Netherlands Visa Mistakes Indians Make (and How to Avoid Them)

The rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11 and free under 6, and VFS Global charges INR 1,890 per application at all 12 Netherlands centres in India.

How often are Dutch Schengen visas refused in India?

European Commission statistics give the share of Schengen applications lodged at Dutch consulates in India that were not issued: 20.7% in 2025 (20,156 of 97,650 applications), up from 16.1% in 2024 (14,569 of 91,003). These figures describe past outcomes across all applicants. They are not a prediction for your file.

NetherlandsWorldwide cannot tell you why an application was refused; the reasons are in the decision letter. That makes prevention the better strategy, and most of the mistakes below are fully in your control.

Which booking mistakes can stop you at the VFS counter?

1. Booking under the wrong visa category

VFS Global states that if you book the wrong category, you cannot submit on the day and you lose the VFS service fee. Choose between tourism, business, visiting family and friends, medical treatment, seafarers and the other categories carefully when booking.

2. Using an intermediary or one slot for the family

Book your own appointment online at VFS Global, not through an intermediary. Every person, including babies and children, needs a separate appointment and must attend in person. Only Orange Carpet applicants and official passport holders can walk in without one.

3. Filing too late

You can apply up to 6 months before travel (seafarers 9 months) and must apply at least 15 days before. NetherlandsWorldwide gives an average of 18 to 21 calendar days, while VFS India's page still states 25 calendar days; both put the maximum at 45 calendar days. It is not possible to speed up processing.

4. Applying in the wrong country

Schengen visas are applied for where you legally live. The India centres accept applicants living in India, Afghanistan or Bhutan. An Indian living in the UAE, for example, applies at VFS Global in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Which document mistakes weaken the file?

Add a cover letter stating the reason for your visit, the duration, the names of fellow travellers, and your transport and accommodation details. You do not need to bring a photo: VFS takes a digital photo and fingerprints at the appointment.

Is your travel insurance good enough?

The insurance rules are specific, so check your policy line by line. It must cover all Schengen countries for the entire trip, including the arrival and departure dates, with at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover. NetherlandsWorldwide lists the expenses to be covered: hospital admission and treatment, emergency treatment, prescription medicine and repatriation to your country of residence, including in the event of death. The policy schedule must name you, and VFS publishes an approved list of insurance companies in India.

What goes wrong with family visits and minors?

If you stay with the person who invites you, you need the original proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form, signed by your host and legalised by the Dutch municipality where they are registered. Questions 3A and 3B are answered 'yes' if the host also covers your costs, medical care and repatriation. If someone other than your host pays, add a separate invitation or sponsorship form from that person, plus a colour copy of the inviting person's Dutch ID, passport or residence permit.

For a minor travelling alone or with one parent, bring a recent extract of the birth certificate, written consent notarised by a public notary from the non-travelling parent(s), and copies of their passports.

Which mistakes happen after you submit?

• Chasing the embassy for status. Track online on the VFS website with the reference number on your receipt (it starts with the city letters and 'NL', such as DENL for New Delhi). NetherlandsWorldwide and the embassy cannot give updates; contact VFS if you have heard nothing after 45 days.
• Misreading the visa. A Schengen visa allows a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Overstaying risks a two-year Schengen visa sanction.
• Ignoring the multiple-entry cascade. Under an EU decision of 18 April 2024, Indians living in India who obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years are issued a two-year multiple-entry visa.
• Applying for a transit visa you do not need. India is not on the EU or Dutch airport-transit-visa lists, so staying in the international transit area of a Dutch airport needs no transit visa.
• Reapplying blindly after a refusal. You can object in writing to the IND within four weeks of the decision date, or submit a new application with the missing documents. For a new application, the visa fee and VFS charges are not refunded and must be paid again.

For fees, centres and long-stay routes, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, day-by-day itineraries and cover letters for Schengen files. Packages start at INR 1,000 for a flight reservation and go up to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or write to us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay the Netherlands visa fee in Indian rupees?

The visa fee is published in euros only, with no fixed INR amount. NetherlandsWorldwide says you can pay by card or in cash in Indian rupees, and VFS lists cash, debit or credit card and UPI.

Which Netherlands consulate covers Maharashtra or Karnataka?

The Consulate-General in Mumbai covers Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, and the Consulate-General in Bengaluru covers Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. For a Schengen visa you may still apply at any of the 12 VFS centres in India.

Can a family member in the Netherlands object to my refusal?

Yes, for family visits. You can object in writing to the IND within four weeks of the date on the decision, either yourself or through someone you authorise, and family or friends in the Netherlands can object online on your behalf.

Is the VFS service charge refunded if my visa is refused?

No. VFS states that all fees are non-refundable, and a new application after a refusal means paying the visa fee and VFS charges again.