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Netherlands

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
43,379
Top destination, 2023
Spain
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
14,762
UK visas issued, 2025
2,678
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
6.7%
NationalityNLISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<NLNETHERLANDS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
NL4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of the Netherlands need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from the Netherlands move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Spain8,956
  2. Germany7,550
  3. Belgium7,385
  4. Portugal3,177
  5. France2,341
  6. Sweden1,648
  7. Switzerland1,590
  8. United States1,500
  9. Japan1,387
  10. Denmark1,165
  11. Austria1,150
  12. Italy863
  13. Türkiye679
  14. South Korea676
  15. Norway639

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

22k44k200020032006200920122015201820212023
22k44k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200024,233
200127,356
200229,617
200328,621
200431,553
200536,443
200639,823
200740,584
200840,017
200933,028
201032,068
201131,583
201233,765
201339,040
201439,998
201544,418
201643,617
201744,356
201843,346
201944,259
202030,991
202140,593
202243,629
202343,379
Share going to the top destination
20.6%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in the Netherlands who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Belgium136,488
  2. Canada68,248
  3. Australia63,634
  4. Spain57,390
  5. Türkiye46,268
  6. France40,630
  7. Switzerland24,215
  8. New Zealand16,997
  9. Poland16,195
  10. Sweden15,864
  11. Curaçao14,772
  12. Italy13,193

Living abroad by year

316k631k19901995200020052010201520202024
316k631k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990482,951
1995500,299
2000515,256
2005560,613
2010597,525
2015594,329
2020599,736
2024631,391
Living abroad, 2024
631,391
Change since 2000
+22.5%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
21.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of the Netherlands by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B25,103
  2. J11,800
  3. C1/D1,455
  4. F11,254
  5. L1825
  6. B1592
  7. L2533
  8. A2484
  9. NATO6388
  10. O1301

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

11k23k201720182019202020212022202320242025
11k23k20172019202120232025
Data table
201715,062
201822,711
201921,624
202011,676
20215,033
202213,007
202314,615
202416,417
202514,762
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR173
  2. CR130
  3. E124
  4. IR518
  5. E216
  6. E39
  7. F47
  8. FX7
Immigrant visas, FY2025
206
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
76
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in the Netherlands who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of the Netherlands with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

6601,3202015201620172018201920202021202220232024
6601,320201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,310
20161,320
20171,060
20181,000
20191,270
2020960
20211,010
2022970
20231,210
20241,000
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens590
  2. Employment-based preferences370
  3. Family-sponsored preferences10
  4. Diversity visa lottery10
  5. Other classes10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)6,890
  2. Spouses and children3,790
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)3,150
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)1,180
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)630
  6. Other temporary workers570
  7. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)30
  8. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in the Netherlands)
1,000
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in the Netherlands)
880
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
754,810
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of the Netherlands (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in the Netherlands (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work1,552
  2. Study630
  3. Family258
  4. Visitor163
  5. Other75

Visas issued by year

1,3392,678201220162019202120232025
1,3392,678201220162019202120232025
Data table
20122
20131
20161
20184
20191
202094
20212,549
20222,576
20232,586
20242,359
20252,678
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
2,040
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of the Netherlands, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20252401,26528528520
20241651,43023037540
20231651,47034543570
20221251,25537039040
2021150770535500110
202023073515030080
20192001,255340565130
20181301,370390540145
20171551,545350495125
20162901,430335520100
20151851,105270535105
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of the Netherlands, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

4438852005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
4438852005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–06578
2006–07702
2007–08786
2008–09668
2009–10482
2010–11785
2011–12885
2012–13862
2013–14694
2014–15619
2015–16459
2016–17471
2017–18352
2018–19375
2019–20242
2020–21166
2021–22176
2022–23319
2023–24271
2024–25289
2025–26281
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills145
  2. Specialist Skills115
  3. Labour Agreement11
  4. Short-term7
  5. Medium-term3
Granted, 2025–26
281
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.4%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of the Netherlands living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

9771,9542012201420162018202220242025
9771,9542012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012917
2013953
20141,044
20151,129
20161,238
20171,351
20181,459
20191,595
20221,677
20231,805
20241,881
20251,954
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident437
  2. Student336
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National302
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services300
  5. Designated Activities214
  6. Dependent129
  7. Highly Skilled Professional37
  8. Business Manager33
  9. Professor22
  10. Intra-company Transferee21
Residents, December 2025
1,954
In work-related statuses
466
Share in work-related statuses
23.8%
Students
336
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in the Netherlands

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in the Netherlands, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Netherlands1,076966716.6%
Italy151416.7%
Bulgaria108110.0%
Germany4400.0%
Switzerland2200.0%
Poland2200.0%
Belgium20150.0%
Norway101100.0%

Applications by year

5561,1122009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5561,112200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009732
2010269
2011454
2012424
2013531
2014550
2015687
2016628
2017845
20181,010
2019803
2020326
2021351
2022897
20231,034
20241,112
Refusal rate, 2024
6.7%
Refusal rate, 2019
8.1%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of the Netherlands in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20251,4123324311870462
Sweden20252,1251501802,092
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202517769108
Austria20251,251936315
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark332
  2. Sweden15
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by the Netherlands, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

2,6125,2232000200320062009201220152018202120242025
2,6125,223200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000426
2001483
2002484
20031,121
20041,298
20051,259
20061,553
20071,630
20081,649
20092,809
20102,779
20113,217
20123,080
20133,276
20143,723
20153,276
20163,206
20173,417
20183,724
20193,673
20203,622
20213,957
20223,808
20234,315
20244,681
20255,223
Remittances received, 2025
US$5,223 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.4%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from the Netherlands

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Netherlands → Spain
  • Netherlands → Germany
  • Netherlands → Belgium
  • Netherlands → Portugal
  • Netherlands → United States
  • Netherlands → France
  • Netherlands → Sweden
  • Netherlands → Switzerland
  • Netherlands → Japan
  • Netherlands → Denmark
  • Netherlands → Austria
  • Netherlands → Türkiye
  • Netherlands → Australia
  • Netherlands → Canada
  • Netherlands → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more