Are you thinking about leaving Russia now and coming to the Netherlands? Obviously, the situation is extremely difficult, but the basic rules for entering the country after the introduction of covid restrictions have not changed yet. If you already have a visa for the Netherlands or any of the Schengen countries, then you have the right to enter the Netherlands.
A prerequisite for entering is documentary evidence of full vaccination. Sputnik is still no good, but if you have made vaccines recognized in the EU countries, then you will be allowed into the country. List of vaccines and vaccination certificate information link.
Enter NL on a short stay visa
You can try to enter the Netherlands on a short stay visa. In some cases, the Dutch embassy will treat the request for such a visa more loyally. What are the categories of visa requests?
1. If you need a visa for work: you are a sailor, pilot, crew member or truck driver.
2. You can apply for a short-stay visa “for family reasons” if your close Dutch relatives, Russian relatives with a residence permit or relatives who are citizens of other EU countries now live in the Netherlands.
- you can come to visit your spouse;
- minor children of citizens of the Netherlands and those who live in the Netherlands with a residence permit can also apply for a visa;
- grandparents can visit their Dutch grandchildren;
- parents can visit a minor child from a previous marriage if he lives in the Netherlands.
Exceptions are made for such visits. Entry for these categories is possible even if they are not vaccinated with one of the vaccines recognized in the EU. Wrote more here.
3. Those who are in a long distance relationship with Dutch citizens or with citizens of other EU countries residing in the Netherlands will be able to visit their partner. This type of visa request is also one of the exceptions, and you will be able to enter the country even without a European vaccine. But you have to prove that you are in a relationship. Our consultants will tell you how to confirm the relationship when applying for a visa and entering the country.
4. There is a chance to get a visa from journalists and scientists, as well as from those who are going to take a short (up to 90 days) training here.
5. Medical reasons will also serve as a good reason if you need treatment or you are going to visit a seriously ill relative.
Move in for a long time
Do you want to move in for a long time? In this case, a short-stay visa is not enough, you need a residence permit. Our "The Migrant's Library" and section "Residence permit (temporary residence permit)" will answer many questions.
1. You can come to work as a highly qualified specialist (kennismigrant). Look for a job, go through correspondence interviews, and then the company that invited you as an employee will take care of the formalities. It has certain requirements of Dutch law, you need a license to import specialists, the correct documentation of your move is very important. If your potential employer needs help or is looking for a Payroll intermediary for this, then you can advise him to contact our partners, the company expatrix.
2. You can come to study. Requirements for admission to universities in the Netherlands in open access: look for information, choose a place of study, apply, pass the competitive selection and come! Dutch universities have not yet introduced restrictions for students. If you enroll, the university will help and guide you through the preparation of all documents. If you still have questions, our specialists are ready to consider your case individually. It must be borne in mind that education in the Netherlands is paid and quite expensive. But you can get grants to study at the university or continue your studies here (master's, postgraduate or PhD) after graduating from a Russian university. What about studying now? Only inter-university exchanges with Russia and academic inter-university developments have been stopped. Students continue their studies, many universities have even created special funds to support students from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
3. Another opportunity to obtain a residence permit - reunion with partner or family. You can come to your loved one, husband, wife and child, or get married / get married. Your partner must be Dutch, resident of the European Union or have a residence permit here. Procedures for different categories differ from each other, but there is such a possibility. Our lawyers know all the nuances of such a move.
4. You can also come here as an entrepreneur. It is possible to obtain a residence permit if you have sufficient business experience and need, for example, to transfer it to the Netherlands or develop a new direction for your business here. Read more - here to register:.
What documents to prepare before going?
There is only one principle here: “There are never too many documents!”. This is a boring, painstaking task, but it is important and will take time. What documents can you do without?
The most important thing is a passport. Check its validity period. If it ends soon, try to make a new one. If this is not possible, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country.
A number of documents require apostille. Take care of this in advance. What documents are required?
1. Birth certificate. Even if you already have a passport and you are over 18 years old.
2. If children will leave, especially with one of the parents, then the notarized consent of the second parent must also be with an apostille.
3. Certificate of marriage or divorce. An apostille is also needed for each certificate, even if there were several marriages and divorces.
4. Certificate of change of surname or name. If the surname or name changed not at the time of the conclusion or dissolution of the marriage, but by separate entries in the books of acts of civil status, then you will need a document confirming this. And it needs to be apostilled. If the name/surname has been changed several times, each certificate of such change of name/surname must be apostilled.
5. Certificate that you are not married / not married. You need it only if you are going to get married or get married in the next six months. The certificate is valid for six months, and we also apostille it.
Documents you may need in the Netherlands:
1. Education documents. In principle, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation puts an apostille on them: if you have the time and opportunity, you can apostille your diplomas and certificates of children. But this apostille is not mandatory.
2. Bank statement, tax return, certified certificate of tax deductions.
3. Driver's license. Highly skilled migrants will be especially lucky - they will be able to simply exchange Russian rights for Dutch ones.
4. Certificate of no criminal record. In the Netherlands, this is not the most requested document, but it is better to have it.
5. A certificate of registration at the place of residence in Russia will not be superfluous, especially if you are going to do your business from the first days.
6. If there are documents confirming your professional qualifications (certificates, advanced training diplomas, award certificates for inventions, for example), they will also not be superfluous.
Ideally, if your documents (except your passport, of course) will be translated, but in Russia this is not necessary. The translation can be made and certified already in Holland. There are many sworn translators in the Netherlands, and among our partners too.
In short, take with you all the documents that you have. If you have any questions, please ask! We'll try to help.
