Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Seafarer / Blue Carpet Verified 2026-04-24Netherlands Seafarer Visa — Blue Carpet Programme (Schengen Type C)
Facilitated Schengen visa for Indian seafarers joining a ship in a Dutch port under the Blue Carpet Programme. Priority processing, multi-entry visas, 9-month advance application window. Complete documents and invitation requirements.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the The Netherlands visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
Priority under Blue Carpet — often shorter than 15 days
Stay Duration
As required for the voyage — typically aligned with embarkation/disembarkation schedule
Starting Fee
₹9,790
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Your whole The Netherlands Seafarer Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong The Netherlands file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
4.9★ · 90+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee.
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, justified
₹14,999 fee — what exactly is included?
Our professional fee isn't just form-filling. It covers complete The Netherlands visitor visa preparation, document & refusal-risk review, financial-proof structuring, submission support and post-filing guidance. Tap any item to see what's inside.
Before we prepare your The Netherlands visitor visa file, we understand your complete profile — every applicant is different, so no two files are built the same way.
- Purpose of travel
- Employment or business background
- Monthly income & savings
- Funds available for the trip
- Family ties in India
- Property / assets, if any
- Previous travel history
- Relatives, friends or a sponsor in The Netherlands, if any
- Previous visa refusals, if any
- Planned trip duration
- Who is paying for the trip
- Whether the trip is realistic for your profile
A visitor visa isn't approved just because documents are attached — the purpose, funds, travel plan and return ties all have to support each other.
We don't hand everyone the same checklist. After understanding your profile, we build one for your exact case type:
- Salaried
- Business owner
- Self-employed
- Farmer / agriculture income
- Student or minor
- Retired parent
- Housewife / dependent
- Family visit
- Tourist visit
- Business visitor
- Previous refusal
- Sponsor-supported
- First-time traveller
This avoids missing key documents — and avoids piling on documents that aren't explained properly.
We review your documents before preparing and submitting, checking they're complete, readable, consistent and well-arranged:
- Passport & photographs
- Bank statements
- Salary slips
- ITR / Form 16
- Employment & leave-approval letters
- Business / GST / registration proof
- Income proof
- Property documents, if any
- Family & marriage documents, if applicable
- Invitation & sponsor documents, if applicable
- Previous refusal letter, if any
- Travel history, itinerary & stay proof
Funds are one of the most common refusal triggers. A high balance alone isn't enough if the money doesn't look genuine, stable, and tied to your income. We check:
- Whether the balance is reasonable for the trip
- Average balance vs trip cost
- Sudden large deposits that need explaining
- Salary / business income vs bank statement
- ITR vs income profile
- Whether you can afford the trip without leaning entirely on a sponsor
- Whether sponsor support is properly explained
- Whether funds look genuine and traceable
We help structure the financial side professionally so it reads as genuine, not borrowed for the application.
We help present a clear, realistic purpose — tourism, a holiday, a family/relative visit, an event, a business meeting, or parents visiting children — and make sure it lines up with your dates, funds, itinerary and documents.
A weak or vague purpose makes a file look doubtful. We keep it clear, simple and professional.
We prepare or structure the main explanation letter — a professional summary that makes your case easy for the officer to understand. It covers:
- Who you are and why you want to visit
- How long you'll stay and where
- Who is paying for the trip
- What you do in India
- Which financial documents are attached
- Your family ties in India
- Why you'll return after the visit
- If previously refused — what has changed since
This is not a guarantee letter — it's a clear, professional explanation of your case.
The officer must be satisfied you'll leave The Netherlands after your authorized stay. We identify and present your reasons to return:
- Job continuity or business ownership
- Regular income source
- Spouse / children / parents in India
- Dependents and family responsibilities
- Property or assets in India
- Education or business commitments
- Previous travel compliance, if any
If someone in The Netherlands is inviting you, we guide the sponsor-side documents:
- Invitation letter
- Sponsor status proof (passport / PR / citizenship)
- Sponsor employment & income proof
- Sponsor bank statement, if needed
- Relationship & communication proof
- Who bears expenses & stay arrangement
A sponsor supports the case but never guarantees approval — your own purpose, funds and ties must still be strong. We also flag if a file is leaning too heavily on the sponsor.
