Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean

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.

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 do not require a visa for a stay in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands.

• European Union and European Economic Area, EFTA (3 months)
• Holders of British National (Overseas) passports

Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia (3 months)  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize[11]  Brazil  Brunei  Canada (3 months)  Chile  Costa Rica

Colombia  Dominica  Ecuador  El Salvador  Grenada[11]  Guatemala  Guyana[11][13]  Honduras  Hong Kong[14]  Israel  Japan (3 months)  Macau [15]  Jamaica[11][16]

Malaysia  Mauritius  Mexico  Monaco (3 months)  New Zealand (3 months)  Nicaragua  Panama  Paraguay  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia[11]  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[11]  San Marino (3 months)

Seychelles  Singapore  Suriname  South Korea  Taiwan  Trinidad and Tobago  United States (3 months)  Uruguay   Vatican City (3 months)  Venezuela

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 Netherlands, right of abode on the Caribbean territory is limited to those who have a connection to the region. Other Dutch can enter both countries visa free for maximum of 6 months. The Identity card BESand the "Cedula" of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten are valid for entering Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba, but the Dutch Identity Card is not.