How to Apply for a Netherlands Visa From India

Indian passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa to visit the Netherlands for tourism, family visits, business or short events of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa is decided by the Netherlands government, and in India the application is received by VFS Global at 12 centres from Ahmedabad to New Delhi. Those centres also take applications from Afghanistan and Bhutan.

This guide follows the official NetherlandsWorldwide pages for India from start to finish. It covers the online form and its unique code, why you must book your own appointment, the 59-month fingerprint rule that lets someone submit on your behalf, the India-specific tourism checklist (including GST and ITR proof for self-employed applicants), fees, VFS addresses with directions, the 18-21 day processing time, and what to do after a refusal. For accommodation proof in Amsterdam, see our separate guide on hotel reservations for Amsterdam visas.

Facts come from NetherlandsWorldwide, the official Dutch government site for people abroad, and the European Commission's Schengen pages unless another source is named. Check them on the day you apply, because procedures change.

Do You Need a Netherlands Visa From India?

Yes. Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for short stays in the Netherlands. According to the European Commission, a Schengen short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the 29 Schengen countries, for:

• Tourism and holidays.
• Visiting family or friends.
• Business meetings, conferences and trade fairs.
• Cultural or sports events.
• Short study or training of up to 90 days.

You cannot work on a short-stay visa. For longer stays, such as a full study course or joining a partner, you need a different permit; BookForVisa covers the Dutch MVV route in separate guides.

Pick the right checklist

NetherlandsWorldwide has separate India checklists for business trips or official visits, tourism, visits to family or friends, study or events (political, academic, cultural, sporting or religious), medical reasons, seafarers, and family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens. If you have more than one purpose, use the checklist for your main purpose. This guide follows the tourism checklist; the others share most items but replace the accommodation and purpose documents.

Which country should you apply to?

Apply to the Netherlands if it is your main destination, meaning the country where you spend the most days, or your purpose is mainly there. If you will spend equal time in several countries, apply to the one you enter first. Applying to the Netherlands when most of your trip is in France or Italy is a common reason for refusal. See our guide on whether a flight reservation is enough for a Schengen visa from India for how the main-destination rule shows in your travel plan.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply From India

NetherlandsWorldwide's India application page sets out the route below.

Print the completed form, sign it, and bring it to VFS together with the checklist itself and all the documents on it. Do not use a form filled in by someone else, because forms without your own unique code may cause problems during processing.

1. Check the timing. Apply no more than 6 months before your trip (9 months for seafarers) and at least 15 days before departure. Apply as early as you can in busy seasons.
2. Fill in the application form online. You complete it yourself on the official system. When you finish, you receive a unique code, which you need for your appointment.
3. Book your appointment with VFS Global. You must book it yourself, not through an intermediary or agent. Each applicant needs their own appointment, including family members.
4. Gather your documents using the India tourism checklist below. Missing documents can delay or end your application.
5. Attend the appointment. Hand in your documents, give fingerprints if required, answer any questions, pay the fees and choose whether to collect your passport or have it sent by courier. You receive a reference number to track your application.
6. Wait for the decision. You get an email when processing is complete.
7. Check your visa. When you receive your passport, check every detail on the visa sticker. If something is wrong, contact the Embassy at nde-ca@minbuza.nl before you travel.

Can someone else submit your application?

Yes, if you meet all of these conditions: you are 12 or older, you applied in person for a Schengen, airport transit or entry visa within the past 59 months, and your fingerprints were taken for that application. The 59 months are counted back from the date your new application is submitted.

• A letter of authorisation signed by you and by them, using the official template on NetherlandsWorldwide.
• Their own passport or other travel document and a copy of it.
• All your documents from the checklist.

There is one catch. Fingerprints stored in the EU Visa Information System can be copied by the Dutch Ministry, but VFS Global cannot access that system to check them. If the Ministry cannot copy your fingerprints, you will be asked to come back to the centre to give them. To avoid that, NetherlandsWorldwide says you can always choose to give fingerprints again at your appointment, even if you gave them within the last 59 months.

Fingerprint exemptions

You do not need to give fingerprints if:

• You are under 12. Children under 12 must still be present at the appointment.
• You are physically unable to give fingerprints and have a medical document to show this.
• You applied for a Schengen visa or entry visa in the past 59 months and your fingerprints were taken then.
• You are travelling on an official visit as a head of state, government leader, member of a national government or official delegation, or a member of a royal family, or their spouse, and were invited by the Dutch government or an international organisation.

Apart from these cases, most applicants must attend in person, and the tourism checklist notes this applies to babies and children too. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs may also ask for an interview or more documents.

Netherlands Tourist Visa Documents From India

The official tourism checklist for India is more detailed than the general Schengen list. Here is what it asks for.

Passport

• Issued no more than 10 years ago.
• At least 2 blank visa pages.
• Valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
• Signed by you.
• A colour copy of the biometric data page and, for Indian nationals, the last page of the passport.
• Colour copies of any Schengen entry and exit stamps in previous passports, if you have them.