We guide or assist with the application form and details (online portal or the VFS/embassy form, depending on The Netherlands), and check consistency between the form and your documents:
- Personal, passport & travel-history details
- Employment & education history
- Family information
- Purpose of visit & funding details
- Sponsor information, if applicable
- Previous-refusal declarations
- Background questions
- Correct document categories
Wrong, incomplete or inconsistent information can hurt this application — and future ones too.
How a file is lodged depends on the country — some are fully online, while others (most Schengen states) need you to complete the form first, then book a VFS appointment and submit a physical file in person. We guide the exact The Netherlands process:
- Completing the application form first, where required, to unlock the appointment
- Booking the VFS / embassy appointment
- Arranging documents in the right order — for upload or the VFS counter
- Guiding the visa-fee payment
- Final review before submission or your VFS visit
- What to carry to the appointment (originals, photos, forms)
- Submitting / lodging and saving the confirmation
- What happens after submission
After submission, if biometrics are required, we guide you through:
- Biometrics Instruction Letter
- VFS appointment booking
- Documents to carry
- What to expect at the VFS centre
- How biometrics update in your application
- What to do once biometrics are done
Biometrics fee is separate, paid to the authority / VFS as applicable.
Our support doesn't stop at submission. We stay connected and guide you on:
- How to check application updates
- What official messages mean
- What to do if more documents are requested
- What to do after a Passport Request
- VFS passport submission & courier return
- Decision-update explanation
- Next steps after approval
- Basic guidance if refused
What's not included (paid direct, at actual cost)
- Government / embassy visa fee
- Biometrics fee
- VFS service charges
- VFS courier & SMS charges
- VFS premium-lounge charges
- Travel insurance
- Flight tickets
- Hotel bookings
- Translation charges
- Notary / attestation
- Medical exam, if ever required
- Any other third-party charges
No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision is always the visa officer's. Our role is to prepare, review, structure and present your file professionally from the documents and profile you provide.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every The Netherlands visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1Your travel document (passport) must NOT be more than 10 years old, have at least 2 blank visa pages, be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from the Schengen area, and carry your signature.
- 2Not all travel documents are recognised by the Netherlands — non-recognised documents will result in an INADMISSIBLE application. Check the European Union website if you are uncertain.
- 3Diplomatic and Official passport holders can use the walk-in facility at all Netherlands VFS centres between 09:00 and 10:00 on working days — no prior appointment needed.
- 4In most cases you must submit your application in person. This applies to babies and children too.
- 5Pilots and flight attendants do NOT need to hand over their passport during processing — all other applicants must submit it for the duration of processing.
- 6At the appointment you will sign a declaration acknowledging (a) you understand that all documents must be submitted for the application to be processed, and (b) an incomplete application may be rejected with no refund of visa fees.
- 7If you overstay a Schengen visa, you risk a two-year visa sanction across all Schengen countries.
- 8If you notice a mistake on your visa when collecting it at VFS, notify the agent immediately. If you notice it later or received the visa by courier, contact the Dutch embassy without delay.
Who Can Apply
- Indian seafarers joining or leaving a ship in a Dutch port (regardless of the ship's flag — Dutch, foreign, or third-country)
- Seafarers attending maritime training or courses in the Netherlands
- Cadets and trainees travelling for genuine maritime training or to join a ship
Not eligible under this visa:
- Seafarers whose port of embarkation/disembarkation is in another Schengen country (apply to that country instead — e.g. Spanish port → apply to Spain)
- Seafarers whose primary purpose is not maritime (e.g. tourism on a cruise ship as a passenger)
- Family members of seafarers — they apply under Tourist or Family & Friends categories
Previously refused?
Same feeWe rebuild refused The Netherlands cases the right way.
