Netherlands visa processing time from Delhi: about 41 days right now
Netherlands visas from VFS Delhi 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 40 days (median), 9 in 10 within 44 days.
Based on 6,055 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. 🙏
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
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?
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?
Is the embassy closed on Monday?
I don't think so. As per Netherlands embassy site. It's a holiday on Tuesday. Link:
A frustrating journey has come to an end after 30 days for a business visa!! The longest VISA processing time I have ever witnessed.. Hope Netherlands will rectify this in future... BTW thank you @VisaTracker team for the platform...
“Is anyone still waiting for the 10th September update?” Thanks!
Hi All, My Family applied for visa at Chennai on 10th of September and it is submitted to Delhi on 14th of September . Status remains same from then that it is processing in Netherlands And their travel date is 22nd of October. Should we count the calendar days from visa appointment date or from the time of passport submitted to Delhi date. Could you please help. Thanks in advance.
I don’t know if there’s some glitch with site or some issue with my internet. I can’t see update of 14th Oct.. Daily it goes around 12:00am.
Hi VS, you are right. I am checking whether VFS has not updated shipments or there is an issue in the site.
Thanks Visatrackr because of you I had a track of my application timeline throughout. God bless you! For everyone's knowledge - my application date was 31st August received my passport back with visa today 14th October. Total processing days - 44 days.
I also just got my passport with visa ( multi entry ,90days) I got the same befor also but to my surprise it took in total 46 days . That’s a lot . So all of you pls keep in mind that it is normal to get the decision dragged to 45 days. Mind you this is not the peak season. Thank you all for the help and the information . TLYK I havnt gotten any email via VFS regarding the visa dispatch.
Hi! While checking EES, if departure date has still time but arrival date has passed. Application says it’s with embassy. Which dates to fill in EES? The same I opted for or any other date? Can anyone help me out with this? Thanks!
Search without filling the dates, as the dates are not compulsory
So disappointed with this overall timeline . Been almost 38 days and had my other trips planned but no update yet. They shouldn’t be even allowed to hold passport so long . Delhi -Netherland embassy
Thanks a lot everyone for your wonderful help and have been grateful for this website. Hats off to the creator 💯 I finally received my passport today after 44 days of wait application date - 01/09/2026 Off to Amsterdam now !!!! 🎉 🎉 Good luck to all those who are waiting You all will get through 🫶🏻
I have had two Schengen visas before [both this year, one for work (March) and the other for tourism (July)]. I applied for a Netherlands visa on September 28, 2026, for work travel scheduled to begin on October 25, 2026, from Delhi, as I have been here for some time. I have an H-1 B, a job in the US, and Canadian PR, so I was hoping the process would be seamless, given my travel history. Unfortunately, there has been radio silence since my application. Any idea what could be the holdup?
Not sure but i believe that very early applications either are the straightforward rejects or maybe the orange carpet
Hi KD as per my observations they are not processing application in orders. I also have valid b1/b2 and canada visitor visa. I have also applied on September 28. Waiting for the response.
I got my Ess ok passport dispatched Thank you @visatracker Application date 31 August
Hi Jaspreet let us know about your visa when you got your passport.
This is so annoying applications before me and after me have been sent back, mine is still stuck from 31st august. So helpless with this process. Don't even know what basis this is happening.
What is the status of 1st September? Today is my 42nd day.
Krish Bro thanks alot. How about your application status ? Also I did not opt for the courier service option. I opted for the self collection option.
@Krish highly appreciated 👍
I Contacted the netherlands worlwide and recieved the following msg To whom it may concern. You have recently contacted us regarding the status of your visa application. • Your application is visible and has been processed. but i couldn't see any update on vfs site and also on bluedart
@NM you can call them on this number +91 11 24 19 76 00. But only if your application date has passed 45 days... They ll raise a signal and let you know that the embassy ll process on high priority and email you.. if you dont hear from VFS within 10 days of raising signal.. then u ll hv to call the number again after 10 days..
Hey @HK, do you know how many days it takes after signaling your application?
Any change in the vfs application status for today? Anyone?
Netherlands visa processing from Delhi
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 Delhi, India
Applications at VFS Delhi are waiting about 41 days right now, about the same as the Netherlands average across India (41 days). That makes it number 8, counting from the quickest, of the 12 Netherlands centres with enough recent data. We've seen 6,055 passports returned from VFS Delhi since 24 Jun 2026, 28% of all the Netherlands passports we track. 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 12 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.
Want to compare processing speeds across VFS centres? Compare all cities for Netherlands or view the all-India aggregate.