Foreign trade is of vital importance to the Netherlands. Therefore the Netherlands Government supports the Dutch business community and its foreign business partners, inter alia with regard to visa procedures for travel to The  Netherlands. The guiding principle in this connection should be that foreign trade relations should not be unnecessarily hampered by Dutch visa procedures.

The Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok now offers the business community in Thailand a fast-track visa procedure:  the ‘Orange Carpet’ Program . This simplified application procedure is applicable to employees of qualifying companies, immediate family members of these employees, and business partners of the qualifying companies concerned, when travelling to the Netherlands.

• Advantages for the business community
• Conditions for qualifying
• Applying for visa under the ‘Orange Carpet’ program.
• Required documents
• Timeframe of visa processing
• Further information

Advantages for the business community

• Multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to 3 years for business travellers who have obtained Schengen visa at the Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok in the past and who are frequent travellers to the Netherlands.
• Waiver of obligation to appear in person for business travellers who have already obtained Schengen visa at Netherlands Embassy in Bangkok earlier.
• Limited number of documents to be submitted.
• During the high season months (March to May) visa applications in the framework of the ‘Orange Carpet’  may be submitted through the following e-mail  ban-visa@minbuza.nl, clearly stating "Orange Carpet Application. In other months appointments for applications can be made through the  online appointment system.
• Speedy processing. Visas will be issued within two working days.

Conditions for qualifying

‘Corporate Members’ registered with the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce (NTCC) can apply for a visa under the ‘Orange Carpet’ program for their staff members, their family members (next of kin) and the business partners of these Corporate Members.

Applying for visa under the ‘Orange Carpet’ program.

First-time applicants are required to appear in person. For subsequent applications, a messenger will suffice to submit the visa application form, the required documents and visa fee(s). The messenger should produce a company letter signed by a member of staff authorised by that company, for the purpose of identification.

Required documents

1. A letter from the company sending the employee to the Netherlands. In the letter a reference should be made to the ‘Orange Carpet’ Program. The letter should further include the name of the applicant, his/her position within the company, as well as the purpose of travel of the employee and the address of the inviting company in the Netherlands.
2. A completed and signed visa    application form
3. Two (2) recent passport photographs.
4. A valid travel document. (Validity for at least six (6) months after the date of return to Thailand).
5. Visa handling fee: Eur 60, to be paid in local currency; check notice board at Embassy’s Visa Section for actual equivalent in Thai bath.
6. After approval, upon collection of your visa, you must provide the original travel/health insurance policy valid 1) for the Schengen area with a minimum coverage of 1,500,000 Baht (or 30.000 Euro) for medical expenses, including costs of repatriation and 2) for the entire period of the intended stay.

The Embassy at all times reserves the right to request additional documents and/or other supporting information.

Timeframe of visa processing

Visa applications in the framework of ‘Orange Carpet’ Program can be issued within two working days.

Further information

If you require additional information, please contact the Visa Section by e-mail:

 ban-visa@minbuza.nl

or call the Visa Call Centre (Tel: +66 2 3095240) from Monday to Thursday between 13.00 and 16.00 hrs. 

The ‘Orange Carpet’ program is subject to periodic review. Rules can be adjusted, if necessary.