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Netherlands Schengen visa UK applications are made in person at VFS Global in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London or Manchester, and most refusals come down to the file, not the form. If you live in the UK with a non-British passport and a BRP or eVisa, you need a visa for the Netherlands from the UK, a short-stay Schengen visa, before you visit Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague or anywhere else in the Netherlands.
GoSchengen helps skilled workers, students, spouse and family visa holders, ILR holders and refugees living in the UK get their Netherlands visa right first time. We check your documents against the official UK checklist, prepare your cover letter and itinerary, and guide you through booking your own VFS appointment, so you walk in with a complete, consistent file.
For a Netherlands visa, UK applicants must attend an in-person appointment at VFS Global to submit documents, passport and biometrics. The Netherlands government asks applicants to book directly on VFS Global and not through an intermediary, so you keep the booking in your own name. Our role is to make sure you're ready the moment you book.
We tell you which centre and appointment type fit your trip, when to start looking, and how to fill in the online application form so it carries your unique code. Each traveller needs their own appointment, including children. Peak periods such as spring tulip season, summer and Christmas book out early, so start as soon as your dates are fixed. See our Schengen visa appointment support for more.
A slot is wasted if your file is incomplete. Before your appointment, we check that your passport, BRP or eVisa, bank statements, payslips, insurance, flights and accommodation all match each other and the dates on your form. Missing or inconsistent documents are one of the most common reasons for delays and refusals.
If you hold a passport from a visa-required country, such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Turkey, the Philippines or South Africa, and you live in the UK, you need a Schengen visa before travelling to the Netherlands. These are the core documents from the UK tourism checklist used by VFS Global for the Netherlands. For the full process, see how to get a Schengen visa in the UK.
| Item | What applies in the UK (2026) |
|---|---|
| Visa fee: adult (12+) | €90, paid in pounds at the current rate |
| Visa fee: child aged 6 to 11 | €45 |
| Visa fee: child under 6 | Free |
| VFS Global service fee | Charged on top of the visa fee for every applicant (listed by VFS as 18.00 including VAT). Fees are non-refundable |
| Earliest you can apply | 6 months before your trip |
| Latest you can apply | 15 calendar days before your trip |
| Processing time | 15 calendar days on average, up to 45 days in some cases |
| Length of stay | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your visa may be issued for fewer days than requested |
Fees are set by the Dutch government and VFS Global and can change. You'll see the exact amount when you book. Fingerprints aren't taken from children under 12, but they must still attend. If you gave fingerprints for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, they may be reused.
Employer letter confirming your job, salary and approved leave, 3 months' payslips, or for the self-employed, a professional's letter, Self Assessment and business records.
A signed letter from your UK university or college confirming enrolment and attendance, plus proof of funds or a sponsor's statements and letter of support.
Sponsored by a spouse or parent? Add proof of the relationship, their 3 months' UK bank statements and a signed statement of support. Refugee travel document holders get a file reviewed for their specific document.
All three are the same Type C Schengen visa for up to 90 days. The purpose of your trip decides which supporting documents you need.
For city breaks in Amsterdam, the tulip season at Keukenhof, Rotterdam, Utrecht or The Hague. Read more about the Schengen tourist visa from the UK.
For meetings, trade fairs and conferences. You'll need an invitation letter from the Dutch company. Frequent business travellers whose employer is registered may qualify for Orange Carpet walk-in submission. See the Schengen business visa.
For visiting family or friends living in the Netherlands. Your host can complete the official proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form. See the Schengen visitor visa.
The Dutch consulate looks at whether your trip is genuine, whether you can pay for it, and whether you'll return to the UK on time. These are the mistakes we see most often.
Applying to the wrong country: apply to the Netherlands only if it's your main destination, meaning where you'll spend the most nights, or your first point of entry if your nights are split equally. Booking the Netherlands just because a VFS slot is available can lead to a refusal.
Large lump sums just before applying raise questions. Statements should show regular income, and any big deposit needs a clear explanation.
