Netherlands Embassy in Cairo, Egypt

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Netherlands is part of the Schengen territory which includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A Schengen visa is a document that can allow the applicant to travel to the Schengen territory. However, it does not automatically give the applicant the right to enter the Schengen territory. Border Control Officers may still ask the applicant to provide additional information or supporting documents concerning financial means, length of stay and the purpose of the visit.

Some of the Schengen countries mentioned above require information about visa applications of Egyptian passport holders. In general, a visa application will be processed within 14 days. In some cases the embassy has to forward the visa application to the competent authorities for a final decision. In this case, it may take from 14 days up to two months before the visa may be issued.

Advice: Plan your trip early and make an appointment accordingly (if possible up to 3 months before intended travel time).

In order to continuously improve the services to our valued customers, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands offers you the following two possibilities upon your choosing to receive your legalized documents and/or the results of your visa applications:

•    In person at the desk (without charge);

•    Delivered by TNT at an address of your choosing (for a fee, published at the TNT desk located at the Consular Section).

If you choose to use the services of TNT:

1.    Submit your requested service at the Consular Section desk (visa application or legalization);

2.    Pay for the applicable consular service at the consular desk;

3.    Receive an application number tag from the consular desk;

4.    Apply to the TNT desk with your application number tag;

5.    Pay the applicable TNT fee at the TNT desk.

Please note that the Embassy does not endorse TNT nor can the Embassy be held responsible for, amongst others, possible loss, theft, damage and delay for shipments by TNT. Questions regarding your shipment should be directed to TNT.

VISA APPLICATION FORM

The application form is available at the consular desk, or you can download the form (see related documents on this page). 

 APPOINTMENT 
To submit a visa application, you need to make an appointment through the Vodafone Visa Appointment Center by calling 0900 70678 or if you are calling from a Vodafone mobile: 2101 (please note that in both cases 2 EGP per minute will be deducted from your account). Both numbers cannot be called from abroad. The center can be reached 7 days a week from 8 AM until 8 PM. Please keep your passport at hand when contacting the Appointment Center.

Note: During Ramadan the Vodafone Visa Appointment Center can be reached 7 days a week from 8.00 AM until 3.30 PM.

The Vodafone Appointment Center can provide you, upon your request, with all information regarding visa matters.

For case-related questions you can call the embassy at 02-27350091 from Sunday-Thursday between 2-3 pm. Please keep your application number and application date at hand when calling.

INTERVIEW

An interview will be held at the time of application. Non-cooperation during the interview may lead to refusal of the visa application.

STATUS OF YOUR VISA APPLICATION

On the 10th day after your appointment at the Embassy, (12.30 PM) your passport can be collected. In case your visa application has been rejected the Embassy will issue you a document stating the reason for refusal. This document is not open to discussion with the Embassy. However, you may appeal against the decision. The address where to appeal is mentioned in the cover letter that comes with the refusal.

General requirements to be submitted by applicants for short stay visas in Egypt

1.    Passport

Original and copy of current and previous passport covering the past 7 years. Copy of the biometric data page. Copy of all non empty pages has to be provided.

 Important: Current passport must have been issued within the last ten years and contains at least two blank pages. The passport should be valid for at least 3 months after return from the planned trip.

 2.    Photo

One biometric photo (with white background) not older than six months. Please note that the photo should not be attached to the application form as it has to be scanned separately.

Please refer to the ICAO recommendations to ensure that the photograph meets required standards:

http://www2.icao.int/en/MRTD/Downloads/Technical%20Reports/Annex_A-Photograph_Guidelines.pdf

 3.    Insurance requirement

Travel medical insurance covering the entire period of intended stay, valid for all Schengen States and covering any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgency medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death during (my) stay. The minimum coverage must be 30.000 EUR.

 4.    Visa application form

One completed and signed visa application form.

 5.    Visa fees

Payment of the visa fees.

 6.    Supporting documents

The list of supporting documents to be submitted by visa applicants in Egypt is set out in the Annex. The list contains compulsory information to be presented by all visa applicants and a list of supporting documents to be presented by visa applicant according to the purpose of its travel.

 7.    Language requirement

 All requested documents have to be translated into the language of the country to be visited or into English.

NOTICE

Translations from El Gawhara and Gallober office can not be accepted by the Embassy.

Furthermore visa applications/applicants via Seti First Travel can no longer be accepted by the Embassy.

 Annex

List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants

for short stay visas. 

•  Certificate from the Mogamma

For first time travellers, or in case of passport loss: a Certificate from the Mogamma covering the past 7 years.

• Confirmation of a round trip booking, if applicable.

The ticket may be bought after the visa has been issued. 

• Proof of accommodation

•  Purpose of the trip

A document substantiating the purpose of the stay. 

• Proof of financial means 

Original bank statements for the past 6 months copied and translated. In the absence of bank account, proof of other assets has to be provided. 

• Documents to be provided by employees

Certificate of employment, specifying the date of recruitment, position in the company and salary level.

• Documents to be provided by company owners

Original of the commercial registry and tax card. 

• Documents to be provided by pupils/students

Proof of enrolment in school/university

•  Documents to be provided by minors (not applicable in case of school or sports club trips):

If the minor travels without his/her legal guardian: consent of the parental authority (both parents) or legal guardian shall be provided either by a notarised certificate or by a form signed at the consulate premises.

If minor is travelling with one of his/her legal guardian: consent of the parental authority (parents or legal guardian not travelling with his/her minor child) shall be provided by either a notarised certificate or by a form signed at the consulate premises.

Annex

List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for the purpose of tourism 

If the applicant is an employee: Confirmation of leave approval.

