Change Schengen visa from single-entry to multiple-entry

Last update: 5 September 2023

You are in the Netherlands with a valid short-stay type C visa. This visa allowed you to enter the Schengen area once. However, you have to enter and exit the area with your visa more often. Find out how you can change your Schengen visa from a single-entry to a multiple-entry visa.

Who can apply to change a visa to multiple-entry?

You are in the Netherlands with a valid single-entry type C Schengen visa. This visa was only valid for 1 entry into the Schengen area (single-entry). Because of an unexpected and special situation, you must enter and exit the Schengen area more often. So you want to change your visa to enter the area more often (multiple-entry).

Requirements

To change your visa from single entry to multiple entry, these requirements apply:

You now have a single-entry Schengen visa (type C). You got this visa from the Netherlands or another country in the Schengen area.
A new, special and unexpected situation has arisen. It concerns one of these situations.
- Circumstances beyond your control. This means you cannot do anything about the situation.
- Important humanitarian reasons. These are reasons which threaten the basic needs of a person.
- Important serious reasons which have to do with your work.
- Important personal reasons.
When you applied for the visa, you did not yet know that you had to enter the Schengen area multiple times.
You will use the visa for the same purpose for which you received it.
You will not stay in the Schengen area with the multiple-entry visa for longer than it now says on your single-entry visa. For example, you now have a single-entry visa for 4 weeks. You will still stay no more than 4 weeks in the Schengen area with the multiple-entry visa.
You will not stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days out of a 180-day period.
Your passport is valid for at least 3 months on the planned departure date.
You still have enough money to pay for the costs of your stay in the Schengen area.
You have (medical) travel insurance in your name. This insurance is valid in the Schengen area for all the time you are in the Schengen countries. The insurance provides medical cover of at least € 30,000. Your insurance will in any event cover these costs:
- cost of returning home for medical reasons;
- urgent medical care;
- emergency hospital treatment.
It must be certain that you will be admitted to your own country or to another country where you are allowed to stay legally.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the process to change your Schengen visa.

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1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus
You need these documents for the application:
- Your valid passport.
- Documents explaining why you want to change your visa. The documents must show that there is a special and unexpected situation. For example a statement by a medical specialist or family doctor, death notice, or an invitation from a company.
- Evidence that you have enough money: at least €55 per day. Or you have someone to sponsor you. The person who sponsors you meets the income requirements.
- Proof of medical travel insurance. This can be policy document or insurance card.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

Make an appointment at an IND desk to have your visa changed. Call the IND for an appointment.

Come to the appointment yourself

You must come to the appointment yourself. Are you younger than 18 years old? Then your parent or guardian must come with you to the appointment.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 30,00.

You must pay the costs during the appointment at the IND desk.
5. Decision on application open minus
You must bring the documents to the desk on the day of your appointment. The IND will assess your application immediately. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get the multiple-entry Schengen visa. The IND staff member will place the new visa in your passport. This is still a type C Schengen visa.
- Negative decision: the IND will not change your visa into a multiple-entry visa. You can object to this decision. Then ask the IND staff member to write down the rejection in a letter. You will receive the letter with the negative decision within 2 weeks. The letter says how you can object.

The multiple-entry visa

Find out what else you need to know about the multiple-entry visa.

Validity

The multiple-entry visa is valid for 1 year up to a maximum of 5 years. The visa is never valid for longer than your passport.

Duration of stay in Schengen

Your multiple-entry visa is valid as long as your single-entry visa was valid. Was your single-entry visa valid for 4 weeks? Then you can stay up to 4 weeks in the Schengen area with the multiple-entry visa. You can divide these 4 weeks between several entries.

The maximum time you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area is always 90 days within a 180-day period.

Working

The same rules for working in the Netherlands apply to a single-entry visa and a multiple-entry visa.