Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean Visa Application Form (Page 4 of 9) in pdf

EXPLANATORY NOTE

NB: Read the explanatory note and the guidelines through carefully before completing the application form.

Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises four countries: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint

Maarten. In terms of geography, the Netherlands as a country is split into two: the Netherlands in Europe,

and the Caribbean parts of the Netherlands. Schengen visa regulations only apply to the Netherlands in

Europe.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean consists of the countries Aruba, Curaçao and Sint

Maarten and the three Dutch public bodies Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (sometimes shortened to BES

or B.E.S.).

The terms ‘countries’, ‘Caribbean parts of the Netherlands’ and ‘Caribbean’ used in the application form

and in this explanatory note refer to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the B.E.S.. ‘Embassy’, ‘consulate’

and ‘mission’ all refer to the missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in third countries. Contact details

are available at

This application form can be used to apply for a short stay visa/short stay Caribbean visa (up to 90 days) for

these countries only. The Caribbean visa is valid for the Caribbean only, i.e. it is not valid for the

Netherlands in Europe.

For a stay exceeding 90 days in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten (e.g. in the case of relocation or work) a

host in the Caribbean country in question will need to submit the application for you. If you wish to stay for

more than 90 days in the B.E.S., you will need to apply for an authorisation for temporary stay for the B.E.S.

(‘MVV-B.E.S.’), using a form available from the embassy. You can, if you wish, submit this application to the

embassy yourself.

Objective of granting a visa

In accordance with prevailing international practice, the purpose of visa policy and of granting visas for the

Caribbean is, on the one hand, to ensure that undesirable aliens whose admission to the countries would

have unfavourable effects are turned away in advance. This may be linked to illegal immigration, threats to

public health, national security or public order, or human trafficking/people smuggling. On the other hand,

visa policy and granting visas are an effective and efficient way of facilitating the admission of bona fide

travellers who, in a broad sense, can make a positive economic and social contribution to the Caribbean

countries.

Caribbean visa

In principle, all aliens require a visa for the Caribbean, in accordance with prevailing international practice.

Exceptions may be made for specific target groups on the basis of nationality, international agreements or

exemptions. If you are unsure whether you fall into one of these categories the embassy or consulate of

the Kingdom (hereafter: ‘the mission’) in your region will be able to tell you.

Period of stay The Caribbean visa is intended for short stays, i.e. a maximum period of 90 days per calendar

year, in total, for all countries in the Caribbean. Each continuous period of stay in any one country may not

exceed 30 days.

In which countries is the visa valid? The Caribbean visa is issued on behalf of the authorities of the country

of your main destination and/or where the purpose of your intended journey lies, and is also valid for all

the other Caribbean countries. Exceptions may be made (in the form of a territorial limitation, i.e. the visa

This form is provided free of charge.

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Kingdom Of The Netherlands In The Caribbean Visa Application Form Page 4