Netherlands self-employed residence permit

People whose proposed self-employed work meets the IND’s requirements for essential interest to the Dutch economy or, for artists, Dutch culture.

• Valid travel document

  You have a valid passport or other travel document.

  Sources disagreeSource

• No public-order risk

  You do not pose a danger to public order or national security. Everyone over the age of 12 must complete and enclose an Appendix Antecedents Certificate.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Essential interest

  Your work must be of essential interest to the Dutch economy, or, if you are a self-employed artist, to Dutch culture. For an economic-interest assessment, the product or service must be new for the Netherlands.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Economic assessment

  Where the scoring system applies, the business meets the essential-interest test with at least 30 points in each of personal experience, business plan and added value for the Netherlands, or 45 points for personal experience and 45 points for the business plan. The scoring system does not apply to Turkish nationals, long-term EU residents of another EU country or people practising an independent profession.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Artist’s cultural interest

  For a self-employed artist, the IND says there is essential interest to Dutch culture if you are paid directly by a national culture fund, or you will work for a Dutch cultural institution whose cultural importance is established according to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and which has a genuine need for your activities.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Trade Register

  You are registered in the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Professional permissions

  You meet the requirements to practise your profession or start working as a self-employed person, including having all necessary permits.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Income

  Your business plan must show that you meet the income requirements. From 1 July to 31 December 2026, the required amount for a self-employed person is gross profit of €1,766.77 per month, with holiday allowance.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Freelance commissions

  If you are a freelancer, you must have one or more commissions in the Netherlands.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Healthcare registration

  If you work independently in individual healthcare and practise a medical profession listed in Article 3 or Article 36a of the Individual Healthcare Professions Act, you must be registered in the BIG register.

  Sources disagreeSource

• TB test, if applicable

  After arriving in the Netherlands, you must take a tuberculosis test unless an IND-listed exemption applies.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Entry permit, if applicable

  For stays of more than 90 days, most nationalities need a provisional residence permit (MVV) as well as a residence permit; the IND lists nationalities and other circumstances exempt from the MVV requirement.

  Sources disagreeSource

• First applicationSources disagreeSource€423 per person
• First application under the EC–Turkey association agreementSources disagreeSource€85 per person
• Application by a holder of long-term EU resident status in another EU member stateSources disagreeSource€254 per person
• Joint MVV and residence-permit application by a citizen of San Marino or IsraelSources disagreeSource€0 per person
• Decision timeThis is the legal decision period, beginning when the IND receives the application, not a guaranteed time to receive the permit. The IND can extend it by up to six months if it requests advice from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency or the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; other delays are About 3 months

1. Get ready

   • Check the requirements

     Check the self-employed and general requirements, including whether you need an MVV.

   • Prepare your evidence

     Collect the documents listed in the application form, including your business plan and applicable evidence of your experience, income, commissions or cultural work.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Business plan, Applicable supporting documents listed in the application form

   • Translate and legalise documents

     Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German as required.

     You’ll need: Official foreign documents, Translations, if required

2. Apply

   • Attend a Dutch representation

     If applying for an MVV from abroad, make an appointment at a Dutch embassy or consulate to register the joint MVV and residence-permit application and provide biometrics.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Passport photo, Valid passport, Any extra documents specified by the form

   • Send your application to the IND

     After the embassy or consulate appointment, send the completed application and required documents to the IND within three weeks of the date entered on the form.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Required supporting documents, Embassy or consulate confirmation letter

   • Pay the application fee

     For an application through a Dutch representation, pay the applicable fee within three weeks of the date the representation entered on the application form.

   • Wait for the decision

     The IND’s decision period is 90 days, subject to the extensions described in its guidance.

3. Visa

   • Arrange your MVV sticker

     If your MVV application is approved, make an appointment at the Dutch representation within three months of the decision; your passport must remain valid for at least six months when the sticker is placed in it.

     You’ll need: Valid passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to the Netherlands

     If you need an MVV, travel using it while it is valid; the MVV is valid for 90 days.

     You’ll need: Passport with MVV, if required

5. Settle in

   • Collect your permit and arrange a TB test

     Make an appointment to collect your permit when the IND says it is ready, and, if a TB test applies, arrange it within three months of receiving the permit.

     You’ll need: TB test referral form, if applicable

An extension of the permit; after holding a residence permit for five years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

• Required amounts income requirements | INDind.nlOfficial
• Fees: costs of an application | INDind.nlOfficial
• ind.nl/en/forms/9531.pdfOfficial
• Residence permit self-employed person | INDind.nlOfficial
• Provisional residence permit (MVV) | INDind.nlOfficial
• Requirements that apply to everyone | INDind.nlOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.