Netherlands visa for South African citizens

The Netherlands’ tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is consular.mfaservices.nl. Processing time, as the Netherlands states it: Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The Netherlands has 2 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Cape Town.

In 2025, the Netherlands’ embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town) received 21,622 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 20,631. The refusal rate was 3.0%. That is barely different from 2024 (2.9%). Applications fell by 11% compared with 2024 (24,333).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. the Netherlands’ consulates worldwide refused 17.7%. The Netherlands was the 4th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

Before travelling from South Africa to the Netherlands, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates the Netherlands at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 17 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to the Netherlands (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for the Netherlands (updated 13 October 2026).

How long South African citizens can stay in the Netherlands

How long South African citizens may stay in the Netherlands is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How South African citizens apply

In South Africa, applications go to the Dutch embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Cape Town, or to a visa centre acting for the Netherlands; fees, documents and processing times are published by the Netherlands.

the Netherlands and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by the Netherlands lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to the Netherlands when it is the main destination of the trip.

The Netherlands’ neighbours for South African citizens

Germany and Belgium require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Dutch citizens travelling to South Africa

No visa is needed by Dutch citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.