Netherlands visa processing time from India: about 41 days right now
Netherlands visas from India are taking about 41 days right now. Most passports from applications made on 8–10 Sept 2026 are now out. People who applied 1½ to 3 months ago waited about 37 days (median across all VFS centres), 9 in 10 within 43 days.
Based on 21,692 passports we've seen dispatched by BlueDart · Updated
Anyone waiting for a Schengen visa from India who wants to see how fast the embassies are returning passports. We show overall progress from courier data. We can't show the decision or status of your own application; for that, use VFS tracking or contact the embassy.
From BlueDart's public tracking. VFS sends passports back by BlueDart, and each shipment carries the applicant's VFS reference number, which follows a fixed pattern (country, city, application date and serial). We check references in that pattern on BlueDart's tracking page several times a day, so every passport listed here is a real, dispatched shipment. You can check any of them yourself with "Verify on BlueDart".
Several times a day. Netherlands updates at 11:30 AM, 6 PM, 12 AM, 1 AM and 3:30 AM IST, Tuesday to Saturday. Most new dispatches appear after midnight, when the courier picks up the day's passports. Couriers don't pick up passports at weekends, so on Sunday it updates only at 6 PM and on Monday not at all; Monday's passports appear from 12 AM that night.
Usually because the day isn't over: most of a day's passports appear in the 12 AM update, after the courier picks them up. Some days really are quiet, for example around a holiday or when the embassy sends fewer passports back. If your own passport was dispatched and still isn't here the next morning, tell us with your reference number.
It's the latest application date for which about 70% of a typical day's passports have been dispatched. Some people who applied on or before that date are still waiting, so it isn't a cutoff.
Your reference number contains your application date. For example, NLDBLR170826004901 means Netherlands (NLD), Bangalore (BLR), applied 17 Aug 2026 (170826), serial 0049, first person on the file (01). Under "By application date", tap your date's bar to see every passport dispatched from that day. Switch to Boxes to see which serial numbers haven't been seen yet.
Each box is one application, numbered by the 4 digits after the date in the reference number. Green means at least one passport on it has been dispatched. "Not seen yet" is a number below the highest one dispatched that we haven't seen: that application may still be with the embassy, collected in person, withdrawn, or the number may never have been used. "Possible on a busy day" (dashed) is a number above the highest one seen, up to how many applications the centre takes on a busy day, so it may not exist at all.
The embassy doesn't work strictly in date order, and each day's applications go out over several weeks. So later dates moving doesn't mean yours was skipped. See what applicants found →
In calendar days, weekends and holidays included, from the day you applied at VFS. Under the EU visa rules the embassy should decide within 15 days, and can take up to 45 in individual cases. Applicants report that embassies rarely answer questions about an application before day 45. Answers from applicants at the 45-day mark →
Usually, yes. Many applicants see EES turn OK a day or two before VFS or the courier shows anything. Check with dates inside your planned trip: outside your visa's dates it shows Not OK even when you have one.
Not on its own. Applicants here have received approved visas while EES still showed Not OK, and others saw it turn OK only the day after their passport was dispatched. The decision is in your passport, so wait for it. Read what applicants saw with EES →
It depends where you collect it. Passports collected in person at VFS Delhi never go by courier, so they can't show up here. If you collect at another centre, your passport is sent there by courier, so it usually shows up.
It happens rarely, usually when the courier record is missing or late. If that's you, with your reference number and we'll look into it.
No. VisaTrackr is an independent, free tool. We're not connected to VFS Global, any embassy or any courier company.
