In September 2005, Manager Marco van Basten called up to the Netherlands team for the first time as part of the preliminary selection but did not make the cut. After being called up to the senior national team two more times, he was called up once more in August 2006. On 16 August 2006, Emanuelson made his debut for the Netherlands senior team in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland, as they won 4–0. He made three more appearances for the national side by the end of the year.