How do you get a Netherlands visa from Thailand?
Thai citizens need a short-stay Schengen visa (type C, up to 90 days) for tourism, a family or partner visit, or business. You fill in the application form online and apply in person at VFS Global in Bangkok (Chamchuri Square), at least 15 days and at most 6 months before travel. If your host in the Netherlands pays or hosts you, they sign the proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form at their town hall.
Spoyzy in Bangkok checks and prepares the complete visa file and translations.
Would you like to visit the Netherlands as a tourist, see your partner or family, or meet a Dutch company? This guide follows the official Netherlands Worldwide checklists for applicants in Thailand, and explains what each document is for.
In short
- A short-stay Schengen visa: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, valid in the whole Schengen area
- Fill in the application form online, then apply in person at VFS Global Bangkok (Chamchuri Square, Pathumwan)
- Apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before travel; the decision takes 18 to 21 days on average, so start 6 to 8 weeks before
- Visa fee €90, €45 for children aged 6–11, free under 6, plus the VFS Global service fee (758 THB)
- You need at least €55 per day, or a sponsor in the Netherlands
- Staying with someone? They sign the proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form (IND form) at their town hall and post you the original
Why families and couples choose Spoyzy
- We speak Thai, English, French and Dutch, so we explain everything to both you and your guest, each in your own language
- We know the documents on both sides: what is needed in Thailand and what your host needs from their town hall in Europe
- We check every document before submission to reduce the risk of a refusal for missing paperwork
- Rated 5.0 ★ on Google
1. Which visa do you need?
For any stay of up to 90 days, Thai citizens need the same short-stay Schengen visa. What changes is the purpose, and with it the checklist you use.
| Purpose | Who it is for | Key extra documents |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism | Holidays in the Netherlands, alone or with an organised tour | Hotel booking for the whole trip, bank statements |
| Family or partner visit | Visiting family, a partner or friends who live in the Netherlands | Sponsorship / accommodation form, host’s passport page, proof of the relationship |
| Business | Meetings, trade fairs or training with a Dutch company | Invitation from the Dutch company, employer certificate from your Thai company |
- Apply to the Netherlands when it is your main destination; if you have several purposes, use the checklist for the main one
- Book one appointment per person, children included, and book it yourself on the VFS Global website (not through an intermediary)
- Overstaying can lead to a 2-year visa ban for all Schengen countries
- Married to an EU citizen (not Dutch) who travels with you? A separate checklist applies (ask us)
2. Documents for every applicant
These are on all Netherlands checklists for Thailand. Bring the checklist itself to your appointment too.
- Application form, completed online with your own unique code, printed and signed. Do not reuse someone else’s form.
- Passport no more than 10 years old, with at least 2 empty visa pages, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, and signed by you
- Photo: not needed, a digital photo is taken at VFS Global
- Proof of ties to Thailand: see section 6
- Travel reservation to and from the Schengen area (a reservation, not a paid ticket)
- Travel medical insurance in your name, at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen countries for the whole stay, including repatriation
- Name change certificate, if you changed your name
- Minors travelling without one or both parents: birth certificate extract, proof of custody, and a consent form signed by the parent(s) not travelling, verified by an official body such as the district office or a court
Bring colour copies, and the original where the checklist asks for it. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs may ask for an interview or more documents.
3. Extra documents by purpose
Tourism
- Hotel or rental reservation for the entire trip
- Your bank statements for the last 3 months (or those of the person who pays)
- If you join an organised tour: the tour booking; if you visit several countries: your plan for the whole trip
Family or partner visit
- The proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form, original and copy (see section 4)
- A copy of the passport page of the person inviting you, and their travel history
- Proof of the relationship: birth or marriage certificate for family; for a partner, previous correspondence (messages, photos, earlier visits)
- If your host pays for everything: their last 3 payslips, a recent employer’s statement, or a work contract valid at least 12 more months
- Need an invitation letter too? See our invitation letter guide
Business
- An invitation letter from the Dutch company with the purpose and length of the visit and who pays
- A certificate of employment from your company in Thailand with your position, length of employment, salary, the purpose and length of the trip, and who pays
- Bank statements for the last 3 months of whoever pays the stay
- For a trade fair: the admission ticket and the invitation
4. The sponsorship and private accommodation form (your host)
In the Netherlands, one IND form covers two things: sponsorship (your host pays for your stay) and private accommodation (you stay at your host’s home). Your host ticks what applies.
