USA ESTA Requirements for Citizens of the Netherlands

The American visa policy for international visitors details which entry permits are required by different nationalities for various purposes. Dutch visitors need to register with the ESTA if they are arriving by air or sea for short stays.

The US Department of Homeland Security introduced the ESTA in 2009 to travel to the United States for short term visits for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

Dutch passport holders are amongst the countries eligible to apply for the ESTA to travel to the US without needing a visa.

The US ESTA for Netherlands citizens is very advantageous compared to the standard visa application process. Dutch applicants can request an ESTA online from the comfort of their own home. You do not need to schedule an appointment at the US embassy in The Hague for an appointment, saving time and money in the process.

The ESTA, once approved, is valid for 2 years. Dutch passport holders holding an American ESTA are allowed multiple entries to the US. They are authorized to stay for 90 days with each entry during these 2 years.

If you wish to stay in the U.S. more time, you will have to apply for a visa at the U.S. embassy or its consulate in the Netherlands. If you enter the U.S. on ESTA, remember that you are not authorized to alter your immigration status inside the U.S. You will have to leave the country and apply for the visa at the U.S. Consulate.

The application process for the USA ESTA is very simple, straightforward, and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You need to provide the following personal information:

• Full name
• Home address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Emergency contact address and phone (optional)
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Citizenship
• Professional occupation

Next, you have to submit the following passport details:

• Passport number
• Passport issuance date
• Passport expiry date

You then finalize the questionnaire by answering the following health and security questions:

• Medical history
• Security background
• Any previous visits or stays in the United States of America

We strongly advise you to check all the information is true and accurate before submitting the form. Any mistake or typo could delay the approval or even lead to a denial of the ESTA if there are considerable inconsistencies between the form and your documentation.

The American Department of Homeland Security analyzes the applications once they receive them. The evaluation process is very quick and efficient and usually takes no more than 2 business days.

Once they confirm that the applicant meets the requirements and the authorization has been approved, they send a confirmation email. The ESTA is then automatically linked to the holder’s Dutch passport. Be sure to use the same passport for ESTA applications that you intend to use for travel to the U.S. if you are a citizen of more than one country.

Although you can apply for the ESTA up to 72 hours before departure, we advise applying in advance to avoid stress in the case of processing delays. Preferably as soon as you make your travel arrangements to the United States.

Visitors from the Netherlands are authorized to enter the United States with an ESTA without printing out a copy. The ESTA will be automatically viewed by border officials when the Dutch passport is scanned on arrival at air and land entry points. However, it is a good idea to bring a printed copy of the ESTA in case airline staff or border control officers ask to see it.

Dutch visitors should ensure their travel dates comply with their passport’s validity. It is also important not to stay more than 90 days per visit. Any violations of your immigration status in the U.S. may complicate your future travel to the country.

On the occasion where Dutch visitors might need to prolong their stay longer than the period granted, they can request an ESTA renewal. You should bear in mind that this option is only available outside the US. To obtain it, they must depart the country before re-entering with their renewed ESTA.

Note that if you already have an approved ESTA application that is valid for 30 days, you won’t be able to submit a new application. If any biographic information is not correct on the existing application or if any information has changed, then you must proceed with the new application.