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to The Netherlands / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Schengen visa — adult (normal fee) | ₹9,790 |
| Schengen visa — child 6 to 11 years | ₹4,890 |
| Schengen visa — child under 6 years | FREE |
| VFS service charge (per application, with biometrics) | ₹1,855 |
Fees effective 1 April 2026 as published by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Payment accepted in cash, debit/credit card, or UPI at VFS. All fees (visa + service charge) are non-refundable, regardless of visa outcome. Schengen "low fee" of €35 applies only to citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus under visa facilitation agreements — not applicable to Indian nationals.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Personal documents
4 items- Completed and signed Schengen visa application form (with unique code)Required
Filled ONLINE only.
- Valid passport + colour copy of bio-data page + last page + previous Schengen stampsRequired
- Biometric photograph (3.5cm × 4.5cm, white/light background, ≤6 months old)Required
May be waived if biometrics given for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months.
- Proof of legal residence in India (original + colour copy)Required
Ties to India
3 items- If employed: employment contract + employer NOC + payslipsRequired
- If self-employed: company registration + GST + business bank statements + ITRRequired
- Seafarer's Record Book / Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)Required
Original + colour copy. The central identity document for seafarers.
Invitation from Dutch shipping company (core requirement)
1 item- Signed and stamped invitation letter from the Dutch shipping companyRequired
Must include ALL of the following: your personal details, date of issue and validity of your passport, date of issue and validity of your seafarer's book, your job title/rank, ship name, place of embarkation and disembarkation, entry/exit dates in/out of the Schengen area, entry airport (if travelling by air), travel route to the Netherlands, name and address of the Indian shipping agent assisting with the visa, the shipping company sponsoring you, and flight reservation (if by air).
Travel documents
5 items- Cover letter detailing the voyageRequired
Reason for visit, duration, fellow travellers, transport, accommodation.
- Proof of accommodationRequired
Hotel reservation for the pre-embarkation stay, OR specified in the invitation letter from the shipping company.
- Proof of financial meansRequired
Personal bank statements (last 3 months, stamped + signed) OR Indian ITR for the last 2 years. If shipping company is covering costs, state this in the invitation letter.
- Proof of transport and itineraryRequired
Flight ticket and itinerary — can also be provided in the invitation letter.
- Travel medical insurance (minimum €30,000)Required
Valid across Schengen, covering the entire pre-embarkation period.
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
8 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Confirm port is in the Netherlands
Blue Carpet via Dutch embassy applies if your port of embarkation/disembarkation is in the Netherlands — regardless of ship flag. Other Schengen ports → apply to that country.
- 02
Obtain the invitation letter from the Dutch shipping company
Ensure it contains ALL required elements (passport details, seafarer's book dates, rank, ship name, ports, dates, airport, route, shipping agent, sponsor, flight reservation).
- 03
Complete the online Schengen application form
Fill online, print, sign.
- 04
Gather supporting documents
CDC (original + copy), bank statements, travel insurance, cover letter, flight/accommodation proof.
- 05
Apply up to 9 months before departure
Blue Carpet allows an extended window — apply early, especially for complex crew-change schedules.
- 06
Book VFS appointment (or waiver)
If biometrics given for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months, in-person submission may be waived. Otherwise book via the VFS portal.
- 07
Submit + pay fees
€90 visa fee + ₹1,855 VFS service charge.
- 08
Track + collect
Priority processing under Blue Carpet — often faster than the standard 15-day window.
What works
12 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Complete the Schengen visa application form ONLINE only — forms without a unique code can cause processing issues. Handwritten forms are rejected.
- Travel medical insurance covering minimum €30,000 is MANDATORY and must be valid across all Schengen states for the entire duration of your trip, including arrival and departure dates.
- Personal bank statements must be from the last 3 months, stamped and signed by your bank. Plain print-outs without a bank stamp are not accepted.
- Photo must be colour, no more than 6 months old, 3.5cm × 4.5cm, with a white or light-coloured background. If applying through VFS, a digital photo may be taken at your appointment instead.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Invitation letter missing required fields (rank, ship name, ports, dates, etc.)
- 2Seafarer's Record Book / CDC not submitted or expired
- 3Port of embarkation is not in the Netherlands (should apply to the correct Schengen country)
Download official forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for The Netherlands
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Online Schengen Visa Application Form
Must be completed ONLINE only — the form generates a unique code that the embassy uses to process your file. Print the completed form and sign it. Handwritten forms are NOT accepted.
