How do you apply for a visa for the Netherlands if you live in India?
You apply through VFS Global in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi. The government fee is EUR 90. Official processing time: Average processing time for a Schengen visa is 18 to 21 calendar days; in some situations it can increase to 45 calendar days.
Key facts
| Fact | What it is |
|---|---|
| Government fee | EUR 90Checked 14 November 2026 against Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide) |
| Where you apply | VFS Global: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, New DelhiChecked 14 November 2026 against Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide) |
| Official processing time | Average processing time for a Schengen visa is 18 to 21 calendar days; in some situations it can increase to 45 calendar days.Checked 14 November 2026 against Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide) |
| Refusal rate | 20.7% (2025)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Recent rule change | The Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational: it registers non-EU short-stay travellers, including fingerprints and facial images, at the external borders of 29 European countries and replaces passport stamping. (from 10 April 2026)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| How to book an appointment | Make the appointment online at VFS Global in India yourself, not through an intermediary, and make a separate appointment for each person. To change or cancel, contact VFS Global.Checked 14 November 2026 against Government of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide) |
Documents for this route
The official checklist, in the order the source gives it.
- Schengen visa application form, completed online (so it carries a unique code), printed and signed
- Valid travel document: not more than 10 years old, at least 2 blank visa pages, valid at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen area, signed
- Colour copies: the biometric data page, the last page of the travel document (Indian nationals) and any previous Schengen entry and exit stamps
- Colour photo, no more than 6 months old, 3.5cm by 4.5cm, white or light background (not needed when applying through an external service provider: a digital photo is taken at the appointment)
- Proof of legal residence in the country where you apply (original and colour copy)
- Proof of social or economic ties: employees: employment contract, recent leave approval letter and payslips for the past 3 months; self-employed: company registration certificate (GST number if registered in India), business bank statements and income tax return with a verified barcode; retired: pension statements for the past 3 months and proof of money or property; students: statement from the educational institution
- Cover letter: reason for the visit, duration, fellow travellers, transport and accommodation
- Proof of accommodation for the entire trip, for each Schengen country visited
- Financial means: personal bank statements for the past 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank, or Indian income tax returns from the last 2 tax years
- Travel reservation to and from the Schengen area in your name (no paid ticket needed) and travel plans; booking for any organised tour
- Travel medical insurance in your name covering all Schengen countries for the whole stay, at least EUR 30,000 in medical expenses
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent: recent birth certificate extract, notarised consent of the non-travelling parent or parents, and copies of the parents' or guardians' travel documents
Related pages
Sources
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/schengen-visa/apply-indiaGovernment of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide), read 14 November 2026
- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/checklist-schengen-visa-tourism/indiaGovernment of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide), read 14 November 2026
- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/consular-fees/indiaGovernment of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide), read 14 November 2026
- https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/waiting-time-after-visa-applicationGovernment of the Netherlands, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NetherlandsWorldwide), read 14 November 2026
Changes to this page
No changes since this page was published on 14 November 2026.
Who checked this page
Facts checked by Imran AK. Reviewed by Manu KP. Last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Every fact comes from an official page and is checked by two people.