• Itinerary, if visiting more than one Member State. 
• List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for business  
•  Invitation letter

Official invitation from the inviting company on official company paper, stamped and signed containing the following information:

• the full address and contact person of the company
• nature of the business
• name and position of the countersigning officer
• purpose and duration of the visit
• person or entity who will bear the travel and living costs
• whether the sponsor gives financial guarantee for the visa applicant's return to Egypt.
• Information to be provided by the Egyptian invited company
• Original of the company registry and tax card.
• Official company paper stamped and signed, mentioning clearly:
•  full address and contact persons of the company
• name and position of the countersigning officer
• name, position, salary and years of employment ( if applicable)
• purpose of the visit
• nature of the employment contract
• person or entity which will bear the applicant's travel and living costs.

Annex

List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for the purpose of carrying out paid activities or internship 

• A work permit or a similar document: please check the website of the Member State concerned

List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for the purpose of visiting family/friends 

• Invitation letter

Legalised letter of guarantee from municipality with proof of income of referent for the last 3 months.

 List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for the purpose of medical treatment 

•  Certificate from a medical doctor (designated by the consulate) and/or a medical institution:

The certificate should state the medical history of the patient and what kind of medical treatment is needed.

• Official document from the receiving medical institution

It should confirm that it can perform the specific medical treatment and that the patient will be accepted accordingly

•  Proof of financial arrangement made
•  Any other correspondence between the sending Egyptian medical doctor and the receiving medical institution, if available.  

Annex

 List of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants travelling for the purpose of cultural/sports events 

• For minors:

Student card + original letter of the school mentioning: the full address, telephone number of the school, permission for absence, name and function of the person giving permission. 

• Minors travelling alone: See point 1.8
• Original letter of invitation from the organiser of the event in the Member State of destination

If applicable: letter of the institution sending the concerned applicant. 

AIRPORT TRANSIT VISA

Egyptian nationals transiting through Amsterdam/Schiphol Airport do not need a visa on the condition they have a confirmed onward air ticket as well as a valid visa for their country of destination. Other nationalities are advised to contact the Visa Call Center for further information.

MVV

If you want to visit the Netherlands for an uninterrupted period longer than 90 days, you should apply for an Authorization for Temporary Stay (MVV). This is a visa, on which you can travel to the Netherlands and subsequently apply for a residence permit. The decision on a MVV will be taken by the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) in the Netherlands after approximately three months.

MVV REQUIREMENTS

There are two ways to start the procedure for obtaining an Authorization for Temporary Stay (MVV):

Your sponsor in the Netherlands starts the MVV procedure by submitting a request for advice to the IND or

You can submit an application for an MVV to the Netherlands embassy.

If  you prefer to start the procedure at the Netherlands Embassy, you must first make an appointment through the Vodafone Visa Appointment Center.

On the day of your appointment you are requested to bring along with you the following documents:
For family reunification

• Completely filled out MVV application form 
• One passport sized photograph
• Valid passport
• Copies of passport including all pages with Schengen-visas
• Copy of passport of Dutch partner (holder’s page only)
• Proof of passing the Dutch Civic Integration test
• Legalized marriage documents or unmarried certificate plus official translation
• Legalized birth certificate plus official translation (not required for MVV but needed for subsequent registration in the Netherlands)

For highly skilled migrants

• Completely filled out MVV application form
• One passport sized photograph
• Valid passport
• Copies of passport including all pages with Schengen-visas
• Master’s degree or doctorate from a recognized Dutch institution of higher education listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Study Programmes (CROHO)

or

Master’s degree or doctorate from a non-Dutch institution of higher education which is ranked in the top 150 establishments in either a recent Times Higher Education list or the Academic Ranking of World Universities issued by Jiao Ton Shanghai University. This certificate or diploma must also be approved in advance by the NUFFIC (Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education). To obtain this approval, you need to send your documents to NUFFIC,  Postbus 29777, 2502 LT Den Haag, Netherlands. The documents should not be older than 3 years and in case they are in a language other than Dutch, English, French or German, they should be translated by a certified translator before they are submitted to NUFFIC.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on MVV procedures please visit the website of the IND (Immigration and  Naturalisation Service) at www.ind.nl/en/verblijfwijzer/ 

ORANGE CARPET

You may qualify for orange carpet treatment if the Netherlands embassy considers your visit to the Netherlands a valuable contribution to the relations between Egypt and the Netherlands, whether this is for business, official, cultural or other reasons.

Orange carpet treatment intends to facilitate the application procedure and allows the applicant to apply for a visa with minimal procedural requirements, within the overall Schengen guidelines.

These minimal requirements are:

• Completely filled out and signed visa application form (also available at the embassy)
• 1 passport sized photograph
• Copies of passport including all pages with Schengen-visas
• Payment of the visa fee: the equivalent of 60 euro to be paid in Egyptian pounds

Depending on your specific situation or request, the embassy may request for additional documents, such as:

• Supporting letter from your organization
• Supporting letter from the relevant authorities from Egypt and/or the Netherlands
• Invitation from the guarantor in the Netherlands
• Confirmation of a round trip booking. The ticket may be bought after the visa has been issued. 
• Proof of accomodation.
• Proof of adequate medical insurance for at least the duration of the journey
• Proof of adequate financial means: bank statements

The embassy may also exempt you from submitting or collecting visa in person at the Visa Section. The Orange Carpet treatment only applies to visas issued for the Schengen area. Applicants are urgently requested to submit their application well in time, more than two weeks ahead of the planned date of travel. The mandatory 12-day consultation period before a Schengen visa may be issued cannot be avoided in any case. Please also note that the validity of the visa cannot exceed a period of 3 months prior to the expiry date of the passport.