Do India passport holders need a visa to visit NL?

Indian ordinary passport holders need a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa before traveling to the Netherlands for tourism. There is no visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eVisa option, and ETIAS does not apply to visa-required nationals like India. The Netherlands is a Schengen Area member, and India is on the EU list of nationalities that require a visa for short stays. An Indian ordinary passport holder must therefore obtain a Schengen Type C short-stay visa from the Netherlands before departure, applying through the official VFS Global application centres in India on behalf of the Dutch consulate. The visa permits a stay of up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area. The standard adult visa fee is EUR 90 (raised from EUR 80 on 11 June 2024), plus a non-refundable VFS service charge paid in INR. Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are collected at the appointment unless valid biometrics are already on file. As of 30 May 2026, ETIAS has not yet launched and, when it does (planned Q4 2026), it will not apply to Indian nationals because ETIAS is only for visa-exempt travelers — Indians continue to use the standard Schengen visa. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is operational, recording biometric entry/exit digitally instead of stamping passports. Travelers should apply at least 3 weeks (ideally 6–8 weeks) before travel, with the application window opening up to 6 months ahead.