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International travel to the Netherlands and all other European countries in the Schengen zone will be changing for citizens of Canada, as well as 59 other visa-exempt countries, as of 2025 and into the future.
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Welcome to Europe
The Netherlands is one a popular destination for tourists visiting Europe. There are plenty of excellent reasons why the Netherlands is high on many travelers’ bucket lists. With its rich and vivid history, stunning natural landscapes, vibrant and welcoming culture, and fabulous cuisine, it’s no wonder that the Netherlands draws in more than 7 million visitors from across the world each year. Often referred to as the “crown jewel of Europe,” the Netherlands ranks 29th on the list of most-visited countries worldwide. From the breathtaking tulip fields of Flevoland and Leiden to the spirited culture and history of Rotterdam, the medieval-era architecture of Maastricht, and the energetic nightlife of The Hague, the Netherlands offers a wide variety of experiences that will appeal to every different type of tourist. Then, of course, there’s Amsterdam: the most frequently-visited city in all of the Netherlands. Amsterdam attracts close to 9 million international visitors each year. Known as the “Venice of the North,” Amsterdam ranks high on the list the most charmingly picturesque cities in Europe. Some of the most popular activities for tourists visiting Amsterdam include taking a scenic boat tour through the winding canals, visiting iconic landmarks like the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Palace, sampling delicious local eats at the Foodhallen, enjoying a leisurely walk or bike ride in the Flevopark, and shopping at the Albert Cuyp Markt. The Netherlands has long been a top vacation destination for many Canadians and other international visitors from around the world. Previously, Canadian citizens were granted visa-free entry to the Netherlands, only needing a valid biometric passport. However, beginning in 2025, all Canadian citizens and other international travelers must submit an online ETIAS visa waiver application and receive an email confirmation of their approval to travel before departing for the Netherlands. Please keep in mind that, due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the government of the Netherlands could institute additional border security and travel restrictions in the future. These changes to the Netherlands’ international travel policies would be entirely independent of the Netherlands ETIAS travel authorization program. Despite all this, you can have confidence that we are wholly committed to the many valued international travelers who trust us. We will keep working diligently to ensure that our website is always up-to-date with the latest travel information.
All foreign applicants from Canada, along with the 59 other visa-exempt countries, who use the Netherlands ETIAS website to apply online for entry into the Netherlands (or another Schengen country) must have a valid biometric passport that will remain valid for a minimum of three months after the intended arrival date. Canadian passports have a maximum validity period of 10 years for all citizens over the age of 16. Passports that are issued to minors 15 years old and under will expire after five years. The Canadian government has been providing biometric passports since July of 2013. To figure out if your Canadian passport is a biometric one, look for a small golden symbol in the shape of a camera at the bottom of your passport’s front cover. It is a wide rectangle with a horizontal line through the middle and a small circle at the center. Remember that your electronic Netherlands ETIAS approval is directly associated with the unique passport or travel document number used in the application. Therefore, once that passport expires, so does the linked ETIAS visa waiver. When you apply for a new passport, you will also have to re-apply for ETIAS if you wish to travel within Europe’s Schengen zone again. The ETIAS application Netherlands will typically require no more than 10 minutes of a person’s time. In most cases, the ETIAS system will only require their biometric passport details, their basic personal and contact details like name, nationality, email address and phone number, their recent travel history, and any criminal record or other legal issues they may have experienced in the past (if applicable). The recently updated travel authorization system, known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System (or ETIAS), will become a mandatory step for all overseas travelers visiting a country in the Schengen zone of Europe if they are coming from one of the 60 countries on the established visa-exempt list. Please check out our homepage for a full list of all visa-exempt countries, as well as a list of the 26 countries that currently make up the Schengen area of Europe.
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Yes. All Canadian citizens will need to submit an online visa waiver application through the Netherlands ETIAS website before departing for the Netherlands or any other European country in the Schengen zone as soon as this new visa waiver program goes live in 2025 and thereafter. The transition will be made easier with an initial grace period of at least six months that will allow both international travelers and border officials alike to become more comfortable with the new adjustments to the Schengen border policy. After the preliminary grace period ends, foreigners will not be permitted to enter into the Netherlands or any other Schengen country in Europe under any circumstances without being able to show border officials their valid ETIAS Netherlands visa waiver approval status.
Yes. Before a child or minor from Canada departs on a trip to the Netherlands, his or her parent or other legal guardian will have to submit an online ETIAS application on their behalf. Minors will not be exempt from the new Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver Netherlands program for any reason.
In order to travel from Canada to the Netherlands, you will need a valid biometric passport, a valid email address to receive confirmation of your ETIAS approval or rejection, and a stable internet connection. Additionally, you must pay a processing fee of €7 using a valid credit or debit card upon submitting your electronic ETIAS application.
During the online Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver application process, you will be asked to disclose your full legal name, your physical and mailing address, as well as a few other basic personal details. You will also need to answer a few questions regarding your recent travel history and any previous criminal activity (if applicable). Please feel free to refer to our Requirements page for a comprehensive list of the required information and documentation that you will need to complete your application for an ETIAS visa waiver.
For the majority of people, the ETIAS application should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Most applicants will get an email notification with the acceptance or rejection status of their ETIAS application within 24 hours. In rare cases, the reviewing officials may flag an application as unusual or suspicious. In these situations, the officials can ask for further information, some additional supporting documents, or rIn order to travel from Canada to the Netherlands, you will need a valid biometric passport, a valid email address to receive confirmation of your ETIAS approval or rejection, and a stable internet connection. Additionally, you must pay a processing fee of €7 using a valid credit or debit card upon submitting your electronic ETIAS application.
During the online Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver application process, you will be asked to disclose your full legal name, your physical and mailing address, as well as a few other basic personal details. You will also need to answer a few questions regarding your recent travel history and any previous criminal activity (if applicable). Please feel free to refer to our Requirements page for a comprehensive list of the required information and documentation that you will need to complete your application for an ETIAS visa waiver.
For the majority of people, the ETIAS application should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Most applicants will get an email notification with the acceptance or rejection status of their ETIAS application within 24 hours. In rare cases, the reviewing officials may flag an application as unusual or suspicious. In these situations, the officials can ask for further information, some additional supporting documents, or require a face-to-face interview with the applicant before making their final decision. To be on the safe side, you should allow at least 96 hours (four days) for processing your Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver application. Doing so will provide you with plenty of time to take care of any potential issues or delays that might arise during the online application process.equire a face-to-face interview with the applicant before making their final decision. To be on the safe side, you should allow at least 96 hours (four days) for processing your Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver application. Doing so will provide you with plenty of time to take care of any potential issues or delays that might arise during the online application process.
No. The Netherlands ETIAS visa waiver is not the same as a standard work or study visa. It also does not work as a valid substitute for the regular long-term visa application process. If you want to work or study while you are in the Netherlands or any other country in the Schengen zone of Europe, you will have to apply for an appropriate work or study visa through your local consulate. Although the requirements can be different when working remotely on an ESTA, which is much like an ETIAS.