How to get a Netherlands visa from India
Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for Indian passport holders travelling to Netherlands.
Visa types & fees
4 visa options for travelling to Netherlands.
Business visa
Tourist visa
Transit visa
Work visa
Application requirements
Documents Indian applicants need to provide.
- A correctly filled and signed visa application form.
- A passport valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of exit from the Netherlands or any other Schengen area.
- Two (2) empty passport pages for visa stamps.
- Two 35x45mm. passport photographs that meet the visa application requirement.
- A national ID or residence permit to prove residence in India.
- A detailed itinerary of your time in the Netherlands
- Proof of enough funds to cover your entire stay in the Netherlands.
- Travel insurance with a minimum of €30,000 for the duration of stay.
- A bank statement for the last 3 months before the application period.
- Documents that demonstrate the purpose of your trip such as an invitation letter from a person or company.
- A police report showing that you don't have a criminal record.
- A return ticket to India or onward ticket to another country.
- For every document, you must provide the original and one photocopy.
Visa type details
Tourist visa
- This visa also is known as the Type-C Schengen visa, is the visa given to travelers who have short term reasons for going into the Netherlands.
- Those going to the Netherlands are issued a Schengen visa because the Netherlands is a part of the European Schengen countries.
- This visa is issued to travelers who intend to visit the Netherlands for purposes such as tourism, visiting family, signing contracts and attending conferences.
- This visa allows the holder to remain in the Netherlands for a maximum period of three months (90 days) within six months (180 days) from the entry date into the Schengen area.
- Note that this visa also allows entry into all other Schengen Member States.
- This visa may be issued in three different kinds of entries: the single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visas.
- All entry visas are valid for 180 days.
- Schengen visa applications must be lodged at a Netherlands embassy.
- Visa applications should be downloaded and must be in writing, giving all details required on the Visa Application Form.
- The application form must be completed and signed by the applicant before submission.
- You are required to add a letter of invitation from the person you are going to visit if the purpose is to visit a friend or relative or hotel reservations spanning the duration of your stay in the Netherlands.
- For minors traveling alone, the application form must be signed by the parents/legal guardians and a consent form should be attached.
- A consent form is also required from the non-traveling parent if the minor is traveling with only one of the parents.
- The minor's birth certificate should be attached to the documents.
- All documents must be written in Dutch, English, French or Spanish.
- If you intend to work or study with this visa, it will not be possible.
- All applicants are expected to have sufficient funds for the duration of their trip. This should be a minimum of 34 euros per day.
- A recent bank statement, payslip or salary cheque is required as proof of sufficient funds.
- Those visiting friends and families are to submit an invitation letter from their host. The letter should state the relationship between the applicant and host, place(s) to visit during the trip and contact details of the host.
- Tourists are required to have a reservation with a tour agency that will cover their transportation and accommodation for the duration of the trip.
- Employed individuals should have a letter from their current employer stating that they are on official leave and would return to their job after the trip.
- Students traveling should present a letter of good conduct from an authority in their school. The letter should also mention that the student obtained the necessary permission to travel.
- Receiving medical treatment is possible with this visa, however, you would need to submit a referral letter from your doctor in India and an appointment letter from the Netherlands.
- Applicants are to have medical health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros valid through the Schengen area and for the duration of the trip.
- A cover letter introducing the applicant and stating the exact purpose of the visit is required.
- Tourists and visitors are expected to abide by all the rules of the country during their visit.
Business visa
- Netherlands business visa allows individuals an uninterrupted stay of up to 90 days to conduct businesses, negotiate and sign contracts and perform other commercial transactions.
- This visa also allows the applicant to attend conferences and seminars during their stay.
- It takes about 10-15 days to process this visa but could take longer if the consul requires additional documents.
- Ensure that the documents submitted are complete and correct. If they are not, the visa processing would take longer.
- A business visa can be a single-entry visa that is valid for 180 days or multiple-entry which is valid for 1 year. However, the individual is not allowed to stay beyond 90 days per visit.
- Those travelling for a conference, require pre-registration and proof of the registration would be submitted during the visa application.
- Applicants are to have medical travel insurance to cover any emergency that could occur during the trip. This insurance must be valid for all Schengen countries.
- The trip has to be financed by the employer of the applicant, or the business partner.
- Whoever will sponsor the trip should provide a bank statement not older than six months showing enough money to last the trip.
- As a business visa holder, you cannot take up any form of employment, seek public funds or study while in the Netherlands.
- The Netherlands host company should send a letter of invitation to the applicant. The letter must explain the type of business to be conducted, and length of the business.
