Do Indians Need a Transit Visa for Netherlands? 2026 Rules

The rules below are as published on the official sources (NetherlandsWorldwide, VFS Global and the European Commission), checked on 15 October 2026. If you are actually visiting the country rather than passing through, start with our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

Is an Indian passport on the Dutch airport transit visa list?

No. An airport transit visa (ATV) is a separate visa that some nationalities need simply to change planes inside a Schengen airport. Two lists decide who needs one.

• Annex 7A is the EU common list. It applies at every Schengen airport. India is not on it.
• Annex 7B holds the extra national lists that individual Schengen states add. India is not on the Netherlands' list. In Annex 7B, India is marked only for Czechia and Romania.

Because neither list names India for the Netherlands, an Indian passport holder who stays in the international transit area of a Dutch airport does not need an ATV. NetherlandsWorldwide does publish an airport transit visa checklist for India, and VFS lists Airport Transit as a visa category. Those exist for travellers who are on the lists. Based on the Commission's Annex 7A and Annex 7B, an Indian passport holder transiting airside is not in that group.

When does a Dutch layover need a Schengen visa instead?

The exemption covers the international transit area only. The moment you pass Dutch border control, you are entering the Schengen area. India is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa, so that step needs a Schengen visa issued before you fly.

Typical situations where an Indian traveller crosses the border:

• You want to leave the airport during a long layover, for sightseeing or a hotel outside the transit area.
• Your connection is arranged in a way that makes you leave the transit area, for example two separate bookings that the airline cannot connect airside.
• Your trip ends in the Netherlands or elsewhere in the Schengen area. Then you are not transiting at all; you need a Schengen visa for the trip itself.

The one fact the exemption depends on is whether you stay airside. Confirm that with your airline before you book, not at the gate.

Which transit scenario applies to you?

What does a Schengen visa cost if your plan leaves the airport?

If your itinerary crosses the border, you apply for a Schengen visa at a VFS Global centre in India. These are the published charges.

The Netherlands publishes its visa fees in EUR only, with no fixed INR amount. You can pay by card, or in cash in Indian rupees, and VFS also accepts UPI. All fees are non-refundable.

How long does a Dutch Schengen visa take, and where do you apply?

NetherlandsWorldwide currently gives an average of 18 to 21 calendar days for Schengen, airport transit and entry visas. That can rise to 45 calendar days when volumes are high or extra documents are needed. VFS India's page still states an average of 25 calendar days. You can apply up to 6 months before travel and no later than 15 days before.

The Netherlands has 12 VFS centres in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Applicants living in India may use any of them; no state-based restriction is published for Schengen visas. Every person, including babies, needs a separate appointment and must attend in person for fingerprints and a digital photo.

Documents that carry the most weight

• The online Schengen application form (consular.mfaservices.nl), printed and signed; handwritten forms are not accepted
• A passport not older than 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area
• Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen countries, minimum EUR 30,000
• Bank statements for the past 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank, or Indian income tax returns for the last 2 tax years
• A travel reservation to and from the Schengen area; a paid ticket is not required, so a verifiable flight reservation works
• A cover letter, proof of accommodation and proof of ties, such as a leave approval letter and 3 months' payslips

For context, European Commission data shows a refusal rate of 20.7% for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at Dutch consulates in India in 2025 (20,156 visas not issued; 97,650 applications lodged), up from 16.1% in 2024. That covers all travel purposes, not transit cases specifically.

Mistakes to avoid before you fly via the Netherlands

• Treating the Dutch rule as a Schengen-wide rule. Annex 7B lists India for Czechia and Romania, so a connection there is a separate question.
• Planning a quick city visit on a long layover without a visa. Stepping out of the transit area is entry into Schengen.
• Not confirming the connection with the airline. If you cannot stay airside, you need a Schengen visa.
• Applying late if you do need a visa. Apply at least 15 days before travel; decisions can take up to 45 calendar days.
• Overstaying once inside. A Schengen visa allows a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period, and overstaying risks a two-year Schengen visa sanction.

If your trip does need a Schengen visa for the Netherlands, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can I step out of a Dutch airport during a long layover without a visa?

No. Leaving the international transit area means entering the Schengen area, and Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for that. Apply at a VFS Global centre in India up to 6 months and at least 15 days before travel.

Is there a Netherlands visa on arrival or eVisa for Indians?

No. India is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa, and there is no Netherlands eVisa. You fill in the Schengen form online, then submit it in person with fingerprints at a VFS centre after booking an appointment.

How much is the Netherlands airport transit visa fee?

The airport transit visa costs EUR 90.00, EUR 45.00 for children aged 6 to 11 and nothing for children under 6. Indian passport holders who stay in the international transit area do not need this visa.

Who in India handles long-stay MVV visas for the Netherlands?

MVV applications go through the IND, usually filed by the sponsor in the Netherlands. After approval, the MVV sticker is collected by appointment at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates-General in Bengaluru or Mumbai.