Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean

Countries whose nationals can enter Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands without a visa

Aruba passport stamp

Curcacao entry stamp

Sint Maarten entry stamp

A common visa exists since the end of 2010 for the territories of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten (landen (English: countries) within the Kingdom) and the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, which are part of the country The 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

Common visa for the territories

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" within 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 member states[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]  Iceland  Israel  Jamaica[Note 4]  Japan  Liechtenstein  Macau[Note 5]

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  San Marino  Serbia  Seychelles  Singapore  Suriname  South Korea   Switzerland  Taiwan[Note 7]  Trinidad and Tobago  United Arab Emirates  United States of America  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.
4. Visa-free only for Curaçao.
5. Persons holding a Macau Special Administrative Region passport.
6. Visa required for Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
7. Persons holding a Taiwan passport containing a personal identification number.

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

• 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]

Substitute visas

Nationals of any country who are not otherwise visa exempted can enter Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days provided holding a valid, multiple-entry Schengen "C" or "D" visa, or a residence or re-entry permit issued by Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, a Schengen member state, French Guiana, French West Indies, Mayotte or Réunion.^[6][7][8][9]

In addition, nationals of the following countries can enter Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days provided holding a valid, multiple-entry visa issued by Canada or the United States. Additionally, for entry into Aruba only, they can also utilize valid, multiple-entry visa issued by Ireland or the United Kingdom.^[6][7][8][9]

Bolivia  China  Cuba[Note 1]

Dominican Republic  Guyana[Note 2]  Haiti

India  Jamaica[Note 3]  Peru[Note 4]

1. Except for Curaçao.
2. For Sint Maarten only. Already exempt for the other territories.
3. For Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands only. Already exempt for Curaçao.
4. For Curaçao and Sint Maarten only. Already exempt for the other territories.

Nationals who utilize Schengen, Canadian or U.S. visas for entry can only stay for a grand total of 90 days within 1 calendar year in all countries and regions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.

Summary of visa exemptions

Country	Netherlands (Schengen)	Aruba and Caribbean Netherlands	Curaçao	Sint Maarten
EU/EFTA members	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[Note 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Peru	Yes	Yes	No	No
East Timor	Yes	No	No	No
Kiribati	Yes	No	No	No
Marshall Islands	Yes	No	No	No
Micronesia	Yes	No	No	No
Palau	Yes	No	No	No
Samoa	Yes	No	No	No
Solomon Islands	Yes	No	No	No
Tonga	Yes	No	No	No
Tuvalu	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 Peru, East Timor and Oceanian countries added since 2015 (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu 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.