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| Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tehran | Farsi-Nederlands | ||
FAQ’s Do I need a visa? I have more than one nationality. Do I require a visa? I have a travel document issued by a third country. Do I require a visa? For which countries is a Schengen visa valid? Who decides on visa applications? When should I apply for a visa? How long does it take before a decision is taken? Who can I contact to ask on the status of my visa-application? How will I be informed on the decision taken? What is the validity of a visa? How do I receive a multiple entry visa? What can I do if my visa was refused? Will I receive my money back if a visa was refused? How and when do I collect my visa? What else do I need to know when I have my Schengen-visa?
A visa is an authorisation or decision in the form of a sticker affixed to a passport or other travel document. It means that when the visa was issued no objection existed to the holder entering the Netherlands to stay temporarily or travel on to a third country. But having a visa does not give a person the automatic right of entry. When visa holders enter the country, they have to show that they still meet the conditions for entry.
Whether a prospective visitor requires a visa depends on his nationality and how long he intends to stay in the Netherlands. Passport holders of many countries require a visa for an uninterrupted stay of up to three months. Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan passport holders need a visa to enter the Schengen territory.
I have more than one nationality. Do I require a visa? If you have more than one nationality, whether you require a visa depends on which travel document you intend to travel on. If it is a passport of a country whose nationals require a visa, you will also require a visa even if you have another nationality for which no visa is required. The country in which you are residing is irrelevant to whether you require a visa, although you must be residing legally in the country in which you submit your application.
I have a travel document issued by a third country. Do I require a visa? Yes. Persons with travel documents for aliens and refugees issued by third countries always require a visa no matter what their nationality or which country issued these documents. An exception is made for refugees with travel documents issued by 16 European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals of certain countries also require an airport transit visa to change aircraft at a Dutch airport, even though they do not actually enter Dutch territory.
For which countries is a Schengen visa valid? On 26 March 1995, the Convention applying the Schengen Agreement came into force in seven countries. Since then, more countries have joined the Schengen Area. There are now 15 Schengen countries, with no border controls between them: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Visitors to any one of these countries receive a uniform visa valid for travel to all 15 of them. The Schengen countries have also harmonised their conditions for entry and their policy on countries whose nationals require a visa to visit the Schengen Area. As of May 1st, 2004, ten new member states joined the European Union: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Tjech Republic, Slowakia and Slovenia. The current external Schengen-border will remain unchanged for the moment. A Schengenvisa is not valid for the new member states. The new member states will issue national visa until further notice and no Schengenvisa. Some visitors are permitted to enter the territory of only one Schengen country or a limited number of them (such as the Netherlands or the Benelux countries). A Schengen country may issue such a visitor with a visa valid only for that country or for a specified number of Schengen countries.
Who decides on visa applications? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles visa applications for three months or less for business purposes, attending a conference or seminar, attending a sporting or cultural event, visiting an international organisation, and conducting diplomatic or political business. It also handles with all visa applications by persons from the former Soviet republics. You may contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa information Monday to Friday, 09:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:30. Tel.: +31 70 348 5622. In writing: P.O. Box 20061, 2500 EB The Hague. The Visa Service Department of the Immigration Office deals with visa applications for three months or less for tourist purposes, visit relatives, perform music, attend a study programme, internship or undergo medical treatment (except in the case of persons from the former Soviet republics). The Visa Service also deals with applications for stays longer than three months. The Ministry of Justice Visa Service's information line can be reached via the general information line of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service. The line is open Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. Tel. from within the Netherlands: 0900-1234561 (€ 0,10 per minute). Tel. from abroad:+31-20-889 3045 Postal address: Postbus 3109, 2280 GC Rijswijk.
When should I apply for a visa? How long does it take before a decision is taken? Please be informed that applications of Iranian passportholders for a Schengen-visa have to be consulted with other Schengen-states. In addition, applications of Iranian passportholders in principle have to be submitted to the competent authorities in the Netherlands. It is recommended that an application for a business visa is submitted 15 working-days in advance and an application for a visa to visit family/ friends is submitted three months in advance.