Photo

Dutch photo rules are a colour photo no more than 6 months old, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, with a white or light-coloured background. If you apply through VFS Global, you do not need to bring one, because a digital photo is taken at your appointment.

Proof of residence

Bring the original and a colour copy of proof that you legally live in the country where you apply, for example your passport, or for foreign nationals an Indian residence permit valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, a visa or a work permit. If you are not resident where you apply, you must explain why you cannot apply in your own country of residence.

Cover letter

Write a letter explaining the purpose and length of your trip, who you are travelling with, how you will travel, and where you will stay. Keep it short and make sure every date matches your form and reservations.

Accommodation

If you stay in a hotel, holiday rental, rented accommodation or campus housing, you need a reservation for the entire trip. If you travel to several Schengen countries, bring proof of accommodation for each country. If you stay with family or friends, use the visit checklist instead, because it asks for different documents from your host.

Travel reservation

A reservation in your name for your travel to and from the Schengen area, plus your travel plans. The checklist says plainly: you do not need a paid travel ticket. If you join an organised tour, include its booking or reservation. This is one of the clearest official statements among Schengen countries, and it is why many applicants use a verifiable reservation instead of buying flights before a decision.

Travel medical insurance

Proof of travel medical insurance in your name. The document must state that it covers all Schengen countries for your whole stay and at least €30,000 in medical expenses, including hospital stays and treatment, emergency care, prescription medication and repatriation to your country of residence, including in the event of death.

Declaration

At the appointment you sign a document confirming that you understand you must submit all documents for your application to be processed, and that an incomplete application may be rejected without the fee being returned.

Proving Your Ties to India and Your Funds

The Dutch checklist asks you to show ties to India that make your return likely, with documents that depend on your work:

Proof of funds

Show you can pay for your trip with either your bank statements for the last 3 months, stamped by the bank, or your income tax returns for the last 2 years. If someone else is paying, include their sponsorship documents too.

The barcode rule for ITR is easy to miss: the checklist asks for returns that show the verified barcode, so download the acknowledged copy from the income tax portal rather than a draft.

Children under 18

For a child under 18 travelling alone or with one parent or guardian, bring the original and a colour copy of:

• A recent extract of the child's birth certificate.
• If travelling with one parent: written consent notarised by a public notary from the parent who is not travelling, or proof of sole custody such as a court ruling.
• If travelling alone: notarised written consent from both parents or guardians.
• Colour copies of the passports of the parents or guardians with custody, showing photo and signature.
• Where relevant, a parent's valid Schengen visa, a death certificate, proof of guardianship or a court ruling allowing the child to travel.

Netherlands Visa Fees for Indians

Schengen visa fees are set by the EU. The standard amounts are:

You pay the fee in rupees at VFS. VFS also charges its own service fee. On 5 November 2026 the VFS Global Netherlands India centre pages listed it as INR 1,890, payable by cash, card or UPI. Optional services such as courier return cost extra, so confirm the current amounts on the VFS site before your appointment.

VFS Global Netherlands Centres in India

NetherlandsWorldwide lists 12 VFS Global centres in India. Book through the VFS Netherlands India site and attend the centre you booked. Official addresses:

Embassy of the Netherlands, New Delhi

The Embassy of the Netherlands is at 6/50 F Shantipath Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110021 India Get directions. It is open by appointment only. Visa applications are not handed in there; they go through VFS Global.

Processing Time and Collecting Your Passport

NetherlandsWorldwide's waiting time page says a decision usually takes 18 to 21 calendar days, and can take up to 45 days if more checks are needed.

The processing time can rise to 45 calendar days when:

• Your application is affected by high volume, for example in the high season.
• Your application needs further consideration.
• You need to provide additional documents.

Some Schengen countries require a mandatory information check, called consultation, for certain nationalities. It can take up to 7 days and falls within the 45-day period. Every application is also checked against the Schengen Information System (SIS II), and your details are checked against and saved in the Visa Information System (VIS).

NetherlandsWorldwide asks applicants not to contact it, the Embassy or VFS Global about the status of an application. Use the VFS online tracking with your reference number instead.

Once processing is complete you get an email, but it does not say whether the visa was approved. Collect your passport from the VFS centre or receive it by courier, depending on what you chose at the appointment. If approved, the visa is fixed to a page in your passport.

Collecting your passport

• If you collect it yourself, bring a valid ID and the proof of payment VFS gave you.
• Someone else can collect it for you with their valid ID, a signed letter from you authorising them, and the VFS proof of payment.

Check the visa before you fly

Check your name, validity period and the number of days. NetherlandsWorldwide gives an example of a visa you cannot use: one whose validity starts later than the flight dates in your application. If anything is wrong, email the Dutch Embassy in New Delhi at nde-ca@minbuza.nl as soon as possible, because a mistake can stop you travelling or lead to refusal at the border.

Plan your dates

Because applications can be made only from 6 months before travel, and decisions take about 3 weeks, apply 6 to 8 weeks ahead for most trips. In summer and the year-end holidays, VFS slots fill quickly, so book the appointment as soon as your plans are fixed.