- Your host must live in the Netherlands, be 18 or older, have a citizen service number (BSN) and have a steady, sufficient income for at least the next 12 months (social assistance benefits do not count)
- Because Thai visitors need a visa, your host must sign the form in front of an official at their town hall (legalisation of the signature). A married or registered partner signs too if they are joint sponsors
- After legalisation, you must apply for your visa within 6 months
- Your host adds proof of income: work contract valid at least 12 months, recent employer’s statement and last 3 payslips (or business and tax documents if self-employed, or pension proof), plus a copy of their ID with the BSN visible
- Your host posts you the original form and the documents; you also carry them when you travel, for Dutch border control
- The form cannot be changed after legalisation, and each visitor (also children) needs their own form
- The sponsor is responsible for the costs of your stay, medical care and return until you leave the Schengen area (at most 5 years)
Source: Netherlands Worldwide, “How can I sponsor a visitor from abroad?”. The town hall charges a small fee for the legalisation; check your municipality.
5. How much money do you need?
| Your situation | What the Netherlands expects |
|---|---|
| You pay yourself | At least €55 per day, shown with your bank statements for the last 3 months |
| Someone else pays (not your host) | Their bank statements for the last 3 months |
| Your host pays everything | The sponsorship form (question 3B “yes”) plus the host’s payslips, employer’s statement or work contract |
| Business trip | Bank statements of the company that pays, plus the invitation |
Tip from our cases: statements that show regular income over several months are more convincing than one large deposit just before you apply. If money was deposited recently, add a short explanation and proof of where it came from.
Source: Netherlands Worldwide checklist “Visit to family or friends” for Thailand (€55 per day).
6. Proof of employment and ties to Thailand
You must show social or economic ties to Thailand. The checklist for Thailand asks for:
| Your situation | What to provide |
|---|---|
| Employee | The company’s registration and a statement of employment with the number of vacation days granted, your position and your monthly salary |
| Self-employed | Proof that you own the business, such as the company registration |
| Student | Proof of enrolment, with your field of study and the length of the programme |
| None of these | For example proof that you care for someone in Thailand, a title deed for a home or land, your marriage certificate or your children’s birth certificates |
In our experience, Thai-language documents should be translated into English so the embassy can read them.
7. Where to apply: VFS Global Bangkok
- Address: VFS Global (Netherlands), Unit 404, The Plaza 4th floor, Chamchuri Square, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 (MRT Sam Yan)
- Submission hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30–12:00 and 13:00–16:00, by appointment only
- Passport collection: Monday to Friday 13:00–16:00, or by courier if you choose it at your appointment
- At the appointment: you hand in your documents and passport, give fingerprints (from age 12) and a photo, answer questions about the trip, pay the fees and get a tracking number
- Children must come to the appointment too, even babies
- Fingerprints in the last 59 months? Someone else may submit your file with your signed authorisation
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult | €90 |
| Visa fee, child aged 6–11 | €45 |
| Visa fee, child under 6 | Free |
| VFS Global service fee | 758 THB (VAT included) |
Fees are paid in baht at the current exchange rate. Optional VFS “premium” services do not change the decision. Nothing is refunded if the visa is refused.
8. Timeline: when to do what
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 2–3 months before travel | Decide the purpose and dates. If you stay with or are paid for by a host, they fill in the IND form and book a town hall appointment to sign it. |
| 6–8 weeks before | Gather documents, ask your employer for the statement, get English translations, buy travel insurance, reserve flights (refundable if possible) |
| 5–7 weeks before | Fill in the application form online and book your VFS Global appointment |
| Appointment day | Apply in person with the checklist and documents; pay the fees; fingerprints and photo |
| After applying | Average processing time 18 to 21 calendar days; up to 45 days in busy periods or if more checks are needed |
| Arrival in Europe | Your fingerprints and photo are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System. Carry the sponsorship form, bookings, insurance and proof of money: Dutch border control may ask for them. |
9. Step by step
- If you have a host: they fill in the IND form, sign it at their town hall and post you the original with their documents
- Download the Netherlands checklist for your purpose and gather the documents
- Translate Thai documents into English
- Complete the application form online, then print and sign it
- Book your appointment at VFS Global Bangkok (one per person)
- Apply in person, pay the fees and give your fingerprints
- Track your application and collect your passport (or receive it by courier)
- Travel with the sponsorship form and copies of your key documents
Do it yourself, or with Spoyzy?
