Dutch Honorary Consulate in Spain
Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao
Find the address, telephone number and official contact information for the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao, Spain. Learn about the honorary consul, Dutch representation in northern Spain and where Dutch nationals can apply for passports, identity cards and other consular services.
Contact Information
Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao – Contact Details
1st Floor
48001 Bilbao
Spain
Paseo de la Castellana 259-D
Torre Emperador, Floor 36
28046 Madrid
Spain
Important: the Dutch honorary consul in Bilbao is not a regular application centre for Dutch passports, identity cards, visas or consular certificates. For formal consular services, follow the relevant NetherlandsWorldwide procedure or contact the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid.
Location
Where Is the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao?
The Netherlands maintains honorary consular representation in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the honorary consulate at Alameda de Mazarredo 9, 1st Floor, 48001 Bilbao.
Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque Country and an important commercial, cultural and transport centre in northern Spain.
The city is associated with international trade, maritime activity, financial services, advanced industry and tourism.
The honorary consulate provides a local contact for appropriate representative enquiries involving Dutch interests.
The Netherlands government’s individual mission page confirms Bilbao as the honorary consul’s city but does not specify a complete visitor street address in its contact details.
Before visiting, call +34 944 354 552 or use the contact form on the official Netherlands and You mission page to confirm the correct meeting location.
Visiting advice: confirm the current address and availability before travelling. Regular public opening hours are not published on the official individual mission page.
About
About the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao
Silvia Asenjo Villa is the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands in Bilbao. The Dutch government lists her as Silvia Asenjo, while the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes her full name.
The Spanish consular directory records 27 January 2023 in connection with her honorary consular appointment.
The honorary consulate forms part of the Netherlands‘ wider network of diplomatic and honorary representation in Spain.
Relations Between the Netherlands and Northern Spain
The Netherlands and Spain maintain close diplomatic, economic and cultural relations. Both countries belong to the European Union and NATO and cooperate through numerous European and international institutions.
Bilbao is an important business centre with a history of shipping, manufacturing, industrial innovation and commercial activity.
Its port and transport connections support international economic relationships with other European countries, including the Netherlands.
Dutch and Spanish businesses, universities and other organisations may cooperate in areas such as logistics, technology, energy, research and trade.
Dutch nationals may also visit Bilbao for holidays, business, education or family reasons. Others live in the city or elsewhere in northern Spain.
The honorary consul can support appropriate local relationships and representative contacts involving Dutch interests.
The Role of an Honorary Consul
An honorary consul performs a different role from an ambassador or a career consular officer working at an embassy or consulate-general.
Honorary consuls may help maintain business and institutional connections, facilitate appropriate introductions and support local representative activities.
They may also provide initial guidance to Dutch nationals in situations that fall within their responsibilities.
However, an honorary consul does not automatically possess the same authority or offer the same services as a professional consular department.
The Dutch government’s mission guidance directs applicants requiring passports, identity cards, visas or official certificates to the responsible Dutch authorities.
The honorary consulate in Bilbao is therefore not a regular application location for these documents.
Consular Services
Dutch Consular Services in Bilbao and Spain
Passports and ID Cards
Apply through the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid, VFS Global in Madrid or Barcelona, or another authorised application location.
Certificates and Legalisation
Use the appropriate NetherlandsWorldwide procedure for Dutch consular certificates and document legalisation.
Emergency Assistance
Contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the Dutch embassy in Madrid for urgent consular assistance.
Applying for a Dutch Passport or Identity Card
Dutch nationals who live in Spain can apply for a Dutch passport or identity card at authorised application locations.
These include the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid and VFS Global application centres in Madrid and Barcelona.
The honorary consul in Bilbao does not accept regular Dutch passport or identity card applications.
Start with the official passport and identity card application guide for Spain.
Complete the NetherlandsWorldwide questionnaire to create a personal checklist of documents needed for your application.
Each applicant must have a separate checklist, including children and other family members.
