Netherlands tourist visa
Tulip fields, canal-side towns, long rides through flat green country: the Netherlands is made for a holiday, and any trip of up to 90 days begins with a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C, the uniform visa). Apply through the Netherlands when it is your main destination, meaning where you will spend the most days or the main purpose of the trip. Splitting your time evenly across Schengen countries? Then apply through the one you enter first. Whichever visa you receive lets you move across the whole Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
From India, every Netherlands application goes through VFS Global, which runs centres in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi. You appear in person, and anyone 12 or older gives fingerprints. The window opens six months ahead of travel, and the Netherlands asks you to apply no later than 45 days before the trip. The consulate weighs each case on its own, usually within 25 calendar days. Our part is to assess your profile, build the file and manage the submission.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling to the Netherlands for tourism or holiday for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- ✓Applicants for whom the Netherlands is the main Schengen destination (longest stay or main purpose of the trip), or the first Schengen country entered when time is split equally
- ✓A passport that is not more than 10 years old, has at least 2 blank visa pages and stays valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering all Schengen countries with a minimum of EUR 30,000 in medical cover
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the trip and of ties to India that show you will return
Visa options for Netherlands
Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) for tourism
For holidays and sightseeing in the Netherlands and the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Single- or double-entry short-stay visa
Permits one or two entries into the Schengen area within the visa's validity; once you leave, that entry is used up.
Multiple-entry visa (MEV)
For frequent travellers with a solid travel history; can be issued for up to five years but still limits stays to 90 days in any 180.
Documents typically required
- ✓Schengen visa application form, filled online first to generate the unique code, then printed and signed
- ✓Passport not more than 10 years old, with at least 2 blank visa pages, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area and signed, plus colour copies of the bio-data page, last page and any previous Schengen visas or stamps
- ✓One recent colour photo, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, on a white or light background, not older than 6 months
- ✓Travel medical insurance in your name covering all Schengen countries for the whole stay, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover including hospitalisation, emergency care and repatriation
- ✓Proof of financial means: personal bank statements for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank, or Indian income-tax returns for the last 2 years
- ✓Cover letter stating the reason for the visit, length of stay, who is travelling and your transport and accommodation arrangements
- ✓Proof of accommodation for the whole trip, such as hotel or rental bookings, with separate proof for each Schengen country if you visit more than one
- ✓Confirmed return travel reservation and day-by-day itinerary in your name; a paid ticket is not required at submission
- ✓Proof of ties to India by status: employed applicants show the employer's leave approval, employment contract and last 3 months' payslips; self-employed show the company registration or GST certificate, business bank statements and income-tax return; retirees show pension statements; students show a bonafide or enrolment letter
- ✓For minors: recent birth certificate and notarised consent from both parents or guardians, with copies of their passports
- ✓Booking or reservation for an organised tour, if you are joining one
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Fill the Schengen application form online first to get the unique code, then book a VFS Global appointment in your consular jurisdiction. The visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11 (under 6 are exempt), payable in Indian rupees, plus a VFS service charge. The Netherlands advises applying no later than 45 days before travel, as peak-season demand can push decisions toward the 45-day limit.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No one honestly can. The decision rests entirely with the Netherlands consulate. What we do is give you a frank read on your case and make the application as complete and convincing as possible. Across the last two to three years, our applications have carried a 97% success rate.
I'm visiting several Schengen countries. Do I apply through the Netherlands?
Not automatically. Apply through the country that is your main purpose of travel. If the purpose is the same everywhere, such as a holiday, apply through the country where you will stay the longest. If the days split evenly, apply through the country you enter first. The Netherlands is the right choice only when one of these rules points to it as your main destination.
How long does the visa take?
Most decisions land within 25 calendar days of your application reaching the consulate. It can stretch to 45 calendar days when the file needs further checks or extra documents. Add a few days for VFS Global to transfer and return your passport, and apply well before you travel.
Is travel medical insurance mandatory?
Yes. Every Schengen applicant needs travel medical insurance in their own name, valid across all Schengen countries for the whole stay, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 in medical cover including hospitalisation, emergency treatment and repatriation. We help you arrange a policy that meets the requirement.