Visa for the Netherlands from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: price, documents and processing time 2026

DRC citizens must hold a Schengen Type C visa for any tourist stay in the Netherlands. The visa is valid across the Schengen area, but the application must be lodged with the Netherlands when it is your main destination or first point of entry. It allows stays of no more than 90 days per 180-day period and confers no right to work.

• Government fee90 EUR
• Application centre feeCapped at €45
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Gather a passport valid for at least three months beyond your intended departure, the signed form, a recent photo, travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000, proof of accommodation and a return flight, plus evidence of sufficient funds. A host in the Netherlands can sponsor you using the official sponsor/guarantor form. The visa fee is typically €90 for an adult, excluding a service fee. Confirm the exact amount with the official source.

From the DRC, apply in Kinshasa through the Netherlands' mandated visa service provider (often VFS Global) or the competent consular post. The process and appointment run through the official Netherlandsworldwide portal. If your trip spans several Schengen countries, apply to the Netherlands only if it is your main destination or point of entry. The applicant must attend in person for biometrics.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If the Netherlands is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If the Netherlands has no consulate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing usually takes 15 to 45 days; submit at least three to four weeks before departure and up to six months ahead. A coherent, complete file speeds up the review. Present confirmed but refundable bookings and keep a copy of every document.

Refusals often stem from inadequate insurance, poorly documented funds, an incomplete sponsor form, or applying to the wrong Schengen country. Also check with the official source whether a yellow-fever vaccination certificate or other health requirements apply to travellers from the DRC.