India visa options for Netherlands passport holders
Tourist / short stay
e-Visa
Apply for a visa online before travelling.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for India
Foreign nationals use online e-Visas (tourist, business, medical, conference) for short stays, or sticker visas from Indian missions for employment, study and long-term/dependent stays. OCI gives people of Indian origin a lifelong multi-entry option.
- Tourist
Tourist e-Visa (e-Tourist)
30-day (double-entry), 1-year or 5-year variants; max 180 days continuous (US/UK/CA/JP) or 90 days for most others
- Insurance
- Recommended— not a visa condition, but advised as hospitals require upfront payment
- Good for
- Tourism, sightseeing, visiting friends/family
- Requirement
- Apply online ≥4 days before travel; passport valid 6 months with 2 blank pages; no paid work for Indian entities
- Tourist
Medical e-Visa (e-Medical / attendant)
60 days from arrival; triple entry; usable up to three times per year
- Insurance
- Recommended— advised given high self-pay treatment costs
- Good for
- Patients seeking treatment at recognised Indian hospitals (plus up to two attendants)
- Requirement
- Apply online with patient–hospital documentation
- Business
Business e-Visa (e-Business)
365-day validity, multiple entry; max 180 days continuous per visit
- Insurance
- Recommended— not a visa condition
- Good for
- Meetings, ventures, trade, recruitment (no local employment)
- Requirement
- Upload a business card or invitation from the associated Indian firm
- Work
Employment visa (work)
Up to 1 year initially (or contract term), annually renewable up to 5 years
- Insurance
- OptionalNot a visa condition — private/employer cover advisable
- Good for
- Skilled professionals/experts hired by an India-registered company
- Requirement
- Sticker visa from an Indian mission; salary generally above ~USD 25,000/yr (some role exemptions); FRRO registration within 14 days
- Study
Student visa (study)
Up to the course length or 5 years, whichever is less
- Insurance
- OptionalNot a visa condition — institutions may require their own cover
- Good for
- Students admitted to a recognised Indian institution, or research/internship
- Requirement
- Admission letter; from 2025-26, Study in India Portal registration; FRRO registration if stay > 180 days
- Residence
Entry 'X' visa (residence / dependent)
Co-terminous with the principal visa holder; extendable in-country
- Insurance
- OptionalNot a visa condition
- Good for
- Dependents/family of foreigners on work/business/student visas, and persons of Indian origin not eligible for OCI
- Requirement
- Sticker visa with proof of relationship; no employment permitted
- Residence
OCI card (long-term residence)
Lifelong multiple-entry; unlimited stay, no FRRO registration
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required
- Good for
- Persons of Indian origin and their spouses (not citizenship)
- Requirement
- Indian-origin/spouse eligibility; from 1 May 2026 a fully digital e-OCI system; allows work/business (no agricultural land)
- Transit
Transit e-Visa
30-day validity, double entry (short transit window per visit)
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required
- Good for
- Travellers transiting India to a third country
- Requirement
- Apply online with onward-travel evidence
India has no dedicated digital-nomad visa — remote workers typically use the tourist or business e-Visa, but working for Indian entities or earning local income is not permitted on these. Sticker-visa durations/fees vary by nationality and mission; e-Visa fees (~USD 25–100) are reciprocal. OCI moved to a fully digital e-OCI system from 1 May 2026. Last checked: 2026-06 — confirm on indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into India, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Netherlands → India: frequently asked
- Do Netherlands passport holders need a visa to visit India?
- e-Visa. Apply for a visa online before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Netherlands passport holder live or work long-term in India?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. India has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for India?
- Entry to India never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.