Proof of Sponsorship and/or Private Accommodation (IND form)
Only if you are being hosted by a Dutch resident. Host completes the form, signs it, and has it legalised at the Dutch municipality (gemeente) where they are registered, then sends the original to you.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for Netherlands Seafarer Visa — Blue Carpet Programme (Schengen Type C) is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
No. Blue Carpet applies to any shipping company — regardless of the ship's flag — as long as your port of embarkation or disembarkation is in the Netherlands.
Yes. Entry point doesn't matter for Blue Carpet. What matters is that your port of embarkation is a Dutch port. You can enter Schengen at any airport — Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, etc.
Up to 9 months before departure — one of the key Blue Carpet advantages (vs the standard 6-month window).
No. If you've given biometrics for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, personal appearance may be waived under Blue Carpet.
Yes — provided they are travelling for genuine maritime training or to join a ship. An invitation from the Dutch institute/company is required.
The visa's "From" and "Until" dates govern your entry window. Minor schedule changes within that window are fine. Major changes (different port country, long delays) may require re-application — contact the embassy/shipping company.
Typically 1 to several years, depending on your maritime travel history and employer profile. Blue Carpet is designed for frequent crew-change scenarios.
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
Before you apply
Two ways to file your The Netherlands visa.
One quietly burns your fee, your trip and your record. The other gets it right the first time.
Do it yourself
The risky route
- You guess which papers The Netherlands actually wants — one missing or wrongly-framed document triggers a refusal.
- You copy a cover letter off YouTube or Google — often the exact template embassies already flag as weak.
- You apply during a known peak-rejection window without realising it.
- Embassy & VFS fees are non-refundable — refused means your money, flights and leave are gone.
- One refusal stamp follows you for life — every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
The gamble
One mistake = fee, flights & record gone
With SureshotVisa
Professionally guided
- A licensed consultant checks your case honestly before you spend a rupee on embassy fees.
- We build your The Netherlands file the way the embassy approves — documents, cover letter, financials.
- We catch the weak-ties, funding and intent issues behind most Indian refusals — and fix them first.
- We've rescued hundreds of files that were already refused once and got them approved.
- Govt of Punjab licensed (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024) · 1200+ approvals.
Typical result
1200+ approvals · refused files rescued
Why DIY goes wrong
How a self-filed application turns into a refusal.
- 1
You feel ready
A few YouTube videos make the process look simple.
- 2
You file it yourself
You submit a sensitive The Netherlands visa file on your own.
- 3
One detail misreads
A small framing slip looks like weak ties or unclear intent.
- 4
Refusal
Now every future visa, anywhere, must declare it.
Once you've been refused, you learn the hard way how much the small details mattered. We'd rather you never collect that first stamp.
Trusted by applicants from across India
We've helped many applicants from across India get their The Netherlands visa — the easy way.
From first-time The Netherlands visa applicants to cases that were refused elsewhere, our licensed team has guided applicants from across India through The Netherlands's exact requirements — so the file is approved the first time, without the stress, guesswork or risk of a refusal.
Other The Netherlands Visa Types
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View guideNetherlands Airport Transit Visa (Type A)
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View guideNetherlands Entry Visa (Return Visa for Residence Permit Holders)
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View guideNetherlands — Family Member of EU/EEA/Swiss Citizen (Facilitated Schengen Visa)
Facilitated Schengen visa for family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens travelling to or joining them in the Netherlands. Visa fee is WAIVED under EU Directive 2004/38/EC. Includes Chavez-Vilchez route for parents of Dutch minor children.
View guideNetherlands Cultural, Sports, Religious & Film Crews Visa (Schengen Type C)
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View guideNetherlands Orange Carpet Visa (Facilitated Business — Schengen Type C)
Fast-track business Schengen visa for employees of companies registered with the Netherlands Embassy in India as Orange Carpet eligible. Walk-in submission, priority processing, simplified documentation.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global The Netherlands website and Embassy of The Netherlands. Last verified 2026-04-24. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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