Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean

Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean

Aruba passport stamp

Curcacao entry stamp

Sint Maarten entry stamp

A common visa exists since the end of 2010 for the countries Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands which form together the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.^[1] The visa is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands which is part of the Schengen Area.

Visa

A standard visa is valid for all 6 islands and allows multiple entry for a maximum period of 90 days within 180 days. The maximum uninterrupted stay in one of the individual countries is 30 days. The visa is not valid for the European part of the Netherlands. Application takes place at the consular representations of the Kingdom and the main visiting country has to be indicated. The basis for evaluation of the evaluation of the application in the main visiting country is however the same for the whole area. Entry for longer periods is arranged by the different countries separately.^[2]

History

The two Caribbean countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands were Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. They each had their own visa policy and thus a list of countries from which nationals could enter without a visa. Through consultation between all countries in the Kingdom the requirements showed strong similarities; they were based on the visa free lists for the Schengen Area, extended with countries in the Caribbean. Upon the Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, the common visa system was introduced for all territories of the Kingdom in the Caribbean: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten as well as Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.^[3] The maximum period of stay is 3 months for all countries on the visa-free list for which full reciprocity is in place; for other countries the maximum period is 30 days.

Visa-free entry

Nationals of the following countries and territories do not require a visa for a stay for up to 90 days in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

European Union/EFTA[Note 1]  Albania  Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Brazil  Brunei  Canada  Chile

Colombia  Costa Rica  Dominica  Ecuador  El Salvador  Grenada  Guatemala  Guyana[Note 2]  Honduras  Hong Kong[Note 3]  Israel  Jamaica[Note 4]  Japan  Macau[Note 5]

Macedonia  Malaysia  Mauritius  Mexico  Moldova  Monaco  Montenegro  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Panama  Paraguay  Peru[Note 6]  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  San Marino  Serbia  Seychelles  Singapore  Suriname  South Korea  Taiwan[Note 7]  Trinidad and Tobago  United Arab Emirates  United States  Uruguay   Vatican City  Venezuela

1. Including all forms of British nationality.
2. Visa required for Sint Maarten.
3. Persons holding a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport. British Nationals (Overseas) may also enter visa-free.
4. Visa-free only for Curaçao.
5. Persons holding a Macau Special Administrative Region passport.
6. Visa required for Curaçao.
7. Persons holding a Taiwan passport containing a personal identification number.

Furthermore, the following groups are exempt from the visa requirement:

• holders of a valid residence permit for any territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands or for Saint Martin, Canada, Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom, or one of the Schengen countries;
• the captain, crew or passengers of a ship or aircraft which does not stay for a continuous period of longer than 48 hours.
• holders of a United Nations laissez-passer, issued by the United Nations.

Dutch nationals

Although all Dutch nationals have the right of abode in the European Netherlands, right of abode in the Dutch Caribbean is limited to those who have a connection to the region. Other Dutch can enter both countries visa free for maximum of 6 months.^[10][11] The Identity card BES and the "Cedula" of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are valid for entering Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba, but the Dutch Identity Card is not.^[12]

Summary of visa exemptions

Country	Netherlands (Schengen)	Aruba and Caribbean Netherlands	Curaçao	Sint Maarten
EU/EFTA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Peru	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
East Timor	Yes	No	No	No
Palau	Yes	No	No	No
Samoa	Yes	No	No	No
Tonga	Yes	No	No	No
Vanuatu	Yes	No	No	No
Belize	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ecuador	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Suriname	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guyana	No	Yes	Yes	No
Jamaica	No	No	Yes	No

1. Except East Timor, Palau, Peru, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

See also

• Visa policy of the Schengen Area
• Nationality law of the Netherlands

References

1. "Future developments in the issue of visas by the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba". Nederlandse Ambassade in Peking, China. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
2. "32 415 (R 1915) Bepalingen omtrent de verlening van visa voor de toegang tot de landen van het Koninkrijk (Rijksvisumwet)" (in Dutch). Government of the Netherlands. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
3. "Visum voor Caribische koninkrijksdelen". Government of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 September 2012.
4. When do I need a Caribbean visa?
5. Caribbean visa: nationalities not requiring a visa and exceptions
6. "Visa Information". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
7. "Visa Information". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
8. "Visa Information". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
9. "Visa Information". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
10. "Toeristen". Arubahuis.
11. "FAQ: Vakantie, Hoe lang mag ik op vakantie op de Nederlandse Antillen?". Antillenhuis.
12. "De gevolgen van de staatkundige veranderingen". Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (Netherlands) (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 November 2010.