Netherlands visa options for Australia passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free · up to 90 days
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Netherlands
Rules are written for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens enjoy free movement and do not need a visa or residence permit to live or work in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has no dedicated digital-nomad or remote-work visa; remote workers typically use the self-employed/DAFT route.
- Most nomadsTourist
Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C)
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period
- Insurance
- Requiredtravel medical insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 coverage including hospitalisation, emergency care and repatriation, valid across the Schengen area for the whole stay, is mandatory; the visa is refused without it.
- Good for
- Tourists, visitors to family/friends, and short business trips from non-EU countries whose nationals need a Schengen visa (visa-exempt nationals such as US, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia can enter without it).
- Requirement
- Valid passport, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds, return/onward travel and purpose of trip; biometrics at a Dutch consulate or visa centre.
- Business
Start-up Permit
1 year, after which holders can transition to the self-employed person permit
- Insurance
- RequiredDutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) once living in the Netherlands; sufficient means of support must also be shown.
- Good for
- Non-EU founders building an innovative business in partnership with a recognised Dutch facilitator (mentor).
- Requirement
- Innovative business plan, a recognised facilitator listed with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and proof of sufficient means of support; assessed by the IND together with RVO.
- Most nomadsWork
Highly Skilled Migrant Permit (Kennismigrant)
Up to 5 years (tied to employment contract), renewable; leads toward permanent residence
- Insurance
- Requiredonce living/working in the Netherlands and registered (BRP), residents must take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering), generally within 4 months of arrival.
- Good for
- Qualified professionals from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland with a job offer from an employer that is a recognised IND sponsor.
- Requirement
- Employment by a recognised IND sponsor meeting the gross monthly salary threshold: EUR 5,942 if 30+, EUR 4,357 if under 30, or the reduced EUR 3,122 rate for recent graduates (figures valid Jan-Jun 2026; excl. holiday allowance).
- Work
EU Blue Card
Tied to employment contract, renewable; counts toward long-term EU residence
- Insurance
- RequiredDutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) once living/working in the Netherlands, generally within 4 months of registration.
- Good for
- Highly qualified non-EU workers (typically with a relevant higher-education degree) employed in the Netherlands; an alternative to the national highly skilled migrant route.
- Requirement
- Qualifying job and gross monthly salary of EUR 5,942 (standard) or EUR 4,754 (reduced criterion for recent graduates), plus a recognised higher-education qualification (figures valid Jan-Jun 2026; excl. holiday allowance).
- Most nomadsWork
Self-Employed / Freelance Permit (incl. DAFT for US, treaty route for Japan)
DAFT permit issued for 2 years, renewable; standard self-employed permit also renewable; permanent residence possible after 5 years
- Insurance
- Requiredself-employed residents must hold Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) once registered/living in the Netherlands, generally within 4 months.
- Good for
- Non-EU entrepreneurs and freelancers, including remote workers (the Netherlands has no dedicated digital-nomad visa); US nationals use the easier Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) and Japanese nationals a comparable treaty route, while others face a points-based 'essential Dutch interest' test.
- Requirement
- Run a genuine business; the standard route requires meeting a points/Dutch-interest test, while DAFT requires a minimum business investment of approx EUR 4,500 kept in the company account at all times and registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK).
- Work
Orientation Year for Highly Educated Persons (Zoekjaar / Search Year)
12 months (non-extendable), with full unrestricted access to the Dutch labour market
- Insurance
- Requiredvalid health insurance covering medical costs in the Netherlands; if you take up work you must switch to Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering).
- Good for
- Recent graduates of Dutch institutions, graduates of designated top-ranked (top-200) foreign universities at bachelor's level or higher, and researchers, looking to find work or start a business.
- Requirement
- Apply within 3 years of completing a qualifying degree or research programme; no salary threshold during the year, and a subsequent highly skilled migrant permit uses the reduced salary criterion (EUR 3,122 in Jan-Jun 2026).
- Work
Working Holiday / Working Holiday Programme Permit
Maximum 1 year (non-renewable)
- Insurance
- Requiredhealth insurance covering the cost of healthcare in the Netherlands (including sanatorium/psychiatric care) valid for at least 12 months from entry is an explicit IND condition.
