Kinderdijk in August

Visa needed before you fly for up to 90 days, about ₹11,445

1. Apply for a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa at a VFS Global Netherlands centre in India (12 cities, from New Delhi and Mumbai to Kochi and Jalandhar) at least 45 days before you fly, and no earlier than 6 months. Apply to the Netherlands if it is your only or longest stay in Schengen. The fee is €90 (about ₹9,600; €45 for children 6-11) plus VFS's ₹1,855 service charge, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused.
2. At the appointment give your fingerprints and photo (skipped if you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months). A decision takes about 15 days, up to 45 days if more checks are needed. Appointments are hardest to get from April to July: book as soon as your dates are fixed.
3. If you have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the last three years, ask for a multiple-entry visa: under the EU's 2024 cascade rules for Indians you can be given a two-year visa, then a five-year one.
4. On your first arrival in the Schengen Area your fingerprints and face are scanned at passport control (the EU Entry/Exit System, in full use since April 2026) instead of a stamp. Allow extra time at Schiphol.

Carry: Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area, with two blank pages; Completed visa application form and two recent photos (35 x 45 mm); Travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip; Return flight booking and a day-by-day itinerary; Hotel bookings for every night; Bank statements for the last 3-6 months, income-tax returns, and a leave letter from your employer (or business or college papers).

One Schengen visa covers the Netherlands and every other Schengen country (France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and more) for up to 90 days in any 180, but not the United Kingdom, which needs its own visa. ETIAS is only for visa-free travellers, so it does not affect you. Appointment waits vary by city and season: check visa.vfsglobal.com before you book flights.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.