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From applicants who've been through the process
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🙌 Helpers of the week (10–17 Oct) Thank you to the people who took time to help others this week: 1. Krish walked Rushil through the EES check step by step: which dates to enter, where the passport number goes, and what OK can and can't tell you View comment → 2. HK shared the Dutch embassy's phone number and how the call works once 45 days have passed: they raise a signal, and you call again if nothing comes within 10 days View comment → 3. random_pelican shared the NetherlandsWorldwide number, and that they can't do anything before 45 calendar days View comment → 4. Aayush kept Swiss applicants posted: EES turned OK one day, and the passport was dispatched the next View comment → 5. DS got a Swiss visa while EES still said NOT OK, a reminder that NOT OK doesn't always mean a refusal View comment → 6. NM came back with a full timeline: a multi-entry visa after 46 days, no email from VFS, and a reminder that waits close to 45 days are normal right now View comment → 7. SD found that EES showed NOT OK with no dates entered, and OK once the arrival date was filled in View comment → 8. Divya explained that you can email VFS to switch from courier to self-collection (about ₹850), which is usually faster View comment → 9. daisy told a worried group that she applied on 4 Sep from VFS Mumbai with no travel history, and got her visa on 3 Oct View comment → When you're anxious about your passport, a reply from someone who's been through it means a lot. 🙏
Applied to Netherlands visa from Chennai on 10 September reached embassy on 14. Journey date was 10 October then postponed to 29 October. Still not sure if passport would turn up before that 😅
I applied for my Netherlands Schengen visa at VFS Bangalore on 10 September 2026, and my application reached the Embassy on 14 September 2026. However, I have not received any updates on my application so far, and my intended travel date of 9 October 2026 has already passed. Could you please let me know the current status of my application and advise me on what I should do next?
@DD hoping will get this week, what about you
@MM sure I will inform you
Anyone got dispatch mail or ees got updated today for netherlands for application on 11th sept?
I received my passport yesterday, had applied in VFS Bangalore along with my infant and my husband. But there Is no update on my husband and infant's passport. Is this common ? Even when you all have submitted together with similar documents on same day? My travel is day after, do you think Ill be able to receive their passports today?
Does the Consular Office process business visas separately from tourist visas? I applied on 6 October and hoping to attend and speak in a conference 21-23 October. I am aware it's a very tight turnaround time (I was invited quite late), but is it impossible?
I have submitted file on August 5th at Hyderabad vfs and my travel dates has also started still I haven't received any decision, so can I know when can I expect my decision and is there any chances for my approval
What time does it get updated? Applied on 18th sept and travel is on 19th oct Monday
Did they forget applications from 10th September 😏
We are also waiting We didn't get any message notification yet. Applied on 10th sep
9th september, no update yet
Hey fam, I am waiting for my visa and my travel is on 23rd. All it says is this: Your visa application with reference number: NLD/DEL/180926/0019/01 has been dispatched to the Dutch Embassy in New Delhi. Your application will be further processed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands.You will receive an automatic e-mail once your application has been processed. Any suggestions what to do here? :/
Based on the current trends you can wait till 22nd and reschedule the flights i think. Its normally taking around 40 days for the application.
Yeah, but still this doesn’t add up. And also there is no process or option to expedite or make changes etc
I applied on 6th october 2026, I have to attend a conference on November 17th in Netherlands. Will I be able to get my visa by then?
Hi, what conference are you attending? I am also traveling to attend a conference in Netherlands. Applied for visa on 21st September, no update as of yet.
If the lag time reduces by this week then you can take chance of waiting which i doubt as again tomorrow embassy is not working. Or you can withdraw and apply from other Schengen country with less lag time. May be France or Germany.
They worked so hard today. Sent whole lot of 3 passports for Mumbai.
Thanks you. Day 39 ,but still the same.. i didn't opt for courier so I'm assuming I won't get the tracking on this site?
If you opted for self pick up then no you won’t get tracking here. But you can track via VFS website
My EES has come ok, but I have not received any email from the Dutch Embassy. How is it possible, what should I do? My travel date 18th October!
When should my passport be dispatched tentatively
Any update on your passport @Janvi?
Their system is beyond ridiculous. My husband and I applied on 11th September, and I was supposed to fly tomorrow. Just thinking out loud, wouldn’t it be simpler and fairer to process visas date wise instead of playing inky pinky ponky with applications? People are left hanging and unable to plan their lives while someone who applied on 11th Oct got their visa on 15th Oct. It’s beyond frustrating to see people who applied a month later get their visas in four days while you’re still waiting.
