Netherlands Visa from India 2026 — Schengen Type C Guide

Do Indians need a visa to visit the Netherlands?

Yes. India is a visa-required country for the Schengen area, so an Indian passport holder must obtain a short-stay Schengen visa before travelling to the Netherlands. This visa lets you stay in Dutch territory and across the whole Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. It is issued for tourism, visiting family or friends, business and official visits, medical treatment, short study or cultural events.

The Netherlands is the right country to apply to when it is your main destination — where you will spend the most nights. If you are splitting your trip evenly across several Schengen countries, you apply to the country you will enter first. If you are also travelling to a non-Schengen country such as the UK, USA, Croatia or Romania, arrange that visa before you lodge your Schengen application.

Who processes the Netherlands visa in India?

The Netherlands has outsourced visa intake in India to VFS Global. You book an appointment, submit your documents and give biometrics at a VFS Global Netherlands visa application centre. The actual decision on your visa is taken by the Dutch authorities; queries and any post-decision corrections are handled by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New Delhi.

VFS Global operates Netherlands centres in the major Indian cities, so you rarely have to travel far:

For addresses, opening hours and how each centre works, see our VFS visa application centres guide. Always confirm the current centre list and jurisdiction on the official VFS Global Netherlands page before booking, as coverage can change.

How much does a Netherlands Schengen visa cost in 2026?

Your total outlay is made of two separate charges: the government visa fee (set uniformly for all Schengen countries) and the VFS Global service charge. The government fee has been the same across the Schengen zone since 11 June 2024.

The government fee is charged in INR at the embassy's periodically-set exchange rate, so the rupee figure moves a little over time. VFS also offers optional paid add-ons — premium lounge, courier return of your passport, photo, SMS updates — which are entirely your choice. All visa fees are non-refundable, even if the visa is refused.

Netherlands tourist visa document checklist

This is the standard document set for a Netherlands tourist (leisure) Schengen visa from India. Carry originals plus clear colour copies. A digital photo is captured at the VFS centre, so you usually don't need to submit a printed photo when applying through VFS.

Core personal documents

• Application form — completed online so it carries a unique code, then printed and signed. Do not use someone else's form.
• Passport — not more than 10 years old, with at least 2 blank visa pages, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, and signed. Bring a colour copy of the bio-data page and the last page (for Indian nationals), plus any earlier Schengen stamps.
• Photograph — colour, no more than 6 months old, 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, white or light background (used as backup; digital photo taken at the centre).
• Proof of legal residence in India — your passport, or an Indian residence permit valid at least 3 months beyond your return.

Ties to India (proof you will return)

Trip and stay documents

• Cover letter stating the reason for your visit, the length of stay, fellow travellers, and your transport and accommodation.
• Proof of accommodation — hotel or rental reservation for the whole trip. If you're staying with family or friends, use the official proof-of-sponsorship / private-accommodation form signed by the host. Travelling to more than one Schengen country? Bring accommodation proof for each.
• Proof of financial means — personal bank statements for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank, and/or Indian income-tax returns for the last 2 tax years.
• Travel reservation — a return flight itinerary in your name (you do not need a paid ticket) plus your day-to-day travel plan.
• Travel medical insurance — in your name, covering all Schengen countries for the entire stay, with at least €30,000 of medical cover including hospitalisation, emergency care and repatriation.

Extra documents when a child (minor) travels

If the visa is for someone under 18 travelling alone or with only one parent/guardian, add:

• A recent extract of the child's birth certificate.
• A notarised written consent from the non-travelling parent/guardian (or from both parents if the child travels alone). If the travelling parent has sole custody, bring the court ruling or official proof.
• Colour copies of the parents'/guardians' passports showing photo and signature, and a copy of any valid Schengen visa a parent already holds.

Biometrics and the appointment

Most applicants must apply in person — including babies and children — because fingerprints and a digital facial photograph are collected at the centre. If you gave your fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you may be exempt from giving them again, but the Dutch authorities can still ask you to appear.

At your appointment you hand over your passport so the visa can be processed, and you get it back once a decision is made. You'll also sign a declaration confirming you understand that an incomplete application can be refused with no refund of the fee.

How long does the Netherlands visa take?

You can apply up to 6 months before your travel date, and you should apply at least a few weeks ahead. The Dutch authorities quote an average processing time of about 15 calendar days, extendable up to a maximum of 45 calendar days if extra checks or documents are needed.

Track your file with the track-and-trace code you receive after applying. Do not contact the embassy to speed it up — processing cannot be accelerated. If you've heard nothing after 45 days, contact the VFS Global application centre.

Amsterdam and beyond — what your visa lets you do

A Netherlands Schengen visa is not limited to the Netherlands. Once inside, you can move freely across all Schengen countries — so an Amsterdam-focused trip can easily include Belgium, Germany or France, as long as the Netherlands remains your main destination and your total stay stays within 90 days in any 180-day window. Popular routes for Indian travellers include Amsterdam's canals and museums, the Keukenhof tulip gardens (spring), Rotterdam's modern architecture, and day trips to Bruges or Cologne.

Frequently asked questions