Does Netherlands Offer Visa on Arrival to Indians?

The question comes up because some popular destinations for Indians do offer arrival visas or online approvals, and because transit rules at European airports differ by country. For the Netherlands the position is simple, with one useful exception for transit passengers. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For fees, documents and processing in full, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

Why can't Indians get a visa on arrival in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands applies the common Schengen visa rules, and India is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa to cross the external borders. Indian passport holders must therefore hold a Schengen visa before they board. Dutch border officers do not issue visas on arrival, and there is no visa-free short stay for ordinary Indian passports.

A Schengen visa issued by the Netherlands allows a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. Overstaying risks a two-year Schengen visa sanction, according to the Dutch Tourist Visa checklist.

Is there a Netherlands eVisa you can get online?

No. The Netherlands has no eVisa. The online part is only the application form: you fill in the Schengen form at consular.mfaservices.nl, print and sign it, and then submit it in person with fingerprints at a VFS centre after booking an appointment.

• Every applicant needs an individual appointment, including babies and children, and must attend in person.
• Only Orange Carpet applicants and official passport holders may walk in without an appointment, during fixed morning windows.
• Book under the correct visa category. If it is wrong, you cannot submit on the day and you lose the VFS service fee.

Do you need a visa to change planes at a Dutch airport?

Not if you stay airside. India is not on the EU's common airport-transit-visa list (Annex 7A) or on the Netherlands' national list (Annex 7B, where India is marked only for Czechia and Romania). An Indian passport holder who stays in the international transit area of a Dutch airport therefore does not need an airport transit visa.

The exception has a hard edge. Leaving the transit area means entering the Netherlands, and that needs a Schengen visa. If your plan involves leaving the international transit area for any reason, such as a night in a city hotel between flights, apply for the visa.

How do you get the Schengen visa before you fly?

The visa fee is published only in euros; you pay by card or in cash in Indian rupees. Frequent travellers benefit from an EU rule of 18 April 2024: Indians living in India who have obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years are issued a two-year multiple-entry visa.

For context, Dutch consulates in India had a refusal rate of 20.7% for short-stay Schengen applications in 2025, according to European Commission statistics (20,156 visas not issued; 97,650 applications lodged). That figure describes all applicants and all refusal reasons; it is not a forecast for your file.

What if you are an Indian living outside India?

Schengen visas are applied for in the country where you legally live. The VFS centres in India accept applicants living in India, Afghanistan or Bhutan. NetherlandsWorldwide lists VFS Global centres elsewhere for residents of those countries:

• United Kingdom: Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester
• United States: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington D.C.
• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
• Saudi Arabia: Al Khobar, Dhahran, Jeddah, Riyadh
• Kuwait City, Doha and Muscat for residents of Kuwait, Qatar and Oman
• Singapore, for residents of Singapore or Brunei

What about moving to the Netherlands, or returning as a resident?

Stays longer than 90 days work differently. A long-stay MVV is applied for with the IND, usually by your sponsor, such as an employer, a university or a family member. After a positive decision you book an MVV sticker appointment at the embassy in New Delhi or the consulate-general in Bangalore or Mumbai within 3 months; the passport with the MVV is ready in up to 10 working days, and you then travel within 90 days.

Holders of a Dutch long-term residence permit that was lost, stolen or expired abroad apply for an "entry visa" instead, which costs EUR 90.00. None of these routes involves getting a visa at the airport.

Since the Dutch checklist accepts a reservation rather than a paid ticket, a verifiable flight reservation is enough for your file. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations from INR 1,000, and a combined package with hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter for INR 3,000. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page; see also our flight reservation service.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I apply for a Netherlands Schengen visa from India?

You can apply up to 6 months before travel, and no later than 15 days before. Seafarers can apply up to 9 months ahead. NetherlandsWorldwide currently gives an average of 18 to 21 calendar days for a decision.

Can I walk into a Netherlands VFS centre without an appointment?

Only Orange Carpet applicants and official passport holders can walk in, during set morning hours. Everyone else must book an individual appointment online with VFS Global, including babies and children.

What happens if my Netherlands visa is refused?

You receive a decision letter giving the reasons. You can object in writing to the IND within four weeks of the date on the decision, or submit a new application with the missing documents, paying the visa fee and VFS charges again.

Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Netherlands visa?

Yes. A Schengen visa allows a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. The Dutch checklist asks for proof of accommodation for each Schengen country you visit.