Flight Reservations for Your Netherlands Visa

The Dutch checklist asks for a travel reservation in your name and says a paid ticket is not needed. A reservation with a real PNR does exactly that, and it means you do not risk the cost of a full ticket before the decision.

• BookForVisa reservations cost a flat $15 per person and include a real PNR that can be checked.
• Each reservation is valid for 48-72 hours, so book it close to your VFS appointment.
• Date changes are free on the booking day only.
• It can be issued even while you are at the visa centre if your dates change.
• It works for visa applications and for onward-travel proof.

Other providers offer a dummy ticket for the same purpose; whichever you use, make sure the name matches your passport and the dates match your form, cover letter and hotel bookings.

If Your Netherlands Visa Is Refused

A refusal letter explains the reasons. If you disagree, you can object to the decision; NetherlandsWorldwide explains how and the deadline on its pages. You can also submit a new application with stronger documents that address each reason in the letter.

Common fixes include clearer proof of ties to India, bank statements stamped by the bank, ITR with the verified barcode, and a travel plan that shows the Netherlands is your main destination.

Watch out for fraud

The Embassy reports false or counterfeit documents to the Indian authorities, depending on the forgery, and such documents are not returned to the applicant. It also warns about online romance and friendship scams in which someone asks a European contact to transfer large sums for supposed visa or travel costs.

NetherlandsWorldwide warns that the Embassy never asks you to deposit money into a bank account. Pay only the official fees at VFS, and book your appointment yourself through the official VFS site.

How to Write the Cover Letter

The tourism checklist asks for a cover letter with four items: the reason for your visit, how long you will stay, the names of anyone travelling with you, and how you will travel and where you will stay. A clear letter helps the visa officer read the rest of your file quickly. Keep it to one page and use this structure:

1. Opening. Your full name, passport number and the visa you are applying for, a Schengen short-stay visa for tourism with the Netherlands as main destination.
2. Purpose and dates. Say what you plan to do, such as visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the tulip fields, with your arrival and departure dates and the total number of days.
3. Fellow travellers. Name your spouse, children or friends travelling with you, and note that each has submitted their own application.
4. Travel and accommodation. List your route to and from the Schengen area, and the hotel or rental for each night, matching your reservations.
5. Funding and return. Say how you will pay for the trip, pointing to your stamped bank statements or ITR, and summarise your job, business or studies in India and when you return.
6. Signature. Sign and date the letter by hand.

Write it in plain English and avoid copying a template word for word. Every date and name in the letter should appear the same way in your form and supporting documents, because the officer will compare them.

Common Mistakes Indian Applicants Make

Most Netherlands files that run into trouble break one of the rules on the official pages. Check yours against this list before the appointment.

• Using an agent to book. NetherlandsWorldwide tells applicants to book VFS appointments themselves, to avoid unnecessary costs.
• Someone else's form. Every applicant must fill in their own form online and print the version with their own unique code.
• Old or worn passport. Passports older than 10 years, unsigned, or with fewer than 2 blank visa pages do not meet the checklist.
• Unstamped bank statements. Personal statements must be stamped and signed by the bank and cover the last 3 months, unless you use 2 years of ITR instead.
• ITR without the verified barcode. Self-employed applicants must show returns with the verified barcode, plus GST registration and business account statements.
• Insurance that falls short. The policy must cover all Schengen countries for the whole stay with at least €30,000 in medical cover, including repatriation.
• Partial accommodation. Reservations must cover the entire trip, with proof for each Schengen country you visit.
• Dates that do not match. Keep the dates identical across the form, cover letter, leave letter, hotel bookings and flight reservation.
• Wrong main destination. Apply to the Netherlands only if it is your main destination, or your first entry when stays are equal.

A missing document can lead to rejection without the fee being returned, so a final check costs far less than a new application.

At the Dutch Border

Your visa lets you travel to the Netherlands or another Schengen country and stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa itself may be valid for a shorter period, so read its dates rather than assuming 90 days.

You must show the visa when you depart and arrive. Border control may also ask for other documents, such as your return travel details, accommodation, insurance and proof of funds, so carry copies of the key items from your application.

Netherlands Visa Checklist From India

1. Confirm the Netherlands is your main Schengen destination.
2. Fill in the online form and save your unique code.
3. Book your own VFS appointment, one per applicant.
4. Collect passport copies, proof of residence, cover letter and accommodation.
5. Add work proof: contract, leave letter and payslips, or GST and ITR for business owners.
6. Add 3 months of stamped bank statements or 2 years of ITR.
7. Get a travel reservation in your name and €30,000 insurance.
8. Attend VFS, give fingerprints and pay the fees.
9. Wait 18-21 days, then check every detail on your visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Friendly reminder: BookForVisa prepares flight and hotel reservations to support visa applications and onward-travel proof. Requirements vary by destination, consulate, visa category and applicant situation. A reservation supports your file; it is not a paid ticket for travel and does not guarantee visa approval or entry.