Inviting foreign business partners to the Netherlands
Do you want to invite a foreign business partner to visit your business in the Netherlands? If your visitor is from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, they may need a short-stay visa (Schengen visa), work permit, or residence permit. Find out what needs to be arranged.
What is the purpose of the visit?
The permits or visas your business partner needs depend partly on the purpose of their visit. For example, a short-stay visa for a business visit allows someone to come to the Netherlands temporarily for business-related activities. Examples include attending meetings, visiting suppliers, negotiating contracts, taking part in a training course, or attending a conference.
However, a business visit is not the same as working in the Netherlands. If your visitor will work for your company or provide services to a Dutch client during their stay, they may need a work permit or residence permit.
Will the stay be 90 days or less?
For a stay of up to 90 days, your visitor may need a short-stay visa. This depends on their nationality. Some nationalities are exempt from the visa requirement.
Use the visa adviser tool on Netherlands Worldwide to check whether your business partner needs a short-stay visa.
Invitation letter
If your business partner needs a short-stay visa, they will usually need supporting documents when applying for a business visit. This often includes an invitation letter from your business.
The invitation letter should include at least:
- who you are inviting
- the purpose of the visit
- how long the visit will last
- your company's contact details
Your business partner must include the invitation letter when applying for their visa at the Dutch embassy or consulate.
Read about the full list of requirements when arranging a business visit on ind.nl. You can also download and fill in a ‘proof of sponsorship’ form on this page. The form is in Dutch, English, and French.
Will your business partner work during their stay?
A short-stay visa for a business visit does not automatically allow someone to work for your business in the Netherlands.
If your visitor will work for your company or provide services to a Dutch client during their stay, different rules apply. They may need a work permit or residence permit. Which permit is required depends on the type of work and the visitor's nationality. Find out more about permits and visas for foreign employees.
Will the stay be longer than 90 days?
Different rules apply if your business partner will stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. Depending on their nationality and the purpose of their stay, they will usually need a residence permit. In some situations, they may also need a work permit.
Find out more about residence permits for work on ind.nl.