- The company must be registered and should submit a copy of Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint-stock companies) Trade License (first issued and present renewal).
- Self-employed individuals should have their business registration certificate and proof of regular tax payment. They should also have sufficient funds for the trip.
- After every 90 days stay, you have to stay away for an additional 90 days before re-entering the Netherlands.
Transit visa
- This visa is issued to people who want to transit through the Netherlands to another country.
- This visa is called the Airport Transit visa (Type A).
- The Type A visa allows its holder to transit through the international transit areas of one or more airports of the Netherlands without entering.
- It is valid for 24 hours.
- Applicants are to submit a copy of their visa for the state of destination. This would allow them to continue their onward journey.
- An onward airplane ticket valid for the destination is also required.
- Note that you cannot leave the airport nor the international zone of the airport.
- Airport transit visas are not valid for short-stays in any Schengen country.
- All applications must be submitted in person and each document should be in an original and photocopy.
- The documents should be in Dutch, English, French or Spanish.
- Your passport or travel document should not be older than 10 years, should be valid for three months beyond the intended departure date and should have at least two blank pages.
- If you will be traveling with minors, a birth certificate, written consent certified by public notary of parents or guardian is required.
- You must have a visa for the next country and an onward travel ticket.
- If the minor travels alone (without parents), written consent, certified by a public notary, of both parents or guardians having custody or guardianship of the minor and copies of the parent's passport should be submitted.
- Evidence of legal residence in India, e.g. a passport, visa or residence permit and a copy of a work permit is required.
- Indian income tax return acknowledgment for the last two assessment years is required and if the applicant is employed, payslip for the last three months, and employment contract should be included.
- An application without all required documents would be rejected and visa fees are non-refundable.
Long-Stay Visa
- The Long-stay visa is issued to foreigners who intend to stay for a long period in the Netherlands.
- The purposes for applying for this visa include employment, studies, professional activities, commercial activities, family reunification, scientific research, and so many other long term reasons.
- The two visa types under the Type-D visa that are mostly applied for are the Work Visa and the Student visa.
- The following are the necessary things needed for these two visas:-
- Work Visa (Type D/AM)
- This visa is issued to those who want to take up paid employment in the Netherlands. It is issued as a long-stay visa (D-type).
- Work visas are obtained for the employees by the employing company.
- Documentation of employment given by the Dutch employer would be needed for the application.
- It is recommended that the procedure be initiated five weeks before arrival in the Netherlands.
- The long-stay visa for employment or work visa can also be issued to third-state nationals who travel to the Netherlands for employment as seasonal workers.
- Applicants are to obtain a right of residence to also back up the work permit.
- Student Visa (Type D/SD)
- This visa is issued to foreigners who want to attend an educational institution in the Netherlands.
- Applicants of this visa are issued the Type-D Schengen visa (also called the National visa) and would have the purpose of their travel (e.g. for study) appended on their visa.
- You must have received an offer of admission from an educational institution in the Netherlands before you can apply for a student visa.
- You must also apply for a residence permit which will allow you to live in the Netherlands for the duration of your studies in the country. This permit is of two types:
- Provisional Residence Permit (MVV) - It is an entry visa that allows you to enter the Netherlands at any point within six months. This is to show that you are not a tourist in the country. Students are advised to apply for the MVV at least 3 months before their intended arrival date in the Netherlands.
- Residence Permit - if you have been accepted into a Dutch institution and offered an MVV, your host institution is obliged to apply for a residence permit on your behalf. This will be done within 5 days of your arrival.
- You are required to provide your academic transcripts to prove that you satisfy the conditions for access to higher education in the Netherlands.
- You should note that your student visa can be withdrawn if you do not maintain sufficient progress in regards to your academic performance (at least 50 percent of the required credits each academic year).
Where to apply
Netherlands embassy & visa application centers in India.
New Delhi
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Frequently asked questions
Can women travel to the Netherlands
What is the most famous food in Netherlands
Can I use my credit card in Netherlands
Is getting tourist accommodation easy in Netherlands
Can you drink in public in the Netherlands
Drinking in public is generally frowned at in the Netherlands especially for people who are not up to the legal age for drinking. Drinking in public in Amsterdam is illegal and attracts a fine of €90.
Is the process for getting a visa for the Netherlands easy
Yes, it is relatively easy to get a Netherlands visa. This is particularly because the kind of visa gotten for this country is the popular Schengen visa.
What language is spoken in the Netherlands
The national language in the Netherlands is Dutch, a West Germanic language. However, the Frisian is also an official language of the Netherlands. While English is not an official language in the Netherlands, about 90% of the population can speak some English.