Appointments at the Embassy in Madrid
The Dutch embassy in Madrid accepts passport and identity card applications by appointment.
Before booking, collect all documents listed in your personal checklist and make sure they meet the official requirements.
If you are applying for both a passport and an identity card, book a separate appointment for each document.
Every applicant must attend the appointment in person, including children.
The embassy advises that appointments can become fully booked. If no appointment is available, check the booking system again or consider another authorised application location.
After booking, you will receive an appointment confirmation by email.
If travelling from Bilbao, check the embassy’s closing days and confirm your appointment before arranging transport.
Applying Through VFS Global
VFS Global operates Dutch passport and identity card application centres in Madrid and Barcelona on behalf of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These centres are external application services and are separate from the honorary consulate in Bilbao.
When applying through VFS Global, it is mandatory to complete the passport or identity card application form online.
After completing the form, print and sign it according to the instructions.
VFS Global may charge additional service fees and operates its own appointment procedures.
Check the relevant application centre’s current requirements before travelling.
Walk-In Applications at VFS Global
NetherlandsWorldwide publishes walk-in application periods for VFS Global in Spain.
For Madrid, the published walk-in period is:
- 14:00–18:00.
For Barcelona, the published walk-in periods are:
- 09:00–13:00.
- 14:00–18:00.
Walk-in applications are subject to additional eligibility and admission requirements.
Check the VFS Global instructions before travelling without an appointment.
Important: these walk-in periods apply to the VFS Global passport application centres. They are not the opening hours of the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao.
Documents Required for an Application
Your personal NetherlandsWorldwide checklist provides the exact requirements for your application.
Depending on your circumstances, documents may include:
- A completed, printed and signed passport or identity card application form.
- Your printed personal checklist.
- All current and expired Dutch passports and identity cards.
- Foreign passports or identity cards, where applicable.
- Acceptable evidence of legal residence in Spain.
- Birth or marriage certificates when required.
- Documents relating to nationality or family circumstances.
- Legalised supporting documents or translations when applicable.
- Parental or guardian consent documents for minor applicants when required.
- A passport photograph meeting Dutch standards.
Bring all documents listed on your personal checklist. An application may not be accepted if required documents are missing.
Proof of Legal Residence in Spain
Dutch nationals living in Spain may need to prove legal residence when applying for a passport or identity card.
NetherlandsWorldwide identifies a recent certificado de empadronamiento as an accepted form of evidence under the Spain-specific procedure.
If the municipal registration certificate does not state the applicant’s nationality, additional evidence of EU registration may be required.
The exact requirements depend on personal circumstances and the checklist.
Check whether your municipal registration document is sufficiently recent before attending the appointment.
Passport and Identity Card Applications for Children
Children must attend passport and identity card application appointments in person, including infants.
For a Dutch passport application for a child under 18, parental or guardian consent requirements apply.
For a Dutch identity card application for a child under 12, consent requirements also apply.
If a parent or guardian whose consent is required cannot attend, the official procedure explains how to provide the signed consent declaration and a dated, signed copy of identification.
Prepare the child’s individual checklist before booking an appointment.
Lost or Stolen Documents and VFS Global
Special restrictions apply to some replacement applications when a Dutch passport or identity card has been lost or stolen.
If you have no copy of the missing travel document and no other valid Dutch travel document, you cannot submit the replacement application through VFS Global.
In this situation, NetherlandsWorldwide directs applicants to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid.
If you have urgent travel plans, contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the embassy before booking an ordinary replacement appointment.
Applying at a Dutch Border Municipality
Dutch nationals living outside the Netherlands may also be able to apply for passports and identity cards at participating Dutch border municipalities.
Not every Dutch municipality accepts applications from residents abroad.
Participating municipalities have their own appointment procedures, fees and collection arrangements.
This may be a suitable alternative if you are planning to travel to the Netherlands.
Check eligibility and available appointments before making travel plans.
