Netherlands Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen in 2023

If you are a Yemeni citizen, you will need a visa in order to travel to the Netherlands. While you could apply for a basic Netherlands visa for a Yemen passport holder, your best option is to apply for a Schengen visa to the Netherlands. A Netherlands Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen will allow you to enter the Netherlands and also travel throughout the rest of the 26 Schengen countries, which include Germany, France, and Italy. If you receive a Schengen visa, you will be able to spend up to 90 days in the Netherlands/the Schengen area. At the moment, applying for a short-stay Schengen visa in Yemen is not possible due the current security situation in the country. However, you can still apply for the Schengen visa for Yemenis in 2023 outside of the country. Today’s blog will provide an overview of the Schengen Netherlands visa application process. Learn how to apply for a Schengen visa for Yemen citizens by following the step-by-step guide below. This blog will also provide detailed information on the requirements for the Schengen Netherlands visa for a Yemen passport holder; learn where to submit your application, how much your visa will cost, and other essential information that will guide your application process.  

How do I apply for a Yemeni Schengen visa?

• The Netherlands visa application process is mainly online, but also includes some in-person requirements. 
• Applicants for the Schengen visa for Yemenis in 2023 can follow these general steps to apply for their Schengen visa to Netherlands (click on the links for more detailed information about each step):
  • 1. Choose when to travel (and therefore when to apply).
  • 2. Select your Schengen visa “type“.
    • There are multiple Schengen visa types available for Yemeni passport holders; the type that you select should reflect your primary reason for traveling to the Netherlands. 
    • For example, if you are traveling to the Netherlands in order to visit a relative there, you should apply for a “Visiting Family and Friends” Schengen visa. If you are a Yemeni student traveling to Holland in order to attend school in the country for a short-term stay of up to 90 days, you should apply for a “Student” Schengen visa. 
    • For a complete list of Schengen visa types, please click here.
  • 3. Select your Schengen visa “entry category”.
    • There are three different Schengen visa entry categories: single, double, and multiple. The one you select will determine the amount of times (if at all) you can re-enter the Netherlands after leaving the Schengen area during your visa validity period. 
    • Keep in mind that Schengen visas are valid for up to 90 days; many Yemenis choose to stay in the Netherlands/Schengen area for that entire period, without exiting the zone. However, 90 days is a long time, and some Yemenis find themselves needing to leave the zone to attend commitments in their country of residence (before ultimately returning to the Netherlands to serve out the remaining time on their visa).    
    • If you have a single-entry Schengen visa, you will only be able to enter the Netherlands one time with your visa (this means that if you leave the Schengen area after you enter it, you will be denied re-entry). 
    • If you have a double-entry Schengen visa, you will be able to re-enter the Netherlands after exiting it one time (this means that you can return to the Netherlands if you exit the Schengen area, but only once—if you exit the zone a second time, you will not be allowed to return to it (for a theoretical third time). 
    • If you have multiple-entry Schengen visa, you will be able to enter, exit, and re-enter the Netherlands as many times as you want throughout your visa validity period. Because it places no limits on the number of times you can enter and exit the zone, the multiple-entry Schengen is the most flexible and coveted visa entry category. 
  • 4. Determine where to apply.
  • 5. Gather your required documents.
  • 6. Access your Schengen visa application (here).
  • 7. Schedule your Schengen visa appointment.
  • 8. Attend your Schengen visa appointment.
  • 9. Await your decision.

What are the Schengen visa requirements for Yemenis?

• Broadly speaking, the Schengen visa requirements for Yemen citizens include the following.
  1. Completion of online application. 
  2. Submission of the required documents. 
  3. Payment of Schengen visa fees (80 EUR for most applicants). 
  4. Submission of biometric information (photos and fingerprints). 
  5. Attendance of Schengen visa appointment. 
• These requirements will be explained in detail below.

Where do I apply for my Yemeni Schengen visa to the Netherlands?

• Where to apply for a Netherlands visa depends on your current location. However, wherever you are, you will apply for your Schengen visa at a Dutch embassy or consulate (or visa application center). Occasionally, depending on your location, you may have to apply through another country’s embassy/consulate that is responsible for processing Schengen visa applications to the Netherlands. 
• In the past, Yemenis living in Yemen applied for their Schengen visa to the Netherlands at the Dutch Embassy in Sana’a. However, because of the current conflict in Yemen, most European countries no longer have a consular presence in the country (the Dutch Embassy in Yemen’s capital has been closed for some time now). Applying for a short-stay Schengen visa in Yemen is therefore no longer possible. Because Yemenis in Yemen who need a Schengen visa to the Netherlands can no longer apply from within the country, they must apply through the Dutch Embassy in Amman, Cairo, or Muscat (Jordan, Egypt, or Oman, respectively). 
• Therefore, if you are outside of Yemen, you will need to identify the embassy, consulate, or visa application center in your location that is responsible for processing Schengen visas for Yemen to the Netherlands. This is where you will ultimately submit your application.

What documents do I need to submit for my Schengen visa to the Netherlands ?

