Netherlands business visa
A business trip to the Netherlands runs on the short-stay Schengen visa — Type C, the uniform visa — not a separate national permit. For an Indian passport holder, it opens up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the entire Schengen area: consultation or training at a Dutch business division, buying and selling products, business offers and payments, or attending a trade fair, conference or seminar. One rule settles where you file. Apply through the Netherlands only when it is your main destination — the country tied to your main purpose of travel, where you will spend the longest, or, if your stays run equal, your first point of entry into the Schengen area.
From India, you lodge the application in person at a VFS Global centre — Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune or New Delhi — appearing once to give fingerprints and hand over your documents. The decision belongs to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a rule within about 15 calendar days, though the Netherlands currently advises an average of around 25 calendar days in busy periods, stretching to 45 days when a case needs closer examination. The window opens 6 months before travel and closes 45 days before you fly.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling to the Netherlands for a genuine business purpose — meetings, contract negotiations, purchase or sale of products, or attending a trade fair, conference or seminar
- ✓Applicants for whom the Netherlands is the main destination (main purpose of travel), the country of longest stay, or the first Schengen country entered
- ✓Those holding an invitation letter from the Dutch company or host, or — for a trade fair — proof of trade relations such as contracts, paid invoices, orders or a commercial-register extract
- ✓Applicants with travel medical insurance covering at least EUR 30,000 across all Schengen countries for the entire stay
- ✓Applicants who can show sufficient funds, stable employment or business and ties to India, and a clear intention to leave before the 90-day limit
Visa options for Netherlands
Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — business visit
For meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, conferences, seminars and training at a Dutch business division; permits up to 90 days in any 180-day period and is valid for the whole Schengen area.
Multiple-entry Schengen visa — frequent business travel
The Type C can be issued for single, double or multiple entries; regular business travellers with a good visa history may receive a multiple-entry visa, with each stay still capped at 90 days in any 180.
Orange Carpet Visa Facility
A Netherlands facility that lets eligible business travellers from certain companies and countries apply with fewer documents; the visa issued is still the short-stay Schengen visa (Type C).
Documents typically required
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen visa application form bearing the unique code from the online submission
- ✓Passport no more than 10 years old, with at least 2 blank visa pages, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area
- ✓One recent colour photo, 35 x 45 mm, white or light background, taken within the last 6 months
- ✓Invitation letter from the Dutch company you will visit (or a Proof of Sponsorship / private accommodation form), stating your details, the purpose of the visit and the dates
- ✓For a trade fair or established business ties without an invitation: proof of trade relations — contracts, paid invoices, orders, the company's annual accounts or annual report, or an extract from the commercial register — plus the trade-fair or congress admission ticket
- ✓Employer statement on letterhead giving your job title, length of employment and salary, plus your last 3 months' bank statements or payslips (self-employed: business registration or income-tax return and 3 months' statements)
- ✓Confirmed return travel reservation in your name covering the whole trip
- ✓Hotel reservation for the full stay, or accommodation confirmed in the host's invitation letter
- ✓Travel medical insurance in your name covering at least EUR 30,000 in medical expenses across all Schengen countries for the entire stay
- ✓Proof of legal residence in India (original plus colour copy) if you are not an Indian citizen
- ✓Fingerprints (biometrics) given in person at the VFS Global centre
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Applications are lodged in person at a VFS Global centre in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune or New Delhi. First-time applicants, and anyone whose fingerprints on file are older than 59 months, must give biometrics in person. The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6-11 (free under 6), payable by card or in Indian rupees, plus a separate VFS service fee. Apply only when the Netherlands is your main destination — an application filed with the wrong Schengen country's mission is refused.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision rests solely with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its consular services. What we can do is assess your case honestly and build the strongest application possible. Over the last 2-3 years our applications carry a 97% success rate — but no consultant can promise an outcome.
I'm visiting the Netherlands and other Schengen countries — where do I apply?
Through the Netherlands only when it is your main destination — the country tied to your main purpose of travel, or where you will spend the longest. If your stays are of equal length, apply to the country you enter first. The visa itself still lets you move through the whole Schengen area; the catch is that filing with the wrong country's mission gets you refused.
How long can I stay, and where can I travel on this visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and not only in the Netherlands — the short-stay Schengen visa is valid across the entire Schengen area. It covers business activities such as meetings, negotiations, trade fairs, conferences and training. What it does not allow is taking up paid employment in the Netherlands.
How long does processing take, and when should I apply?
As a rule, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides within about 15 calendar days of your VFS Global appointment. In busy periods it currently advises an average of around 25 calendar days, and a case that needs further examination can run up to 45 days. You can apply as early as 6 months before travel, and no later than 45 days before your trip.