A BRP or eVisa that expires soon after your trip weakens your case. Check the validity before you book, and include your extension evidence if applicable.
Dates on your form, flights, hotel and insurance must all match. A gap of even one night can trigger questions or a refusal.
Already been refused? Our Schengen visa refusal and reapplication service reviews your refusal reasons before you apply again.
Tell us your travel dates, purpose, nationality and whether you hold a BRP or eVisa.
We check every document against the UK checklist and flag gaps in your finances, insurance or itinerary. Our Schengen document checking service covers the full file.
We help you complete the application form, draft your cover letter and itinerary, and guide you through booking your own VFS appointment.
You attend VFS Global with your organised file, give biometrics and track your application online until the decision.
Weak bank statements, mismatched dates and missing documents cause many refusals. We catch these before you submit, not after.
We make sure your BRP or eVisa printout and share code letter meet what the checklist asks for, so your UK residence is clear.
Combining the Netherlands with Belgium, Germany or France? We confirm which country you should apply to before you book, across all popular Schengen countries.
Your passport, status and financial documents are handled securely under UK GDPR. You keep control of your own VFS account.
Yes, if you live in the UK. You apply at VFS Global with your passport and proof of UK residence. Your residence permit must be valid at least 1 month after you leave the Schengen area, and eVisa holders bring a printout of their UK status and the letter showing the share code.
Make sure the Netherlands is your main destination, complete the online application form, then book your own appointment at VFS Global in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London or Manchester. Attend with your passport, BRP or eVisa evidence, 3 months' bank statements, travel insurance and travel bookings. A decision usually takes about 15 calendar days.
The Netherlands government lists four VFS Global application centres in the UK: Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Manchester. You book your appointment online with VFS Global. Holders of diplomatic or official passports apply at the Netherlands embassy in London instead.
The visa fee is €90 for adults and children aged 12 and over, €45 for children aged 6 to 11, and free for children under 6. It is paid in pounds at the current rate. A VFS Global service fee is charged on top for every applicant, and fees are non-refundable.
Processing takes 15 calendar days on average after your VFS appointment, and up to 45 days in some cases. You get a reference number to track your application online, and an email when it's ready for collection.
You can apply up to 6 months before your trip and no later than 15 calendar days before you travel. For spring, summer and Christmas trips, start looking for appointments as soon as your dates are fixed.
There is no fixed minimum balance. You must show you can pay for your stay with UK bank statements for the last 3 months. Around €55 per person per day is a commonly used guide for the Netherlands, but the consulate looks at your overall finances, income and travel plans, not just one number.
Yes. A host living in the Netherlands can complete the official proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form to cover your costs or accommodation. If your spouse or parent in the UK is sponsoring you, include proof of your relationship, their 3 months' bank statements and a signed statement of support.
The Netherlands government asks applicants to book directly with VFS Global and not through an intermediary, so your appointment stays in your own name. We guide you through choosing the right centre and booking, and we prepare and check your file so it's ready for your appointment.
Yes. Every applicant needs their own appointment and must attend in person. Children under 12 don't give fingerprints, but they still need to be present. Minors also need a birth certificate, parents' passport copies and parental consent.
Orange Carpet is for business travellers who visit the Netherlands often and whose employer is registered with the Dutch authorities. In the UK, these applications can be submitted at VFS Global without an appointment, Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 11:30. Your company contact tells you which documents to bring.
Only if the Netherlands is your main destination, meaning where you'll spend the most nights. If your nights are equal across countries, apply to the country you'll enter first. Applying to the wrong country can lead to a refusal.
No. British citizens can visit the Netherlands and the rest of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180 days without a visa. Since April 2026, their fingerprints and photo are recorded at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. The visa process on this page is for non-British passport holders living in the UK.
Send us your travel dates and UK status. We'll check your documents, prepare your cover letter and itinerary, and guide you through booking your VFS appointment in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London or Manchester.
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