If you’re a South African citizen looking to travel to the Netherlands and are wondering “How long does it take to get a Netherlands visa in South Africa?“, the answer is that the time to process a Netherlands visa in South Africa can vary depending on several factors, including the type of visa you’re applying for and the requirements of that visa. The Netherlands is in the Schengen Area, which means it gives out Schengen visas. These visas let people visit not only the Netherlands but also other Schengen countries without the need for an additional visa. When applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands, make sure to state the reason for your trip because they typically grant visas for various purposes. Your visa application depends on this. This will ultimately determine how long it takes to process your particular visa. In the information below, discover visa types for the Netherlands, along with processing times, based on your trip’s purpose.
Short Stay Schengen Visa
A Short-term Schengen visa grants you official permission to visit the Netherlands for a limited period. This is typically for tourism(tourist visa) or business(business visa) purposes. This visa can be a single or multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to ninety days. Kindly be aware that the Short-term Visa is not suitable for South African citizens seeking Dutch emigration or long-term stays. The processing time to get this Netherlands visa in South Africa usually varies, but it can take about 15 days on average. Occasionally, you may wait up to 45 days, typically due to extra documents or application review requirements. We, therefore, recommend you apply for this visa well ahead of your intended travel date. Additionally, the Schengen short-stay visa for the Netherlands can be applied for at the Dutch embassy or consulate.
Student Schengen Visa
A student visa permits non-EU nationals to enter and reside in the Schengen Zone, including the Netherlands, for temporary educational purposes. This visa allows you to stay in the Netherlands for up to 3 months. For longer educational or training programs, request a Long-Stay Study Visa from the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. The processing period for a Student Schengen Visa is 15 calendar days. Sometimes, you may get a response within even shorter periods. Nonetheless, in some rare cases, it may take between 30 and 60 days to get this Netherlands visa in South Africa.
Long Stay Visa
A long-stay visa to the Netherlands lets you stay in the country for over 90 days. You can use it for work, study, to reunite with family or to live there. Long-stay visas are also known in the Netherlands as “MVV” (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) or “Type D” visas. These visas are generally issued for specific purposes, allowing the holder to remain in the country during the visa’s validity. In South Africa, you can apply for this visa at the Netherlands embassy in Pretoria or the consulate in Cape Town.
Here are some common types of long-stay visas in the Netherlands:
- Work Visa: If you’ve received a job offer from a Dutch employer, you have the option to apply for a long-stay work visa. In this case, when it comes to the question of “How long does it take to get this Netherlands visa in South Africa?” it largely depends on your employer’s timing, especially if you require an MVV. When your employer initiates early, you can get the MVV from the Dutch embassy or consulate within three months. Once they grant your visa, you’ll have 90 days to journey to the Netherlands. Upon your arrival, you can collect your residence permit within two weeks. Your employer will provide you with the necessary details about when and where to obtain your residence permit. The processing time for work visas may vary based on individual circumstances and the nature of the intended work.
- Family Reunification Visa: This type of visa is for family members of Dutch citizens or foreign residents in the Netherlands. You need to collect the MVV from the Dutch embassy or consulate within 3 months. You have 90 days to travel to the Netherlands. Once you arrive in the Netherlands, you have 2 weeks to collect your residence permit. The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND)will tell you where and when you can collect it. However, the processing time can vary depending on the specific situation and the completeness of your application.
If you’re applying for a long-term visa and are wondering, “How long does it take to get a Netherlands visa in South Africa?” it’s important to keep in mind that long-term Netherlands visas typically require a longer processing time compared to short-term ones. This is because Dutch immigration officials conduct more comprehensive assessments for these visa types. Keep updated on processing times via the official websites of the Dutch consulate or embassy in South Africa or the IND. Since processing times can vary, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest information when planning your application. Additionally, applying for a long-stay visa well ahead of your planned travel date is recommended to accommodate possible processing delays.
Global Apostille At Your Service!
As determined above the question of “How long does it take to get a Netherlands visa in South Africa?” depends on the type of visa you are applying for. Our legalization agency simplifies procedures, offering a broad array of services to simplify and enhance your experience. At Global Apostille, we recognize that visa applications can be a daunting process. Therefore we provide translation services for official documents from and into English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and all South African official languages. We also offer a High Court same-day apostille service for R650 and an express DIRCO apostille service that can be completed in 1-5 working days for R2000. We are available throughout South Africa, specifically in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban. For more information on our services please contact us.
Tel: 012 348 3134| Mobile: 081 347 6060 | Email: info@apostillelegalisation.co.za
