Extend Schengen visa or visa-exempt period

Last update: 22 February 2023

You want to extend your Schengen visa or visa-exempt period. Find out what the requirements are and how you can apply for extension.

Extension to more than 90 days.

With a Schengen visa or visa-exempt period you may stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Do you want to stay longer because of a special and unexpected situation? Then your Schengen visa is only valid in the Netherlands after extension. You can extend your visa-exempt period for up to 90 days. You are not allowed to stay in the Schengen area for more than 180 days. 

Visa extension to more than 90 days for Surinamese people

Do you have the Surinamese nationality and are you aged 60 or older? Then you can extend your Schengen visa to more than 90 days 1 time per stay. You do not need a special reason. You can extend your Schengen visa for up to 90 days. After extension, your visa is only valid for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Requirements

These requirements apply when you want to extend your Schengen visa or visa-exempt period.

  • There is a special and unexpected situation in the Netherlands. It is not possible for you to leave the Netherlands because of serious illness, circumstances beyond your control or an important personal reason. You must explain why you want to stay longer.
  • Your current Schengen visa or visa-exempt period is still valid.
  • You have enough money to stay in the Netherlands and return. You have at least €55 per person per day for the duration of the stay. Or someone in the Netherlands is sponsoring you. In that case, that person is responsible for paying your costs.
  • You have (medical) travel insurance. It must also cover the extra period you will be staying in the Schengen area. Will you have medical treatment here? Then you must show that the insurance will pay the costs of the treatment. Or that you will pay the costs in another way.
  • Your passport will be valid for at least another 3 months by the newly planned departure date.
  • There are no signs that you have other reasons to extend your Schengen visa or visa-exempt period. For example that you actually want to live in the Netherlands illegally.
  • You are not working in a way that is not allowed under the Aliens Employment Act (in Dutch: Wet Arbeid Vreemdelingen).
  • You are no risk to public order and national security.
     

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for extension.

Show details Hide details
  • 1. Check requirements open minus
  • 2. Collect documents open minus
  • 3. Apply open minus
  • 4. Pay for application open minus
  • 5. Decision on application open minus

See also

Rules and regulations

Your Europe