Indians are among the most traveled global citizens, and one of the most sought-after visas is the Schengen visa Netherlands from India. Due to the large concentration of Indians living, schooling, and working in Europe, it is not uncommon to find an Indian with a valid Schengen Netherlands visa entering or exiting the continent. Of all the countries in Europe where you will find Indians, the Netherlands is one of them.
Every year the Netherlands embassy in India processes visa applications in hundreds and thousands, so if you wish to visit the Northern European country, the opportunity is available as long as you meet the Netherlands Schengen visa requirements.
Schengen Visa
The Netherlands is a founding member of several international organizations, such as the Eurozone, NATO, OECD, G10, WTO, the European Union, and the Schengen Area, which it co-founded in 1995. This move abolished the country's artificial borders, allowing free entry and exit to and from the country to other Schengen countries.
The Dutch government issues Schengen visas through the appropriate ministry in line with approved Schengen rules.
A Schengen visa is a short-term visa that qualifies the holder to stay in the Netherlands or any other Schengen country for up to 90 days. It is valid for 180 days and is only used for short visits. The visa is issued by embassies, consulates, and visa application agents of Schengen countries worldwide.
There are 26 Schengen countries in the Area, and each is entitled to issue this visa. The good thing about holding a Schengen visa as an Indian is that you can visit the Netherlands and the other 25 countries in the Area if your visa is valid. This saves travelers the extra cost of applying for a new visa for every country they wish to enter in Europe.
Lastly, we must point out that not all European countries are members of the Schengen Area, but all Schengen countries are in Europe, including the Netherlands. This means that despite holding the visa, there are a few countries you cannot visit.
Do Indians Need A Netherland Schengen Visa?
Indians need a visa to enter the Netherlands because India is not on the visa-free list Dutch government.
So as an Indian passport holder, you must apply for and obtain the visa before boarding a flight to Amsterdam.
How To Apply For Schengen Visa From India?
The first thing you should do before submitting your visa application is to determine the purpose of your trip and how long you wish to stay there. You must also determine the number of times you wish to visit in a calendar year. For frequent trips, you may need to apply for a multiple entry visa with an extended validity, not a single entry visa.
Once you know the length of time you wish to stay, the next step is to prepare your documents before booking your application with the Dutch embassy or consulate in India. If you live far away, you can find the nearest visa application center to submit your documents for processing.
Cost Of Schengen Visa For Indians?
The application fee for the visa ranges from €80 for adults to €40 for minors but with slight differences. Children under 12 years are charged €40, while children under 6 years don't pay any fee. This fee must be paid with the receipt attached to other documents as evidence of payment. Visa fees are also waived for charity organization representatives, researchers, students, or participants in sporting and cultural events.
Visa Processing Timeframe
It is always best to apply for a visa at least three months before your planned trip because you never know what the season is like. Schengen visa applications take about 15 days, but in some cases, they may take a longer time. The last thing you want is to be forced to change or scrap your plans because your visa is not processed on time. The Summer holidays of July and August are often the busiest months of the year at embassies and processing centers to plan and apply on time.
Documents All Indians Must Submit For A Netherlands Schengen Visa
As an Indian citizen, here are the documents the Dutch authorities will request of you.
Visa Application Form: A visa application form duly signed and completed by you. All the fields must be correctly filled, with none left blank.
Indian Passport: A valid Indian passport issued not later than 10 years ago. It must have two blank pages and six months' validity.
Travel Medical Insurance: The Netherlands government expects all Schengen visitors to have an active travel insurance minimum cover of €30,000. Only Schengen-recognized insurance companies are accepted.
Cover Letter: You must provide a signed cover letter explaining your purpose for coming to the Netherlands and your flight Itinerary.
Proof of funds: A statement of account to prove that you have the resources to cover your daily expenses of at least €35 minimum.
Photo: Two recent passport-sized photographs that meet Schengen photos requirements
There may be other Schengen visa Netherlands from India requirements besides those listed above for Indian applicants.