Frequently Asked Questions (visa, other)

Visa for the Netherlands (general)

Do I need to apply for a visa in person?
Yes. You will need to appear in person at the Netherlands Embassy in Tokyo when submitting the application.

I live at a distance from Tokyo. Do I need to come twice?
No. You will only need to appear in person at the time of application. After this your passport and other documents can be sent to you. For this you will be asked to fill out a request form. You are also advised to bring a self-addressed "Letter Pack 500" envelope. This envelope is available at post offices and some convenience stores.

Do I have to make an appointment to apply for a visa?
No. You can apply without an appointment on weekdays between 09:00-12:00. If you live at a distance from Tokyo please contact the Consular Section beforehand on 03-5776-5400 to enquire if it is possible to make an appointment to apply in the afternoon.

How long does it take to get a visa?
The Visa Code stipulates a maximum processing time of 14 days for regular applications. Depending on the situation, the application can be decided upon sooner. You are requested to apply at least 15 days before your planned date of departure. Applying later is possible, but there will be no guarantee that your application will be decided upon in time. If you need to travel to the Netherlands sooner because of an urgent matter (e.g. family emergency), please give the Consular Section a call at 03-5776-5400.

Do I need to bring an envelope to have my passport sent back by mail?
You are advised to bring a self-addressed "Letter Pack 500" envelope. This envelope is available at post offices and some convenience stores.

How much is the visa fee in Japanese Yen?
The regular fee for the application of a short term (up to 3 months) Schengen visa is the Japanese equivalent of 60 euros. For facilitation countries the fee amounts to the Japanese equivalent of 35 euros.

How can I pay the visa fee? Do you accept credit cards or Euro’s?
You will need to pay in cash in Japanese Yen. It is not possible to pay by credit card.

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Visa for the Netherlands (short term Schengen visa)

What are the requirements to apply for a Schengen visa (short term, up to 3 months per half year) to travel to the Netherlands?

Please click here for the visa requirements per type of stay.

Is my Japanese “kenko hoken” (public health insurance) or credit card with attached insurance acceptable for a visa application?
No. The Japanese "kenko hoken" does not cover sickness, injuries and emergency repatriation outside of Japan. Credit card insurance can only be accepted if the amount covered abroad is at least €30.000. Otherwise you will need to buy an overseas travel insurance. The conditions the insurance must meet are mentioned on the visa requirements list.

Can I apply without a flight ticket and buy one when my visa application is approved?
You are not required to have bought the ticket in order to apply. At the time of application, you will need to submit an airline print-out of your flight reservation. For internet reservations, only e-tickets issued by flight companies are acceptable.

I am going to attend a conference. Should I apply for a business visa or a student visa?
If you are employed, you can apply for a business visa. If you are an unemployed student, you can apply for a student visa.

Do I have to submit documents about my financial situation if my employer pays the expenses of my trip to the Netherlands?
No. You will have to submit a signed statement from your employer mentioning that the travel expenses are taken care of. This information does not have to be put in a separate statement and can also be contained in the job letter.

My main stay in the Schengen area is elsewhere, but I will enter from the Netherlands. At the Embassy of which country should I apply for a Schengen visa?
You must apply for the visa at the Embassy of the Schengen country of your journey’s main destination or the Schengen country where you intend to stay the longest. If you will be staying an equal length of time in more than one Schengen country and cannot designate one of these countries as the country of your main destination, you must apply for your visa at the Embassy of the first Schengen country you intend to enter.

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Visa for the Netherlands (MVV: temporary residence permit)

How can I apply for the issuance of an MVV visa sticker after my application has been approved by the Dutch Immigration Service (IND)?

Please call the Consular Section (03-5776-5400), and ask if the IND approval message has also been received by the Embassy. In general it takes about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks before the message is sent to the Embassy after the person needing the MVV receives the IND approval message. If the message has been received by the Embassy, you can come to the Embassy to apply for the MVV sticker on business days between 9 and 12. You will need to submit a completed MVV application form, one passport photograph meeting the Dutch photo requirements, you original passport and possible other requirements stated in the IND approval message received by the Embassy.

How long will it take to receive the MVV sticker in my passport?
Normally it takes about 1 week for the MVV sticker to be issued counting from the day of application at the Embassy.

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Other

Affidavit: A representative of (a branch of a) Dutch Company in Japan has been changed. Can you sign our affidavit concerning this change?

The Embassy is only able to affix a signature legalization on the document and only if the person who the signature belongs to possesses the Dutch nationality. The Dutch national will first need to send a copy of the affidavit to the Consular Section (e-mail: tok-ca@minbuza.nl, fax: 03-5776-5470) to enquire if a signature legalization can be affixed to the document. If so, the Dutch national will need to appear in person at the Consular Section and present his/her original Dutch passport and the document in question. A signature legalization only certifies the signature of said person and does not certify the contents of the document in any way. Signature legalisations are generally issued on the spot. You will need to apply on business days between 9 and 12.

How can I obtain a Dutch certificate of good conduct?
The application procedure is detailed in this document (pdf).

How can I obtain a Japanese certificate of good conduct?
You can apply for it at your local Japanese police station -not being a Koban- on the basis of a letter of the Netherlands Embassy. To receive the letter, please send an e-mail to tok-ca@minbuza.nl mentioning your address and telephone number, the reason why the certificate is necessary and the name of the entity requiring the certificate. Lastly, please send along a scan of your passport (picture page). Thereafter you will receive the letter by mail. This will be free of charge. You can also apply for the letter in person at the consular counter of the Netherlands Embassy.

A child (less than 18 years old) will be traveling to the Netherlands on his/her own. Are there any restrictions or documents which should be prepared?
Firstly, please contact the airline which the child will be using for the trip and ask if there are any requirements from the side of the airline. Secondly, it is advisable to have the child bring a letter along to the Netherlands in which the parents both give permission for the trip. The letter should be written in English and should be signed by both parents. The signatures should match the signatures in the passports of the parents. Photocopies of the passports of the parents should be attached to the letter.

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