- Good for
- Young people (cultural exchange focus) from a fixed list of treaty countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay.
- Requirement
- Aged 18-30 at application, hold a return ticket or funds to buy one, sufficient means of support, and no prior Dutch exchange permit; annual country caps apply (2026 quotas already filled for several countries).
- Study
Student Residence Permit (with MVV entry visa)
Duration of the study programme (residence permit), with the MVV being a 90-day entry sticker; renewable while enrolled
- Insurance
- Requiredvalid health insurance covering medical costs in the Netherlands is mandatory; the type depends on whether the student works (Dutch basisverzekering if working 16+ hrs/week) or relies on private/student cover.
- Good for
- Non-EU/EEA students admitted to a recognised Dutch university or higher/vocational education institution.
- Requirement
- Unconditional admission from a recognised IND-sponsor institution and proof of sufficient funds (approx EUR 13,000 for one year, ~EUR 1,131/month per the 2026 IND amount); the university applies to the IND on the student's behalf.
- Residence
Permanent Residence / Long-Term EU Residence
Indefinite (permanent)
- Insurance
- Requiredholders are residents and must maintain Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering).
- Good for
- Non-EU nationals who have lived legally and continuously in the Netherlands, transitioning from a temporary permit to indefinite status.
- Requirement
- Generally 5 years of continuous legal residence on a valid non-temporary permit, sufficient stable independent income, and passing the civic integration exam (inburgering) at level A2 or holding an exemption.
Informational only, not legal/immigration advice; verify with the Dutch IND and your nearest Dutch embassy/consulate before applying. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Routes that depend on your nationality
Some of Netherlands’s long-stay routes are open only to citizens of specific countries. Here’s where a Australia passport stands:
Working Holiday residence permit (WHP/WHS)
You qualify — open to Australia passport holders
Cultural-exchange permit for young people aged 18-30 at time of application; max stay 1 year. Open only to nationals of the 9 bilateral partner countries confirmed by IND: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay. Annual quotas: 100/country for Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan; 200/country for Japan and South Korea (no published cap for Australia, Canada, New Zealand). 2026 slots for several countries already filled. Source: IND (ind.nl).
Self-employed residence permit under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)
Not open to Australia passport holders
US nationals only. Self-employment / entrepreneur permit; applicant is exempt from the standard IND/RVO points (scoring) system that applies to other nationalities. Requires a minimum business investment of typically EUR 4,500 (kept in the business), registration with the Chamber of Commerce, and falling within a treaty situation (trade, leading own business, or substantial capital). Permit usually valid 2 years and renewable; spouse may work freely. Based on the 1956 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. Source: IND (ind.nl).
Self-employed residence permit under the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty
Not open to Australia passport holders
Japanese nationals only. Self-employment / entrepreneur permit treated like DAFT: exempt from the IND/RVO points (scoring) system, with a minimum business investment of typically EUR 4,500 rather than proving essential interest to the Dutch economy. Based on the Dutch-Japanese trade agreement. Source: IND self-employed-person page (ind.nl), which restricts this treaty route to 'nationality of United States of America (US) or Japan'.
Self-employed residence permit under the EEC-Turkey Association Agreement (Ankara Agreement)
Not open to Australia passport holders
Turkish nationals only. As self-employed persons under the 1963 Association Agreement / standstill clause, Turkish nationals are exempt from the IND points (scoring) system; the RVO assesses only the business plan (financial soundness, market need, economic contribution). Turkish nationals and family members also get other favourable conditions (lower fees, reduced spouse marriage age of 18, no mandatory employer sponsor, faster work-permit exemption). Source: IND 'Turkish citizens and living in the Netherlands' (ind.nl).
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Netherlands, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Australia → Netherlands: frequently asked
- Do Australia passport holders need a visa to visit Netherlands?
- Visa-free · up to 90 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Australia passport holder live or work long-term in Netherlands?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Netherlands has 9 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Netherlands?
- Entry to Netherlands never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Netherlands visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.