Hey @Ank did you get?
No, nothing. 38 days and counting, way past my travel dates now.
I have been to Europe twice and my husband far too many times but this never happened. It's taking Netherlands 30 odd days to respond. Austria Schengen came in 15 days. I was so sure, I had booked non refundable KLM flights and now with just 2 days left, I cannot do anything. This is extremely frustrating.
My husband and I submitted our visa applications in Mumbai on 11th September, and this is the first time we’ve experienced such an unreasonable delay despite having travelled twice before. We are now past the fifth week since submitting our applications, with absolutely no update, and our travel date of 16th October has already passed. Processing applications within the promised timeframe should be basic, especially when we pay for the service without any guarantee of a return.
I submitted my son and my file on 28 sep biomtric it’s visit family freind case so I mentioned my travel date 22 oct to 5 nov it’s 17 days has been done
Any update yet?
SEPT 14 applications Blr (and all cities) Classic VFS/Consulate glitch! When an entire date lot like Sept 14 stalls while dates before and after move... 1. Batch Bottlenecks: Physical/digital crates from Sept 14 likely got dumped into a single stagnant reviewer queue. 2. Holiday Glitch: Partial staffing around Sept 14 (Ganesh Chaturthi) disrupted processing logs. 3. Zero FIFO Will emailing the consulate with reference number and urgent travel date can trigger a manual que checks?
I applied for my visa to Netherlands on 7th sep from Hyderabad. This past Friday the EES status turned to OK. My travel dates while applying were, oct 11-nov 17. I missed my older flight. Just want to understand is it safe to book a flight for this Friday early hours? Also, tentatively, what would be my visa start date? I see it's given for 45 days.
dont put any
@NS thank you
My status on VFS got updated to dispatched on 16/10.. but EES says NOT OK.. does that mean it got rejected?
Not necessarily. Sometimes it takes time to update. Some people got their passport with visa before EES turned ok so don’t worry. Hopefully it comes with a stamp🤞🏻
Did you get Visa and what is your EEES status
Hi I applied on Sep 09 at Bangalore so far didn’t get updates almost 36 days passed why this much time taking ?
As per current trend you may get the update in this week.
Hope so
I APPLIES VISA ON 17TH SEPT. 21ST SEPT I RECEVIED INFO THAT IT HAS BEEN SUB,ITTED TO EMBASSY. MY TRAVEL DATE IS 31ST OCT. NO UPDATE TILL YET. ITS WORRYING ME. HOW CAN I TRACK ?
This site is great to check if your visa is dispatched and where the processing has reached. Or else keep checking EES status every working day at 9pm. VFS won't give any update.
We are in same bote i applied on 18th sep and my travel date is 29th oct....I think you will surely get the visa but it's may cut 2 cut...best of luck
Netherlands visa processing — all cities
The Netherlands consistently has one of the longer Schengen visa processing times from India. The Dutch embassy handles a high volume of applications, and processing often lags behind countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland. Amsterdam remains one of the most popular European destinations for Indian travellers, driving heavy demand year-round — especially during summer.
Netherlands Schengen Visa Processing Time from India
We track Netherlands passports returned from all 12 VFS centres in India, 21,692 passports since 24 Jun 2026. Right now Lucknow is the quickest (applications waiting about 24 days) and Jalandhar the slowest (about 45 days). Delhi returns the most, 28% of them. Most of them left on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The latest dispatch we saw was on 19 Oct 2026, and the newest application date with a passport out is 13 Oct 2026.
Every number here comes from BlueDart courier dispatches: when the embassy finishes an application, the passport goes back through BlueDart, and we check those shipments several times a day.
This page aggregates data from all 12 VFS centres in India that process Netherlands visa applications. For city-specific data, select a city from the dropdown above or visit the city comparison page.