Do I need a visa to enter the Netherlands?
If you wish to visit the Netherlands for a maximum of 90 days, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality. The visa allows you to travel freely within the Netherlands and other Schengen countries during a 180-day period. All symposium delegates travelling to the Netherlands must present a passport (or approved identity card for EU citizens) and many nationalities require a visa to enter the country. Delegates are encouraged to apply for visas early (at least two months before departure), and to ensure all requested documentation is submitted with the application for Schengen Visa (Visa C).  Applications must be submitted in person at the representation of the Netherlands in the respective countries or at a Schengen partner representation, if the Netherlands does not have representation in your country. Delegates are urged to contact their nearest Netherlands’ embassy or consulate as early as possible to determine where the application should be made and how long this process will take.

Where can I get information about visa?
You can find more information on visas and visa applications via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands. Find the Netherlands’ Embassy or Consulate in your country and contact them. You need to apply for a Travel Visa C (Tourist Visa). Travel Visa (Visa C) = If you intend to travel to the Netherlands as a tourist, to visit friends or on a business trip for a period not exceeding 90 days and your country does not participate in the Visa Waiver Programme, you need a Schengen travel visa (Visa C). This visa is not a work permit.

Invitation letter
One of the documents that you may need is an Invitation Letter. This Invitation Letter may prove useful, as it underlines the purpose of the participant’s travel to Leusden to attend the AVRD 2022, in case of doubt by the visa issuing authority. The AVRD 2022 Invitation Letter is not a guarantee that you will receive a visa. The letter will only state the symposium title, dates, location, payment confirmation of registration fees and, if applicable, that you are an invited speaker at the symposium. If you require an Invitation Letter, the Symposium Secretariat can provide this letter once registration and payment has been received.

Please inform the Symposium Secretariat of the address of the embassy (consulate) where you will be applying for the visa, along with your first name, last name, address, date of birth, nationality, passport number, date of passport issue and passport expiry date. This information will be included in the Invitation Letter. Your request will be processed as soon as possible, and the symposium Invitation Letter for your visa application will be e-mailed to you. Please note that mailing services (postal or courier, etc.) cannot be used for Invitation Letters. Please feel free to request an invitation letter which you can use for VISA purposes. However, this invitation does not constitute any financial obligation on behalf of the organisers for the registration fee, accommodation, travel costs or other budgetary matters. You can request the invitation letter by e-mail. Please note that we can only honour your request for a letter of invitation after you have completed your online registration and payment.

What if my visa application is denied?
If the visa application is denied by the Netherlands’ Embassy for whatever reason, the visa applicant usually receives an official statement that his/her application has been denied (without indication of the reason). As outlined below, if your visa application is denied, you will need to provide this official statement in order for your registration fee to be refunded!

If your visa application is denied, please send an e-mail to the symposium secretariat. Please inform us of the consulate (country, city) where you have applied for a visa and attach a high-quality colour scan of the official statement that your application has been denied, together with a scan of your passport personal data page. Please make sure that your passport number is clearly visible.

Provided the required documents are emailed to the symposium secretariat at least two weeks before the start of the symposium, your registration fee will be fully refunded. However, the organisers reserve the right to retain the registration fee in case of inadequate or false information.