A dummy ticket for a Netherlands visa is a flight reservation, not a paid ticket. The Dutch checklist for India asks for "a reservation in your name for your travel to and from the Schengen area" and says "You do not need a paid travel ticket." You apply at any of 12 VFS Global centres in India. Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) issues the reservation for ₹699 per passenger.
- The Dutch checklist for India asks for a travel reservation in your name and states "You do not need a paid travel ticket."
- Residents of India, Afghanistan and Bhutan may apply at any of the 12 VFS Global centres in India.
- The visa fee is €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, as of September 2026, paid by card or in cash in rupees; VFS adds its own service charge.
- In high season the Dutch government says average processing may rise to 25 calendar days, and a file can take up to 45.
- Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before you travel.
On this page
A dummy ticket for a Netherlands visa is a flight reservation: a booking made in the airline's reservation system and held without paying the fare, with a PNR you can look up on the airline's website. The Dutch government puts its position in writing. Its checklist for applicants in India asks for "a reservation in your name for your travel to and from the Schengen area" and adds: "You do not need a paid travel ticket." Dummy Tickets Visa (DTV) issues this kind of reservation for ₹699 per passenger.
Rules shared by all 29 Schengen countries, such as the 90/180-day limit, the €30,000 insurance minimum and which country to apply to, are on our Schengen visa page. This page covers a Dutch application made from India.
What the Dutch checklist says about flights and hotels
The Dutch checklist asks for a flight reservation in your name and says a paid ticket is not needed. The Netherlands Worldwide checklist for tourist visas from India says it in two sentences: "You will need a reservation in your name for your travel to and from the Schengen area. You do not need a paid travel ticket." So the booking has to show the day you enter the Schengen area and the day you leave, with each applicant's name on it. Our guide on why consulates ask for a reservation rather than a ticket explains the background.
The printed checklist VFS Global publishes for the Netherlands adds a note telling applicants to "make travel reservations which you can cancel", in case the visa is refused. A held reservation has no fare attached, so a refusal costs you no airfare. What you pay us is a ₹699 service charge, and it is not refunded once the reservation is issued. The VFS PDF carries no date, so treat the Netherlands Worldwide page as the current rule.
For accommodation, the same checklist asks for "a reservation for the entire duration of your trip" if you stay in a hotel, holiday rental or campus room, and for proof of accommodation in each country if you visit more than one Schengen state. Our hotel reservation voucher covers the city and dates you enter, at ₹699 per hotel, per passenger. For several cities or a long stay, ask on WhatsApp before ordering.
Netherlands visa fee, VFS service charge and processing time
The Netherlands visa fee is €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, and children under 6 pay nothing, as of September 2026, according to the Dutch consular fees page for India. You pay it by card or in cash in rupees, and the page gives no rupee figure. VFS Global adds a service charge to every application. The Dutch pages say you will always pay it but do not give the amount, so check it on the VFS Netherlands India site before your appointment.
| Item | Amount or rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult | €90 | Not refunded if the visa is refused |
| Visa fee, child aged 6 to 11 | €45 | Under 6 is free |
| How the fee is paid | Card, or cash in rupees | No rupee amount is published |
| VFS service charge | Not stated on the Dutch pages | Confirm on the VFS Netherlands India site |
| Application window | 6 months to 15 days before travel | Seafarers may apply up to 9 months ahead |
| Processing time | High-season average up to 25 calendar days | An individual file can take up to 45 calendar days |
The 25-day figure applies to busy periods. The Dutch waiting-time page says: "Due to the high season, there is a large number of visa applications. As a result, the average processing time may increase to 25 calendar days." That is an average, not a promise, and a single file can still take 45 calendar days. The page gives no separate figure for India. Our Schengen processing time guide compares countries.
Where to apply: any of the 12 VFS Global centres
If you live in India, you can apply at any of the 12 VFS Global centres the Dutch government lists: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. The Netherlands Worldwide page for India says people living in India, Afghanistan or Bhutan may use any of them. There is no state-by-state jurisdiction to work out, so a Goa resident can book in Mumbai or Pune, whichever has the earlier slot.
VFS takes your documents, fingerprints and photo. The decision is made by the Dutch authorities, not by the centre. Book only through the VFS site that Netherlands Worldwide links to. Our explainer on VFS, BLS and TLScontact covers what a visa centre can and cannot do for your file.
How far ahead to book your VFS appointment
If your dates allow, submit about 45 days before your flight, and never later than 15. The Dutch pages publish no typical wait for a VFS slot, so the live calendar on the VFS site is the only guide to how soon you can get in.
Here is how that works for a flight to Amsterdam on 20 November 2026:
- 5 November is the last day you may apply under the 15-day rule. In a busy season, a 25-day average decision would not come back in time.
- 26 October is the latest date that leaves the full 25 days.