• Applying for the Netherlands Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen requires the submission of the following documents and materials:
  • Yemeni passport.
  • Two passport photos.
  • Basic Netherlands Schengen visa application form (accessible online here).
  • Proof of subsistence (i.e. evidence that you can financially afford your trip to the Netherlands).
  • Proof of accommodation (i.e. evidence that you have a place to stay in the Netherlands once you arrive). 
  • Proof of return (i.e. evidence that you intend to the leave the Netherlands before your visa expires). 
  • Proof of travel medical insurance form (i.e. evidence that you have purchased insurance which will cover you in the event that you have a health emergency requiring medical care in the Schengen area).
  • Supplemental documents.
    • You will likely have to submit additional supplemental documents, which will depend on the “type” of Schengen visa you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a “Visiting Family and Friends” visa, you will need to include an invitation letter from the relative/friend inviting you to the Netherlands. 
• Please note that you may be asked to submit translations of documents you hand in that are not already written in Dutch, English, German, or French. For example, if you submit an invitation letter from a friend inviting you to the Netherlands that is written in Arabic, you will likely have to include a translation of it into one of the above languages in order for it to be accepted. 

How do I access the Schengen visa application for Yemenis?

• The Netherlands has an online portal for Schengen visa applications. You can access the Netherlands Schengen visa application form here.
• Click the above link and select your “country of application.” Follow the steps and fill out the personal and travel information requested (most applicants need only half-an hour to fill out this form).
• Once you have filled out and submitted the online application, you will print a copy of it, which you will hand in with the rest of your required documents. 

How much does it cost to apply for a Yemeni Schengen visa to the Netherlands ?

• The Netherlands visa fees for Yemenis are 80 EUR. However, certain applicants—such as students, diplomats, and other types of persons—may be exempt from having to pay the complete amount (or be eligible for reduced fees). 
• Please keep in mind that the above 80 EUR may not be inclusive of other fees related to processing and biometric data collection. 
• To see whether you might be able to pay less, click here.

When should I apply for Yemeni Schengen visa to the Netherlands?

• Most applicants are advised to apply for a Schengen visa a minimum of 15 days prior to when they need to travel (this is because the processing time for most Schengen visas is two weeks). 
• However, due to the current situation in Yemen and the heightened travel restrictions Yemenis often experience, Yemenis are advised to apply well in advance of the traditional 15-day window. Therefore, ideally, you should apply for the Schengen visa for Yemen citizens several weeks before you need to travel to the Netherlands. 
• Finally, keep in mind that while it’s good to plan ahead, Yemenis should avoid submitting Schengen visa applications to the Netherlands earlier than three months prior to when they intend to travel (as Holland will not accept applications submitted so far in advance). 

What happens at my Schengen visa appointment?

• Your Schengen visa appointment is where you will fulfill your in-person Schengen visa requirements. These include the following:
  • Official submission of application
    • Even though you will submit the Netherlands Schengen application form online, you will need to bring a paper copy of the application with you to your Schengen visa appointment. 
  • Biometric data collection
    • When you attend your visa appointment, you will have your photograph taken and your fingerprints collected for security and identification purposes. This information will remain in the Schengen Security System for up to five years, meaning that if you apply for another Schengen visa within that period you will not need to re-submit it.
  • Payment of Schengen visa fees
    • See above section on “how much does it cost to apply” for more information on Netherlands visa fees for Yemenis.
  • Attendance of Schengen visa interview
    • Your visa appointment will also likely include a short interview, which will involve you answering basic personal questions about yourself and your trip. 
• Please note that you will have to call ahead to schedule your Schengen visa appointment well in advance (meaning you cannot simply show up at your application destination and expect to be allowed to submit your application). Contact the embassy/consulate you are applying to for information on how to make a visa appointment.  

What happens after I submit my Yemeni Schengen visa application to the Netherlands?

• Once you have attended your Schengen visa appointment and formally submitted your application, you will have completed all of the Schengen visa requirements for Yemen citizens and residents (unless you are contacted by the embassy/consulate to provide additional information). 
• After your visa appointment, the only thing left for you to do is await your decision. Most applicants receive a decision in 15 days, however, as previously discussed, Yemeni application often take longer to be processed (keep in mind that embassies can take anywhere from 30-60 days to return a visa decision. 
• Once you receive a decision (usually in the form of an email) you will also be instructed on how and when to pick up your Schengen visa to the Netherlands (which will be pasted into your Yemeni passport). 
• Once you retrieve your visa, you can make your way to the Netherlands! 

What happens if my Yemeni Schengen visa application to the Netherlands is rejected?

• If your Schengen visa for Netherlands is rejected, you have the right to appeal the decision within four weeks (of receiving it). All rejected Schengen visa applicants will receive information about where to send their appeal.   
•  Yemenis who are looking to appeal a rejected visa should write a letter to the Netherlands’ Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), explaining their reason(s) for believing that their rejection was wrongful. To support your argument, you may submit additional materials alongside your letter.   
• For general guidelines on appealing rejected Schengen visas, please click here.

For personalized guidance on applying for a Schengen visa to the Netherlands as a Yemeni, please contact us here.