Visa policy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean

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]

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.[7] 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.

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][8]

Furthermore, the following groups are exempted from the visa requirement:[4]

• Travelers transiting an airport in Aruba between 7:00 and 23:00, in Sint Maarten on the same day, and in the other territories for up to 48 hours (except nationals of Haiti transiting an airport in Curaçao);
• Travelers transiting by land from Sint Maarten to Saint Martin, holding a visa for Saint Martin (if required) and a hotel reservation;
• Cruise ship passengers for up to 24 hours in Aruba and 48 hours in the other territories;
• The crew of a ship or aircraft for up to 48 hours;
• Holders of a United Nations laissez-passer;
• Diplomats accredited to the whole Kingdom of the Netherlands;
• Holders of diplomatic, service/official and special passports of Tunisia and Turkey, holders of diplomatic and service/official passports of Bolivia, Georgia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malawi, Morocco and Thailand, holders of diplomatic and special passports of Peru, and holders of diplomatic passports of Chad, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal and Ukraine;
• Holders of a refugee travel document issued by the Netherlands, Canada or the United States.

Summary of visa exemptions

Country	Netherlands (Schengen)	Aruba and Caribbean Netherlands	Curaçao	Sint Maarten
EU single market	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen 'Annex II'[lower-alpha 1]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Peru	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
East Timor	Yes	No	No	No
Georgia	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
Ukraine	Yes	No	No	No
Vanuatu	Yes	No	No	No
Venezuela	Yes	Yes[lower-alpha 2]	Yes[lower-alpha 2]	Yes[lower-alpha 2]
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, Georgia, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Oceanian countries added since 2015 (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu).
2. Visa required from 1 April 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the visa requirement is suspended until further notice.[3][6]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Caribbean.

• Visa policy of the Schengen Area
• Dutch nationality law