and, after prior approval by the Embassy/Consulate General:
• visitors to well-known and bona fide Antillean firms/bodies. These applications must be accompanied by an invitation to the individuals concerned, signed by the director of the firm/body.
• senior staff of businesses well known to the mission;
• bona fide travellers who have already travelled to Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at least twice in the past two years.

Short stay visas:

Transit
There are no transit visas or airport transit visas for Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten or the Caribbean Netherlands.

Nationals who require a Caribbean visa who are in transit via one of the international airports of Curaçao, St Maarten or the Caribbean Netherlands wanting to leave the transit area for more than 48 hours must apply for a visitor’s visa. If they do not leave the transit area, or if they leave it for less than 48 hours, they do not require a visa. Please bear in mind that for ARUBA the applicant can only stay for a maximum of 24 hours after which period a visitor’s visa is required.

What documents are required to apply for a Caribbean visa?
Compulsory documents for ALL SHORT VISA APPLICATIONS:
1. A fully completed and signed visa application form + 2 passport pictures. Click here for the application form.
2. A valid passport with at least two blank pages, valid at least 3 months after the end of the visa (original + photocopy of the holder + signature page)
3. National ID card + photo copy
4. Flight reservation for a return ticket (Note: Never buy a ticket before you know the visa will be issued!)
5. Documents substantiating the applicant’s accommodation arrangements;
6. Documents substantiating the applicant’s intention to return to his or her country of residence;
7. Documents indicating that the applicant has sufficient means of support. For example: bank statements from the past 3 months or an employer’s declaration
8. Medical Travel Insurance

In addition to the above, you need the following documents substantiating the purpose of the journey, depending on the purpose of your stay. (N.B. The following documents are not mandatory, but are given as examples of potentially relevant documents when assessing applications.)

Additional documents for Family visit such as:

• invitations
• address of family
• a guarantor’s declaration authenticated by the civil authorities

Additional documents for Work-related stay such as:

• employer’s declaration
• work permit
• Business Licence + copy of applicant’s own company (if applicable)
• landing permit or MVV-BES declaration

Additional documents for Visa for business purposes such as:

• Business Licence + copy
• proof of previous transactions (contract/bill of lading etc)
• tax statements
• import licence

Additional documents for Study such as:

• proof of enrolment at an educational institution
• invitation/enrolment
• (for Bonaire St Eustatius and Saba/the Caribbean Netherlands) internship: agreement and/or work permit

Additional documents for Tourist visit such as:

• proof of participation in group travel or individual travel
• hotel reservation 
• proof of ownership of property (flat/house etc)

Please bear in mind that the Visa Section has full authority to evaluate and request more documents than those submitted by the applicant. The latter is hereby informed that submitting the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee automatic issuance of a visa.

Long term visas:

Long term visas:

An application for a consecutive stay for more than 90 days (for instance stay with partner or in order to work) must be submitted by the host in Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten. Applications for residence permits for Aruba, Curaçao, St Maarten cannot be submitted at missions of the Kingdom (Netherland’s Embassies or Consulates).

After receiving the landing permit/letter of summons, the person concerned should apply to the Netherlands Embassy/Consulate General for a visa with the following documents + the Landing Permit or Letter of Summons:

• A fully completed and signed visa application form + 2 passport pictures. LINK
• A valid passport with at least two blank pages, valid at least 3 months after the end of the visa (original + photocopy of the holder + signature page)
• National ID card + photo copy
• Flight reservation (Note: Never buy a ticket before you know the visa will be issued!)
• The original Landing Permit/Letter of Summons (+ a copy for our file)

After verification of the authenticity by the Embassy/Consulate General, a visa will be issued. Verification may take one or two weeks.

MVV-BES:
For the Carribean Netherlands the application for a consecutyive stay for more than 90 days is called MVV-BES.
The MVV-BES can either be submitted

• by the host at the IND-BES in Bonaire/St Eustatius and Saba or
• by the applicant at the Netherlands Embassy/Consulate General.