South Korea
Netherlands
Netherlands visa for South Korean citizens
Entry requirement
South Korean citizens do not need a visa for the Netherlands: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at netherlandsandyou.nl
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Netherlands: visa decisions in South Korea
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 259 | 172 | 80 | 31.7% | 42.4% |
| 2024 | 445 | 386 | 41 | 9.5% | 27.2% |
| 2025 | 385 | 311 | 73 | 18.7% | 21.9% |
In 2025, the Netherlands’ embassy and consulates in South Korea (Seoul) received 385 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 311. The refusal rate was 18.7%. The refusal rate rose by 9.2 points from 9.5% in 2024, a sharp increase. Applications fell by 13% compared with 2024 (445).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 11.5% of the applications lodged in South Korea that year, from 3.6% at the consulates of Spain to 12.1% at those of France. the Netherlands’ consulates worldwide refused 17.7%. The Netherlands was the 5th most applied-for Schengen state in South Korea.
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 Korea, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Dutch citizens travelling to South Korea
NetherlandsSouth Korea Visa-free, 90 days South Korea visa for citizens of the Netherlands
Travel advice for the Netherlands
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South Korean citizens planning a trip to the Netherlands can compare how foreign ministries rate it: 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). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long South Korean citizens can stay in the Netherlands
South Korean citizens may stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days. Days in the Netherlands count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
the Netherlands and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of South Korean citizens in the Netherlands count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
The Netherlands’ neighbours for South Korean citizens
Germany and Belgium admit South Korean citizens visa-free.
Dutch citizens travelling to South Korea
No visa is needed by Dutch citizens for South Korea, for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between South Korea and the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Do South Korean citizens need a visa for the Netherlands?
South Korean citizens do not need a visa for the Netherlands: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can South Korean citizens stay in the Netherlands?
South Korean citizens can stay in the Netherlands for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Dutch citizens need a visa for South Korea?
No visa is needed by Dutch citizens for South Korea, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South Korean citizens enter the Netherlands visa-free?
Yes, South Korean citizens can enter the Netherlands without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.