| On your own | With Spoyzy | |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship form | Unsure which boxes to tick and what proof of income to add | We explain the form to your host in Dutch or English |
| Translations | Unsure which documents to translate | We translate the Thai documents into English |
| Funds and ties to Thailand | Unsure whether it is enough | We check and advise before submission |
| Checklist and appointment | Easy to miss a document | We check the whole file against the Netherlands checklist |
10. Common mistakes
- The sponsorship form signed without legalisation at the town hall, or changed afterwards
- Applying more than 6 months after the form was legalised
- A host whose work contract ends within 12 months, or who lives on social assistance
- Less than €55 per day with no sponsor
- An employer statement without your vacation days, position or monthly salary
- A hotel booking that does not cover the whole trip
- Using someone else’s application form instead of your own with its unique code
- Travel insurance below €30,000, or not covering every travel date
- A partner visit without proof of the relationship
- Booking a non-refundable flight before the visa is issued
11. How Spoyzy helps
We help Thai travellers visit family and partners in the Netherlands, in Thai, English, French and Dutch.
- Full document check against the Netherlands checklist for your purpose
- Explaining the sponsorship and accommodation form to your host
- Help with the invitation and cover letters
- Translation of Thai documents into English
- Help with the application form and the VFS Global appointment
Read also: Invitation letter for a Schengen visa, Schengen visa from Thailand: complete guide, Belgium visa from Thailand and Italy visa from Thailand
Get a free document checklist
Tell us on WhatsApp the purpose of the trip (tourism, family, partner or business), where in the Netherlands and when. We will send a checklist for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Netherlands visa take from Thailand?
On average 18 to 21 calendar days after you apply, and up to 45 days in busy periods or when more checks are needed. Apply at least 15 days and at most 6 months before travel; in practice, start 6 to 8 weeks before.
How much money do I need for a Dutch visa?
At least €55 per day of your stay, shown with bank statements for the last 3 months. If you have less, someone in the Netherlands can sponsor you with the IND sponsorship form.
Where do I apply for a Netherlands visa in Bangkok?
At VFS Global, Chamchuri Square, 4th floor, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, by appointment only. The service fee is 758 THB on top of the €90 visa fee.
Does my host need to go to the town hall?
Yes. Because Thai visitors need a visa, your host must sign the sponsorship and/or private accommodation form in front of a town hall official. You then have 6 months to apply for your visa.
Can my unmarried partner visit me in the Netherlands?
Yes. You show proof of the relationship, such as previous correspondence, photos together and earlier visits, plus the usual documents.
Do I need to bring a photo?
No. When you apply through VFS Global, a digital photo is taken at your appointment.
What does a business visa application need?
An invitation from the Dutch company with the purpose, length and who pays, a certificate of employment from your Thai company, and bank statements of whoever pays.
Can I visit other Schengen countries with a Dutch visa?
Yes, a Schengen visa is valid in all Schengen countries. Apply to the Netherlands when it is your main destination.
What if the visa is refused?
Read the reasons in the refusal letter. You can object within the stated deadline, or reapply after fixing the issues. We can review the refusal and prepare a stronger new file.
Sources (checked 24 October 2026): Netherlands Worldwide, “Applying for a Schengen visa for the Netherlands in Thailand” and the Thailand checklists for tourism, visit to family or friends, and business trip; “How can I sponsor a visitor from abroad?”; “How long does it take to get a visa for the Netherlands?”; “Consular fees in Thailand”; VFS Global Thailand, Netherlands visa application centre Bangkok.
Written by Poy, founder of Spoyzy
Poy has handled 200+ visa cases, 150+ marriages and 800+ document legalisations for Thai–foreign couples and families. Poy speaks Thai, French and English (and a little Dutch), and explains every document to both partners in their own language.
Ask Poy on WhatsAppLast updated: October 2026
