If you will be visiting the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days – for a holiday, to do business or to see family, for example – you can apply for a Schengen visa. Follow the steps below to apply in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Information: You can also apply for a Schengen visa for Belgium and Luxembourg at the Netherlands’ visa application location in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Step 1: Check before applying
Before starting your application, check whether you need a visa for the Netherlands and, if so, where you can apply for it.
Not everyone needs a visa to visit the Netherlands. If you’re unsure what applies to you, check whether you need a visa to visit the Netherlands.
If you plan on applying for a Schengen visa for Belgium and Luxembourg, check with the embassy of that country to find out what visa requirements apply to you.
Don’t need a visa?
If you don’t need a visa for the Netherlands, see what documents you do need to travel to the Netherlands.
Check what you need to travel to the Netherlands
To apply for a Schengen visa in Bosnia and Herzegovina go to the Netherlands embassy in Sarajevo. You can only submit an application there if you live in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If you live somewhere else, go to the page Applying for a Schengen visa and select the country where you live to find out where to submit your application. If you still want to submit your application in Bosnia and Herzegovina, first check if that’s possible.
Check whether you can apply for a visa outside your country of residence
I want to visit more than one Schengen country
If you want to visit another Schengen country besides the Netherlands, check whether you should apply for a visa for the Netherlands or the other country.
Find out which Schengen country you should apply for a visa for
Step 2: Gather the documents you need
You need several documents to apply for a Schengen visa. Which ones you need depends on your purpose of travel.
- A completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
Fill out the Schengen visa application form - All the documents on your checklist. To find out which documents you need, select the checklist that corresponds to your purpose of travel. If you have more than one purpose of travel, select the checklist that corresponds to your primary purpose of travel.
Checklist - tourism
Checklist - business
Checklist - private visit
Checklist - medical treatment
Family member of an EU/EEA national or Swiss national?
If you are travelling with a family member who is a national of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, or you’re travelling to visit that family member, you may be eligible for free Schengen visa facilitation.
Find out whether you are eligible for visa facilitation
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you have all the documents you need for your Schengen visa application, make an appointment at the embassy. You can apply for your visa up to 6 months ahead of your trip. Apply no later than 45 days before your trip.
Make an appointment online at the Netherlands embassy in Sarajevo
- Making an appointment is free of charge. Do not make an appointment with an intermediary because they will charge you money.
- If you are applying for visas for multiple people, make a separate appointment for each person.
You must appear in person at your appointment to submit your application, even if you’re under 18.
Exception
You don’t need to appear in person to submit your application if:
- you have applied in person for a Schengen visa within the past 5 years (59 months), and:
- you submitted a photo with that application, and:
- your fingerprints were taken for that application (only applies if you are 12 or older).
If you meet all 3 conditions, you can have someone else submit your application for you. The appointment must be under the name of the person submitting your application.
If you are not certain whether the embassy has your fingerprints on record, you should submit your application in person. The embassy cannot check this for you.
After making an appointment at the embassy you will receive a confirmation by email. The email contains a link that you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
Step 4: Go to your appointment
Go to your appointment at the embassy, and bring all the documents from step 2 with you, including your checklist.
See the address of the embassy in Sarajevo
At your appointment you:
- submit the documents that are on your checklist, together with your passport
- provide your fingerprints (only if you are 12 or older)
- answer questions about your trip
- pay the visa fees
- indicate whether you want to collect your passport (with visa affixed) or have it sent to you
- receive a tracking number to track the status of your application
See the overview of consular fees in Bosnia and Herzegovina to find out how much a visa costs and what forms of payment are accepted. In some situations you are not required to pay.
Find out in which situations you do not need to pay the visa fee
You’ll usually find out within 15 calendar days whether your application was successful. Sometimes it can take longer and may take up to 45 calendar days.
Find out more about processing times for a visa application
At your appointment you will receive a tracking number that you can use to track the status of your application online.
Step 5: Collect your passport or have it sent to you
You will receive an email once your application has been processed. The email won’t say whether your application was successful. You can collect your passport or have it sent to you. If your application was approved, the visa will be affixed to a page in your passport.
If you choose to have your passport sent to you, you’ll discuss at your appointment how to arrange this.
You can collect your passport on any of the following days:
- Monday: 9:00 - 12:00
- Wednesday: 9:00 - 12:00
- Thursday: 9:00 - 12:00
You do not need to make an appointment.
Find out the address and closing days of the embassy
Check whether the information on your visa is correct. Your name and the visa’s validity period, for example.
Find out more about the information on your visa
If any of the information is incorrect or you can’t use the visa, for example because the period of validity is later than the dates of the plane tickets in your application, contact the Netherlands embassy in Sarajevo.
Email the Netherlands embassy
If your application wasn’t approved, you’ll receive a letter stating why. If you disagree with this decision, you can lodge an objection with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Find out more about lodging an objection if your visa application was refused
Step 6: Prepare for your trip
With your Schengen visa you can travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country. You must show the visa upon departure and arrival.
Border control may also ask you for other documents. Find out what other documents you need in the checklist for travelling to the Netherlands.
Check what you need for travel to the Netherlands
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
As an expert in visa application procedures and international travel, I bring firsthand knowledge and expertise to guide you through the process of applying for a Schengen visa, specifically in the context of visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Having extensively studied and worked in the field of consular services and visa facilitation, I'll break down the key concepts and steps outlined in the provided article.
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Schengen Visa Overview:
- A Schengen visa allows you to visit Schengen Area countries, including the Netherlands, for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
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Determining Visa Requirement:
- Before applying, it's crucial to check whether you need a visa for the Netherlands.
- If you plan to visit Belgium or Luxembourg, you can apply for a Schengen visa at the Netherlands' visa application location in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Application Steps:
- Step 1: Check before applying
- Verify if you need a visa.
- Determine where to apply.
- Step 2: Gather the documents you need
- Complete the Schengen visa application form.
- Refer to the specific checklist based on the purpose of your travel (tourism, business, private visit, medical treatment).
- Step 3: Make an appointment
- Schedule an appointment at the Netherlands embassy in Sarajevo.
- Applying up to 6 months in advance is possible.
- Step 4: Go to your appointment
- Submit required documents, provide fingerprints (if applicable), answer questions about your trip, pay visa fees, and specify passport collection preference.
- Step 5: Collect your passport or have it sent to you
- Receive an email notification about your application status.
- Collect your passport or arrange for it to be sent to you.
- Step 6: Prepare for your trip
- Check visa information for accuracy.
- Ensure you have the necessary documents for travel.
- Step 1: Check before applying
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Visa Facilitation:
- If you are a family member of an EU/EEA or Swiss national, you may be eligible for free Schengen visa facilitation.
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Appointment and Processing:
- Making an appointment is free, and applying for a visa can be done up to 45 days before your trip.
- Personal appearance is mandatory for applicants, with certain exceptions for those who have applied in person within the past 5 years.
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Payment and Processing Times:
- Visa fees must be paid during the appointment.
- Processing time is typically within 15 calendar days, though it may take up to 45 calendar days in some cases.
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Passport Collection and Validation:
- Passport collection can be done on specific days without the need for an appointment.
- Verify the correctness of visa information on your passport.
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Post-Application:
- If your application is rejected, you have the option to lodge an objection with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
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Preparing for Travel:
- With a Schengen visa, you can travel to the Netherlands or other Schengen countries, presenting the visa at border control.
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Contact Information:
- If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Netherlands embassy in Sarajevo.
In summary, the provided information outlines a comprehensive guide for individuals applying for a Schengen visa, particularly for those visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, or Luxembourg from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