Who can I contact to ask on the status of my visa-application? For information on the status of pending visa-applications you can call the Visa Hotline from Sunday to Wednesday between 13:00-16:00. Applications for a business visa submitted to the competent authorities in the Netherlands: your Dutch referent could contact the Netherlands ministry of Foreign Affairs, department DPV/VV: 0031-70-348 5622 for information on the status. Application for a visa to visit family/ friends submitted to the competent authorities in the Netherlands: your Dutch referent could contact the Visadienst in the Netherlands: 0900-1234561 (€ 0.10 a minute) or from abroad 0031-20-889 3045 for information on the status.
How will I be informed on the decision taken? It is important to fill in your correct address and telephone number on your application-form at the time of application; In case your visa was rejected: you will be informed in writing by registered mail; In case your visa is approved: you will be informed by telephone. In case we can not reach you by telephone we will sent the approval by ordinary mail. It is important to contact the embassy on the status of your visa-application in case above-mentioned average processing time is exceeded and you have not heard from the embassy on the outcome of your visa-application.
What is the validity of a visa? A visa is valid for the period you applied for, with a maxium of 90 days per six months. Your ticket is consulted for precise dates. The total number of days you are allowed to stay in Schengen is mentioned on the visa sticker. The dates on the sticker indicate from when to when you are allowed to stay. The visa is not valid before or after these dates. As soon as you travel, the number of days start to count. You are required to leave Schengen territory as soon as you have reached the maximum number of days, or the last validity date of the visa.
How do I receive a multiple entry visa? A visa may also be valid for multiple entries into Schengen territory if the applicant can proof the necessity of such a visa during the application. A multiple entry will be mentioned on the visa sticker. In that case, you are allowed to travel multiple times within the validity dates. The total length of stay however should not exceed the number of days mentioned on the sticker. Total stay may never be longer than 90 days per 6 months, and 180 days per year. Should you require to stay longer, you may want to apply for an MVV. (long term visa)
What can I do if my visa was refused? When your visa was refused, you will receive a notice that explains the grounds for the refusal. It is important that you understand why your visa was refused to decide if you need to take action. Should you wish to apply again, please make sure you are taking into account the grounds on which your previous visa was refused. Should you not agree with the refusal, you may appeal the decision in writing. How to do this is described on the notice you received upon refusal of the visa.
Will I receive my money back if a visa was refused? Upon applying for a visa, you are required to pay the visa handling fees. Should your visa be refused, you will not receive these fees back. The cost of a visa was determined during Schengen consultations. You should pay in local currency. Also, you may be charged for additional expenses the Embassy has to make on behalf of your visa application (fax expenses etc.).
How and when do I collect my visa? In case your visa has been approved you can come to the Embassy Sunday to Thursday between 7:30 and 9:30. At that time you have to bring the following documents: medical travel insurance, a confirmed return ticket, your valid passport and any other additional documents which were part of your approval. Your visa will be ready the next day at 14:30 Sunday to Wednesday and 12:30 on Thursday.
In case of questions on (the outcome of) my visa application, can someone else (for example my referent from Holland) contact you on my behalf? All information you share with the Embassy during your visa application is considered private information. For your privacy protection, we only share this information with you. Should someone other than you contact us with questions on your visa application, we will kindly refer this person to you to ensure your privacy is protected at all times.
What else do I need to know when I have my Schengen-visa? The possession of a valid Schengen visa does not grant an irrevocable right of entry or temporary stay in the territory of the Schengen member states. You may be required to present certain evidence again upon entry at the border post so it is advisable to retain copies of the documents you submitted at the time of your visa-application. In case you have a longer duration multiple entry Schengen-visa you have to be in the possession of a valid medical health insurance every time you travel to Schengen. Immigration authorities can ask for proof, the moment you enter the Netherlands.
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