Netherlands visa processing time from Lucknow: about 24 days right now
Netherlands visas from VFS Lucknow are taking about 24 days right now. Most passports from applications made on 25 Sept 2026 are now out. People who applied 1½ to 3 months ago waited about 39 days (median), 9 in 10 within 44 days.
Based on 267 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.
Data looks wrong, or have an idea?
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 😅
No dispatch from Kolkata for France after Sep 25 ???
Hi Ananya, we checked this. Nothing is wrong with the tracking: we look up every France Kolkata reference number on Blue Dart five times a day, and other countries' Kolkata passports went out on 28–30 Sept as normal. France Kolkata is a small centre that sends passports in batches, often a week or more apart (this month: 3–4, 14–15, 21–22 and 24–25 Sept). Since August, the usual wait from application to dispatch has been about 5 days, and 7–8 days is common when you just miss a batch. Applications from 24 Sept will most likely go out with the next batch, and they'll show here as soon as Blue Dart has them.
Thank you for the reply
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
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 travelling is on 19th october is there any chance to get my visa
When you applied?
My passport shows dispatched today! But with my application had my husband and infant passport, that is not showing up here nor it’s showing on blue dart as dispatched . Anyone faces this earlier ? Travel date is 21st oct
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...
I applied on 15th Sept, just see that it's been dispatched on this website (didn't get an email from VFS yet). The EES turned okay. It took be 30 days in total.
- WhatsApp (messages only, works from India over the internet): +31 85 773 7400 - Contact form: netherlandsworldwide.nl - Call the Embassy in New Delhi (a local call that connects to Netherlands Worldwide): 011 2419 7600
My EES for 4th Sept says OK now, I guess I wait for it to be dispatched
applied on 1 october at vfs delhi , application reached emassy on 5th oct when can i expect? travel in November mid @visatrackr
@OVV How did you check the EES? I got dispatch message today morning. my last schengen travel was 10 years ago. My ees shows NOT OK, but my sister who is in Europe at the moment, her EES also shows NOT OK
i dont know how this EES works, for me it was not ok till today morning got ok by 12pm approx travel-europe.europa.eu give ur passport no and other details as asked and check
Why applications submit through jalandhar vfs taking long vfs work is just to forward documents to embassy not decision making ,then why the wait is long for Jalandhar
“Is anyone still waiting for the 10th September update?” Thanks!
Oh kolkata.... Show some mercy to France applications. 21 days passed.
Anyone applied on 10th sept as a tourist visa and got their passports back
Ok pls let me know if you receive any update @VS Have you applied as a tourist?
@ NV, not tourist. Mine is visiting family. How about urs?
Hi guys! EES just turned OK today at 11:10. Any idea when the passports will be dispatched?!
Mine turned ok as well
Update: VFS status changed to dispatched via courier
Netherlands visa request from Mumbai submitted on Sept 9, application no.32, 01 and 02 - 2 passport delivered today. Those are not shown on this website.
Anyone got mail or ees update related to visa dispatch today?
How can you track through EES? Can someone please guide me?
Checked on VFS site around 5 pm but there is no email yet
24th Sept application. Switzerland. Travel date was marked as 2nd Oct. Visa in transit now.
Did you check your EES?
Applied on the same date ..travel date is 14 th Oct..still showing as under process... Is your EES okay?
Will the visa still be issued if the travel date has passed? Do they ask for updated flight and hotel reservations?
they still issue it, in most cases they don't ask for new details
Hi guyz, I applied on 31 Aug from banglore for netherland .I checked my application and i cluld see that it has been dispatched by courier today.But in ess it is showing not okay.So fingers crossed i hope i will get visa
Has anyone's status got changed to dispatch on VFS Today?
embassy folks are not processing Visa in any particular order.. i have applied for business visa.. its been 45 days no news. my colleague also applied for business way,his passport was delivere today on 55th day but was rejected.. I would like to know if anyones status on VFS got updated to Dispatch for 09/10/2026 today..
It's really annoying
Netherlands visa processing from Lucknow
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 Lucknow, India
Applications at VFS Lucknow are waiting about 24 days right now, 17 days less than the Netherlands average across India (41 days). That makes it the quickest of the 12 Netherlands centres with enough recent data. We've seen 267 passports returned from VFS Lucknow since 25 Jun 2026, 1% of all the Netherlands passports we track. Most of them left on Mondays and Thursdays. The latest dispatch we saw was on 19 Oct 2026, and the newest application date with a passport out is 29 Sept 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.