Collecting Your New Passport or Identity Card in Madrid
If you apply at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid, the embassy will email you when your new document is ready.
The published collection periods are:
- Monday: 09:00–09:30.
- Tuesday: 14:00–14:30.
- Thursday: 14:00–14:30.
- Friday: 09:00–09:30.
No separate appointment is required for collection during these periods.
Check the embassy’s official closing days before travelling.
Your new passport or identity card must be collected or dispatched within three months after notification that it is ready.
Documents not collected or dispatched within that period are destroyed.
Courier Delivery of Dutch Travel Documents
Courier delivery may be available for certain newly issued Dutch passports in Spain.
The Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid identifies MRW as a courier option.
Delivery arrangements depend on the type of document, the issuing location and the applicant’s circumstances.
New Dutch identity cards usually cannot be sent by courier under the regular embassy procedure.
Ask about courier delivery during your application appointment, because it may not be possible to arrange the service afterwards.
If you live outside Spain but submit your application there, your new passport cannot be sent to another country under the regular procedure.
If you apply through VFS Global, check with the relevant centre about collection and delivery arrangements.
Before arranging delivery: confirm whether your new document is eligible for courier delivery and whether your existing passport must be surrendered before dispatch.
Keeping Your Existing Passport or Identity Card
NetherlandsWorldwide explains that you may retain your current passport or identity card temporarily if you need it while a replacement application is being processed.
When collecting your replacement in person, you must surrender the document being replaced according to the issuing authority’s procedure.
For certain courier arrangements, the existing document must be returned before the new passport can be dispatched.
If your current passport contains a valid visa or residence permit, inform the application staff before it is cancelled.
Legalisation of Signatures and Documents
Dutch nationals living in Spain may require the legalisation of a signature or an official copy of an identification document for administrative or legal purposes.
These services are subject to different procedures depending on the type of document and the receiving authority.
Consult NetherlandsWorldwide to determine which services are available through the Dutch embassy in Madrid.
The honorary consul in Bilbao does not operate a regular public application service for legalisation.
Certificates of Residence and Marital Status
Dutch nationals living in Bilbao or elsewhere in northern Spain may require an official certificate for pension, employment, family or administrative matters.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include a certificate of residence, marital status or legal capacity to marry.
Different certificates have different supporting-document and application requirements.
For appropriate consular enquiries, the Dutch embassy in Madrid can be contacted at mad-ca@minbuza.nl.
Check the relevant NetherlandsWorldwide instructions before submitting personal documents.
Visa Applications
The Dutch honorary consul in Bilbao does not accept visa applications.
Spain and the Netherlands are both members of the Schengen Area, but visa or entry procedures may still apply in certain circumstances.
The correct application route depends on nationality, residence status, destination and purpose of travel.
Consult NetherlandsWorldwide for the appropriate Dutch visa category and authorised application location.
The honorary consul cannot independently issue or approve Dutch visas.
Appointments
Appointments and Emergency Assistance in Bilbao
For appropriate local representative, economic, community or institutional enquiries, contact Honorary Consul Silvia Asenjo Villa.
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists +34 944 354 552 as the honorary consulate’s telephone number.
The Dutch government’s individual mission page also provides an official contact form for enquiries.
Confirm the current visiting arrangements and the purpose of your meeting before travelling to the listed address.
Lost or Stolen Dutch Travel Documents in Bilbao
If your Dutch passport or identity card is lost or stolen while visiting Bilbao or elsewhere in Spain, contact NetherlandsWorldwide for guidance.
First determine whether an emergency travel document is necessary for your planned journey.
If you intend to travel by plane, train, bus or ferry, ask your transport operator which identification documents it accepts.
Do not assume that travel within the Schengen Area is possible without valid identification.
If you cannot continue your journey without a valid document, the Dutch embassy in Madrid can advise on the appropriate emergency procedure.
Emergency Travel Documents
The honorary consul in Bilbao does not independently issue Dutch emergency passports or identity cards.
