Netherlands visa processing time from Chennai: about 40 days right now
Netherlands visas from VFS Chennai are taking about 40 days right now. Most passports from applications made on 9–11 Sept 2026 are now out. People who applied 1½ to 3 months ago waited about 39 days (median), 9 in 10 within 43 days.
Based on 1,874 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 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?
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
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.
Applied from Mumbai on 28th September. Have non refundable travel starting 23rd Oct. What are the chances of getting it in next 4 days? Status says still with The Hague in Netherlands.
Very less, you might have to reschedule based on the current timeline
Hi Netherlands - ViSA My family submitted application at VFS on 10th of September and it reached Delhi on 14th of September and their travel date is Oct 22nd we still didn't receive the update - status remains same application has been dispatched to dutch embassy in new Delhi and your application will be further processed at ministry of foreign affairs in Netherlands. Should I calculate total days from time of application submission at VFS or from time it reached Delhi
I have calculated from time it reached embassy, new delhi. It took exact 25 days.
I applied for netherlands visa via vfsglobal chennai on 21st september. My passport was dispatched to the dutch embassy in new delhi on 23rd september. I have recieved no update since then. When will I get my visa. My travel date is in early november. Whom to contact? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! :((((((((( :@
When should I expect my visa? How do I check the EES status When I try to tack via vfs, it keeps saying invalid inputs Is there any other way to check?
Hey folks did anyone vfa or ees visa dispatch status changed today?
Folks anyone?
My application date was 4th September and I have not gotten any update
Why are there no passports dispatches or Pune on 9th or 12th to any later dates? I applied on 9th oct for Switzerland visa, I see a lot of other cities have processed a few from the same dates but just not Pune.
Hey, Passport came within one day, I applied from Chennai
Ohh now I got why you have such a fancy name :).. Just kidding.. Best wishes! You are quite lucky!
I think he is lying
Let me start by saying how amazing this site has been in helping track the applications. Now my situation, both my wife and I applied for our Schengen Visa to Netherlands together on 08.09.26. Mine has been dispatched on 13.10.26 (EES is okay so I am assuming it is approved). However my wife's is still not dispatched. We were under the same reference number except for the last digit (mine was 01 l, hers was 02) Is this normal?
Hi JJ, let us know about your visa when you get your passport.
I got my Passport yesterday with the approved VISA. My wife's is still not processed. Anyone else with similar experience please share
Finally it’s dispatched! It’s been a weirdly fun and irritating journey. The kind of support given by random people you know you will never meet is so real and incredible. Thank you guys so much. Thanks a lot @VisaTrackr keep doing the good work ❤️ (Application date : 1st sept)
I have a question. I applied for a Belgium visa at the Mumbai Consulate on August 28, and my intended travel date was September 20. However, my visa application is still under processing. When checking the EES system, which date should I use?
Hi Anju.. you can use the next intended travel dates. If it says OK most likely your visa is approved. If NOTOK try different dates.
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.
I applied netherlands visa on sep 15th banglore. No update so far. Anyone who applied on 15th received?
I also applied for the Dutch visa from Pune my application was on 10th sept in VFS, and application reached to Embassy on 14th it's been 33 days still no update, it is showing application under review that's it!
Hey , any update so far on mail or vfs site @aditya
Hi Aditya , any update received so far?
On which email can we mail the swiss consulate for queries?
Hi guys. Could someone help me understand how long it takes to get the visa from Delhi embassy to Bangalore once the VFS sends email that Visa application has been processed? Are weekends included or they don’t ship on weekends?
They ship everyday. Regardless of Holidays, if they dispatched it yesterday, you will receive it by afternoon today. BlueDart is pretty fast here
Why aren't passports showing of 14th sept but only after and before that day ...we have a travel on 14th oct but our visas havent come yet
So we are saying backlogs nearing 40 days, Kolkata is stuck for this week, but they have updated their website saying average processing time is 18-21 days.
Has anyone's status got changed to dispatch on VFS Today?
@SS_AA, does it show dispatched as of 09/10/20206 or 08/10/2026?
SS_AA what was your coupon number?
Netherlands visa processing from Chennai
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 Chennai, India
Applications at VFS Chennai are waiting about 40 days right now, about the same as the Netherlands average across India (41 days). That makes it number 6, counting from the quickest, of the 12 Netherlands centres with enough recent data. We've seen 1,874 passports returned from VFS Chennai since 1 Jul 2026, 9% of all the Netherlands passports we track. Most of them left on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The latest dispatch we saw was on 19 Oct 2026, and the newest application date with a passport out is 8 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.