United Kingdom
Netherlands
Netherlands visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
British citizens can visit the Netherlands without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at netherlandsworldwide.nl
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Netherlands: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25,196 | 24,282 | 283 | 1.1% | 96.6% |
| 2024 | 27,726 | 26,700 | 414 | 1.5% | 97.3% |
| 2025 | 25,711 | 25,199 | 250 | 1.0% | 97.3% |
In 2025, the Netherlands’ embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 25,711 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 25,199. The refusal rate was 1.0%. That is barely different from 2024 (1.5%). Applications fell by 7% compared with 2024 (27,726).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year. the Netherlands’ consulates worldwide refused 17.7%. The Netherlands was the 5th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
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 the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
NetherlandsUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom 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.
British 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in the Netherlands
British 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 British 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 British citizens
Germany and Belgium admit British citizens visa-free.
Dutch citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Dutch citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for the Netherlands?
British citizens can visit the Netherlands without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in the Netherlands?
British 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 the United Kingdom?
Dutch citizens do not need a visa for the United Kingdom, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter the Netherlands visa-free?
Yes, British 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 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.