- 6 October leaves room for the 45-day maximum.
Add a few days on top of each date for VFS to return your passport.
A reservation is a temporary hold, and how long it stays live depends on the airline. DTV does not publish a fixed validity period. On the booking form, answer "When do you want to receive it?" with the day before your appointment, then check the PNR on the airline's website before you go.
Amsterdam routings from India
Most Netherlands files show a return flight to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), the country's main international airport. The booking desk chooses the airline and the connection, which may be non-stop or through a hub depending on your dates. You can name a preferred airline in the notes box, as a request rather than a promise.
| Routing | Flights on the reservation | Price per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi to Amsterdam and back | 2 | ₹699 |
| Mumbai to Amsterdam and back | 2 | ₹699 |
| Bengaluru to Amsterdam and back | 2 | ₹699 |
| Into Amsterdam, home from Paris (Netherlands plus France) | 2 | ₹699 |
Flying into Amsterdam and home from Paris still shows your entry to and exit from the Schengen area. It is two flights, so it costs ₹699 per passenger; longer chains are priced as multi-city itineraries at ₹699 per two flights. If you add a country, apply to the one where you spend the most nights; if the nights are equal, see our main-destination guide.
Getting a dummy ticket for Netherlands visa applications
Fix your entry and exit dates
Use the same dates on the visa form, the insurance policy and the hotel reservation.
Order on the booking form
Enter each name exactly as in the passport, with date of birth, nationality, route and dates, on the booking form. No passport scan and no account are needed.
Choose the delivery date
Pick the day before your VFS appointment in the "When do you want to receive it?" field.
Check the PNR
Look the booking up on the airline's website before you submit, using our PNR check guide.
We send the PDF itinerary by email or WhatsApp, typically 10 to 20 minutes after payment is confirmed; weekends, holidays and busy periods can be slower. It costs ₹699 per passenger, one way or return, with up to 9 passengers on one itinerary, and our sample dummy ticket shows the layout. DTV is not affiliated with the Dutch government, VFS Global or any airline.
- Reservation in every applicant's name, showing travel to and from the Schengen area
- Dates that match the form, insurance and hotel reservation
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, in your name, for the whole stay
- Application lodged at least 15 days before travel, and earlier in high season
- PNR checked on the airline's website before submission
- Described as a reservation, not a purchased ticket, if anyone asks
Frequently asked questions
Does every applicant's name need to be on the flight reservation?
Yes. The Dutch checklist asks for a reservation "in your name", so each applicant's name has to appear on it. A family can share one itinerary: one DTV order holds up to 9 passengers at ₹699 each, with every name spelled exactly as in the passport. Each person then puts a copy in their own file. Our family bookings page explains how to order.
The VFS checklist says to make reservations I can cancel. Where does a held reservation stand?
The printed VFS checklist for the Netherlands tells applicants to "make travel reservations which you can cancel", so that a refusal does not cost them a fare. A held reservation has no fare attached, so there is no flight to cancel if the visa is refused. The ₹699 you pay DTV is not refunded once the reservation is issued, so compare that with the cost of a refundable ticket.
My VFS appointment moved. What now?
Message us on WhatsApp with your order ID and we will tell you the quickest way to get a reservation for the new dates. Check first that the new appointment is still at least 15 days before your flight, which is the latest the Dutch rules allow. Orders are final once the reservation is issued, so confirm the appointment before you order.
I am an Indian citizen living in the UAE. Can I apply for a Netherlands visa in India?
Usually not. The Dutch page for India covers people who live in India, Afghanistan or Bhutan. Everyone else is asked to choose the country where they live on Netherlands Worldwide to find out where to apply, which for a UAE resident means applying in the UAE. Our page for Indians abroad covers ordering and paying from outside India.
Does a flight reservation guarantee a Netherlands visa?
No. No document can promise a Schengen decision. A reservation shows a concrete travel plan that anyone can check, and the Dutch authorities still weigh your funds, insurance, accommodation and the purpose of the trip. Our guide to Schengen refusal reasons covers what else is assessed.
What happens to the reservation after the visa is granted?
The hold lapses when the airline releases it, and it could never be used to board. Buy your real ticket once the visa is in your passport, for dates that fit inside the visa's validity. Our guide on what happens after approval covers the next steps.
- Netherlands Worldwide: Schengen visa checklist for tourism, India
- Netherlands Worldwide: apply for a Schengen visa in India
- Netherlands Worldwide: waiting time after a visa application
- Netherlands Worldwide: consular fees, India
- VFS Global: Netherlands tourist visa checklist for India (PDF)
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated 28 June 2024
Last reviewed by the DTV Editorial Team. Visa requirements change, so confirm the current checklist with the embassy, consulate or official application centre before you apply. A reservation supports a visa file and cannot guarantee a visa decision.