Hello Forum,

 

I am fairly new here... pls HELP!

 

I want to take my gf on a short 2 weeks holiday to Holland this year July. Also France (Paris) and Swiss (Zurich) for couple days.

 

I guess I need to apply at the Dutch Embassy for a Schengen Visa for her, right?

 

What are the requirements for me (and her) at the Dutch Embassy?

* My bankdetails, I guess.... how much is required?

* A letter from my family back in Holland saying she is visiting (short)?

* Insurance?

* Hotelbooking? I stay at my family's house....

 

This is the first time wanted to take my Thai gf to see my family:)

 

All the help is much welcome!

 

Regards, Tom n Joy

 

 

 

 

 

She will need:

 

- A VERY good immigration lawyer

- A Schengen visa, see my point above

- Letter of employment

- Letter from boss authorizing leave

- Letter of sponsorship from you + bank statement + her bank statements

- Private travel insurance

- Accomodation bookings, letter from family if this is the case

- Proof of ties in Thailand, such a house, family, car, etc.

- Any other thing you deem relevent to show that she'll come back to Thailand.

 

I did this successfully once, and believe me, you have only 1 chance to get it right - lawyer up. Even for a 2-week trip. The little $500 you'll pay in lawyer fees will come in handy.

 

The Dutch Visa Section are one of the easiest to deal with as long as you take your time, read the instructions and follow them, don't try and cut corners.

If you and your girlfriend follow the instructions to the letter there's absolutely no need to waste money on an Immigration Lawyer or an agent.

 

http://www.vfsglobal.com/netherlands/thailand/

 

Also have a read of this excellent pinned topic written by Donutz, himself a Dutch national.

 

If there's anything you're not sure of, please ask.

 

 

A Schengen visa is not that hard to obtain, especially not with the Dutch who generally are quite relaxed. Unless you trigger their alarmbells (risk of illegal work or migration, travelplan that seems fishy, no sufficient funds to afford the holiday etc) you generally get the visa. Only around 1-2% of the visas get declined. So no need ro lawyer up if you prepare well by reading the official instructions/requirements carefully.

 

The best place to start is the website of the Dutch embassy, it will direct you to the website of the (optional!) external service provider VFS. secondly there is IND.nl with a page and brochure on short stay requirements and related information.

 

For general hints and pointers see the Schengen sticky near the top of this forum.

 

For more detailed tips regarding visiting the Netherlands I made a document/guide to help out Dutchies and Belgians. Note that its written in Dutch. You can download a PDF from this page below or print it if you prefer:

 

https://www.thailandblog.nl/dossier/schengenvisum/dossier-schengenvisum/

 

If you have any questions let us know. :)

 

How hard is it for a Thai to get a Visa for Holland if they do not have a  Dutch sponsor ?
Just to go on vacation a couple of weeks .

 

Is there another country that is easier to get a Schengen visa ?
and then can they fly from the arrival country to another EU country with the first visa ?

 

thanks

 

 

 

The general requirements are the same for all Schengen member states. Specific details do differ such as how much an alien needs to be self sufficient (no sponsor) or the income requirements when there is a sponsor. If one meets all the requirements you generally have very high chanches of getting the visa.

 

Most Schengen member states operating in TH decline only a few percent of applitions. Though Belgium and Sweden are at the high end with 10 or more percent refused. For stats see the EU home affairs webpage on Schengen:

https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy_en#stats

 

So no, there are not exactly easy or difficult member states. Though some such as the Dutch are more relaxed and down to earth while Spain is notorious for living red tape (especially with EU family member applications covered by Freedom of movement).

 

For NL an alien needs 34 euro per day if they do not have a sponsor. 

 

And as you can read in the sticky topic a visa generally gives access to the entire Schengen unless the visa states otherwise (rarely so). You may enter, travel through and depart via any member state.. However you need to apply at the embassy of the country thar is the main objective of the journey, or at the country of first entry if there is no clear main country. If you deviate from this fir unexplained or questionable reasons border security may deny entry (suspecting unguine behaviour or fraud) as may any Schengen embassy when they look up previous applications in the shared VIS database.

Requirements for holiday in Holland.

1/  plenty of money

2/ plenty of money

3/ plenty of money

Ok i think that covers everything.

6 hours ago, oldcarguy said:

How hard is it for a Thai to get a Visa for Holland if they do not have a  Dutch sponsor ?
Just to go on vacation a couple of weeks .

 

Is there another country that is easier to get a Schengen visa ?
and then can they fly from the arrival country to another EU country with the first visa ?

All Schengen States work to the same guidelines, though some are seemingly more relaxed with their approach, as I mentioned before my partner had no problem obtaining a visa from the Dutch Visa Authorities.
If a Thai can demonstrate that they meet all the requirements, they have a good chance of being issued with a visa from the Dutch visa section as they would with any other Consulate, a sponsor isn't always required.
I note your comment about entering another EU country first, I think you mean Schengen country, but you should apply for a visa at the country which is your main destination or where you are spending the longest time, you can't, or at least shouldn't, apply for a visa via a Consulate who you think might be more relaxed, then hot foot to another country which has more robust checks.
 

Thanks for all the help! Much appreciated! Tom n Joy