Everything you need to know about a visa
If you regularly take business trips or book many business trips outside Europe for your colleagues, you are probably familiar with applying for visas. But what exactly is a visa? When do you need a visa? And what are important points to look out for? Keep on reading!
What is a visa?
A visa is an official permission to enter and stay in a certain country, whether for business or not. You get this document from the country or embassy of your destination.
When do you need a visa?
This depends on your destination and your personal situation. If you are from the Netherlands and traveling with a Dutch passport within Europe, you do not need a visa. This is because you can travel freely within Europe with a Dutch passport. Outside Europe, other rules apply that may differ per country. It is smart to check regularly whether a visa is required, because these rules can change. At the departure airport, there is always a check to see if you have the right documents with you. If your documents are not in order, you may be refused entry for your flight or upon arrival in the destination country. Therefore, it is important to always check carefully before departure what documents you need.
Helpful tips from practice
- If you regularly arrange flights and accommodations for colleagues who do not live in Europe, or for colleagues who have passports issued by a country outside Europe, always check whether they need a Schengen visa for the Netherlands or Europe. It is common for people to be stopped at the departure airport because of missing visa documents.
- For many destinations outside Europe, a passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your scheduled return date. It happens frequently that travelers are denied boarding for flights because of passport validity. Therefore, always check the validity of your passport well in advance.
- If you are traveling to a country that requires a visa, make sure your passport has at least 2 blank pages. Although a visa may only require one page, there should still be pages available for entry and exit stamps.
- Finally, consider applying for a business passport if you often travel to countries that require visas. A business passport has more pages than a regular passport, allowing you to use it longer.
In short, it is advisable to check before each trip what documents are required and what rules apply to entering your destination.
Want the latest and most up-to-date information you need to travel safely and well advised? We partner with the CIBT. They have over 50 years of experience in processing proper international travel documents. In addition, they have a worldwide network so they are aware of the most current visa regulations of the country you are traveling to. Apply for it yourself directly through CIBT's Uniglobe portal and receive a €10 discount on the brokerage fee. via this link.
Looking for tips & inspiration for your next business travel destination? Then be sure to take a look on our blog page. Booking your next business trip? We are happy to help you with all your business travel requests.
Travel Well!
Bea Pors
Business Travel Consultant