The responsible Dutch consular authorities assess the need for an emergency travel document based on your identity, available documents and travel arrangements.
You may need to provide details of your missing passport, alternative identification and information about your intended journey.
Contact the embassy or NetherlandsWorldwide before arranging travel that depends on obtaining a replacement document urgently.
Urgent Dutch consular assistance: call the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid at +34 91 353 75 00 or NetherlandsWorldwide at +31 247 247 247. NetherlandsWorldwide provides telephone assistance 24 hours a day.
Local Representation
Dutch Honorary Representation in Bilbao
The Netherlands maintains an honorary consul in Bilbao, in northern Spain.
The honorary consul provides a local contact for suitable representative, economic, institutional and community matters involving Dutch interests.
Bilbao is situated in Biscay, one of the historic territories of the Basque Country, and has strong commercial connections with neighbouring European countries.
The official Dutch and Spanish government directories confirm the honorary consul’s location in Bilbao.
However, the consulted public listings do not establish a complete current territorial jurisdiction consisting of named provinces or municipalities.
The honorary consul’s location in Bilbao should therefore not be interpreted as automatic responsibility for the whole Basque Country or every part of northern Spain.
For representative matters outside Bilbao, contact the honorary consul or the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid to confirm the appropriate contact.
Regular Dutch consular services remain subject to the authorised procedures published by NetherlandsWorldwide.
Before You Visit
Before Visiting the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao
- Contact Honorary Consul Silvia Asenjo Villa before planning an in-person visit.
- Confirm the current meeting address before travelling to Alameda de Mazarredo 9.
- Use the listed telephone number +34 944 354 552 or the official Netherlands and You contact form.
- Ask about current availability because regular public opening hours are not confirmed.
- Explain the purpose of your representative, community or business enquiry.
- Do not visit the honorary consul to apply for a Dutch passport or identity card.
- For formal travel document applications, use the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid or an authorised VFS Global centre.
- Prepare your personal NetherlandsWorldwide checklist before booking an application appointment.
- Confirm document collection or courier arrangements at the issuing location.
- For urgent consular assistance, contact the embassy or NetherlandsWorldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao – FAQ
Is there a Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao?
Yes. The Netherlands officially maintains honorary consular representation in Bilbao, Spain.
Who is the Dutch Honorary Consul in Bilbao?
Silvia Asenjo Villa is the honorary consul identified by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Netherlands government lists her as Silvia Asenjo.
What is the address of the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Bilbao?
The Spanish consular directory lists Alameda de Mazarredo 9, 1st Floor, 48001 Bilbao, Spain. Contact the honorary consul to confirm the current visitor address before travelling.
What is the telephone number?
The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists +34 944 354 552 as the honorary consulate’s telephone number.
How can I contact the honorary consul by email?
The official Dutch mission page provides a contact form for email enquiries. No current direct email address is published in the consulted Spanish consular listing.
What are the opening hours?
Regular public opening hours are not specified on the official Dutch individual mission page. Contact the honorary consul to confirm the visiting arrangements.
Can I renew my Dutch passport at the honorary consulate in Bilbao?
No. Regular Dutch passport applications must be submitted at an authorised location, such as the embassy in Madrid, VFS Global in Madrid or Barcelona, or a participating Dutch border municipality.
Can I apply for a Dutch identity card in Bilbao?
Not at the honorary consulate. Dutch identity card applications must be submitted at an authorised application location. Applicants must attend in person.
Can my new Dutch passport be delivered to my address in Spain?
Courier delivery may be possible depending on the issuing location and applicable conditions. New Dutch identity cards usually cannot be sent by courier under the regular embassy procedure.
What should I do if my Dutch passport is lost or stolen in Bilbao?
Contact NetherlandsWorldwide or the Embassy of the Netherlands in Madrid. The Dutch consular authorities can explain whether an emergency travel document or regular replacement application is appropriate.