Skip to content
VisaGuideline
Menu

Netherlands

Netherlands visa

Europe · Western Europe

In the Netherlands, the immigration and naturalisation service (IND), attached to the ministry of justice and security, handles residence permits. The pages consulted on 17 September 2026 distinguish the Schengen short stay, limited to 90 days in any 180-day period and applied for from the country of residence, from the long stay, which goes through the provisional residence permit (MVV) applied for at the same time as the residence permit. The IND publishes its fees in euros.

Updated on 18 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND), ministry of justice and security; short-stay visas are applied for at a Netherlands mission
Where to apply
Short-stay visa applied for in the country of residence, for example at the embassy or consulate of the Netherlands; MVV and residence permit application filed by the sponsor in the Netherlands or by the person themselves from abroad
Electronic visa
Not stated on the portal consulted
Portal language
Dutch and English (English version consulted)

Do you need a visa?

India passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa required (Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated version of 30.12.2025).

Official source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II (consolidated version of 30.12.2025)EUR-Lex — Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, annexes I et II (version consolidée du 30.12.2025) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Netherlands visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 60

List of nationalities

Visa required 104

List of nationalities

Information not available 7

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

“Short stay, holiday or business visa”
According to the page, it allows a stay of 90 days at most in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Official page (new tab)
“Transit visa” — transit visa
Category priced on the IND fees page. Conditions not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
“Provisional residence permit (MVV)”
According to the page, it is an entry visa in the form of a type D sticker placed in the passport, multiple-entry and valid in the Schengen area. It is applied for at the same time as the residence permit. Official page (new tab)
“Residence permit” — residence permit
The IND groups permits by purpose: family and partner, work, study, au pair and exchange, EU and EEA citizens, EU long-term residence, other purposes and asylum. Official page (new tab)
“Return visa” — return visa
Category named by the IND and priced on its fees page. Conditions not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

For a short stay, the page consulted states that the visa application is made in the country where you live, for example at the Netherlands mission, embassy or consulate. For the Schengen visa fee, the IND refers readers to the Netherlands Worldwide site.

For a stay of more than 90 days, the page devoted to the provisional residence permit states that the MVV and the residence permit are applied for at the same time, and that the sponsor established in the Netherlands usually files the application; where there is no sponsor, the person may file the application themselves from abroad. The IND also offers appointment booking for a residence permit, a return visa, biometric data, a residence certificate, an EU registration card and the handing over of an original document.

Steps of the procedure

  1. Determine the length of the planned stay: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, or beyond.
  2. For a short stay, prepare the file and file the visa application in the country of residence, at the Netherlands mission.
  3. Gather the proof of resources, accommodation and insurance required by the page consulted.
  4. For a long stay, have the sponsor in the Netherlands file the MVV and residence permit application, or file it yourself from abroad.
  5. Pay the fees published by the IND for the category applied for.
  6. Provide biometric data when the IND requests it, by appointment.
  7. After entering with the MVV, collect the residence permit in the Netherlands.

Documents listed by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page prevails. These documents are those listed for the short-stay visa.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: for the Schengen short-stay visa, the IND refers readers to the Netherlands Worldwide site; an extension costs 30 euros, and 0 euros where it is due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control. The transit visa costs 80 euros, 40 euros for children aged 6 to 12 and 0 euros under the age of 6. The return visa costs 197 euros.

According to the same portal consulted on 17 September 2026, a first residence permit application costs 254 euros for family reunification, 254 euros for study, 423 euros for employment, and 85 euros for a child under 18 accompanying an adoptive or foster parent. The page specifies that the fees change every January 1 and apply from January 1 to December 31.

After the decision

According to the page consulted, the holder of an MVV travels to the Netherlands and collects their residence permit there. The IND provides a “My IND” area for tracking the status of an application.

The site has separate sections for extending a Schengen visa or a visa-free period of stay, converting a single-entry Schengen visa into a multiple-entry visa, and challenging a decision on a Schengen or transit visa.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Where is the application filed?

For a short stay, in the country of residence, for example at the embassy or consulate of the Netherlands. For a long stay, the MVV and residence permit application is filed by the sponsor in the Netherlands or by the person themselves from abroad.

What is the MVV?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, it is an entry visa in the form of a type D sticker placed in the passport, multiple-entry and valid in the Schengen area; it is applied for at the same time as the residence permit.

How long can you stay on a short-stay visa?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, 90 days at most in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

What fees are stated?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: 80 euros for a transit visa, 30 euros for a Schengen visa extension, 197 euros for a return visa, 254 euros for a first residence permit application for family reunification or study, 423 euros for employment. For the Schengen visa itself, the IND refers readers to the Netherlands Worldwide site.

What financial means must be shown for a short stay?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, at least 55 euros per person per day for the length of the stay.

Points to check with the authority

Free, with or without an account

Without an account, get the document list for your situation. With a free account, tick off your documents, track your progress and come back to your case at any time.

Get my document list Create a free account I already have an account