Netherlands Schengen visa for Indian passport holders

Any Indian passport holder with a passport valid three months beyond the return date, issued within ten years and with two blank pages can apply. The embassy assesses purpose, funds and intention to return: confirmed flights, hotel bookings for every night or the host's proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form (legalised at the host's municipality for sponsorship), travel insurance with EUR 30,000 of medical cover, and ties in India through employment, business, property or family. Business visitors add the Dutch company's invitation and the Indian employer's letter; visitors to relatives add the relationship documents and the host's residence permit or passport.

The Netherlands applies a benchmark of EUR 55 per person per day for the stay, shown on three months of bank statements with salary slips and the latest income tax return, or covered by a host who signs the sponsorship form and attaches three months of Dutch payslips (at least the statutory minimum wage) and ID. Students add a bona fide certificate and a parent's documents.

Under the Schengen cascade for India in force since 18 April 2024, applicants with two visas used in the last three years can receive a two-year multiple-entry visa and then a five-year visa at the same fee; frequent business travellers can ask for it with an employer letter. Fingerprints are stored for 59 months, so repeat applicants within that window can lodge through a representative at VFS.

Fees follow the EU Visa Code and rose from EUR 80 to EUR 90 on 11 June 2024. Vistolane charges the EUR 90 fee at the official rate, books VFS and shows its service separately.

1. 1

   Check the funds benchmark and build the itinerary

   Flights, hotels or the host's sponsorship form, insurance; the Netherlands as the main destination.

2. 2

   Complete the online Schengen form and book VFS

   Print the form; choose the VFS centre; one appointment per traveller.

3. 3

   Lodge at VFS Global Netherlands

   Biometrics (unless taken within 59 months), form, photo 35 by 45 mm, passport, documents; pay EUR 90 and the VFS fee.

4. 4

   Decision in 15 calendar days

   Up to 45 in peak season; the embassy may request documents or an interview.

5. 5

   Collect the passport and travel

   Enter through Schiphol or declare the Netherlands as the main destination; carry bookings and insurance.

Tulip season in April and the Indian summer holidays in May and June are the slowest; book VFS early for those months.

Border officers at Schiphol check the passport, visa, return ticket, accommodation and funds and record the entry; the EU Entry/Exit System replaces passport stamps with a biometric record. The 90-in-180 count covers all Schengen states, so days in Belgium, Germany or France on the same visa count against the total.

Visitors may attend meetings, conferences and trade fairs but may not work or be paid in the Netherlands. A Schengen visa cannot be converted into a residence permit inside the country; students, workers, families and graduates use the IND routes with an MVV, applied for by the sponsor in the Netherlands and collected at the embassy in New Delhi.

• NetherlandsWorldwide: Schengen visa for the Netherlands from India ↗
• VFS Global Netherlands (India): centres, fees and processing ↗