Netherlands start-up residence permit

Entrepreneurs from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who want to develop an innovative business in the Netherlands.

• Valid passport

  You must have a valid passport or other travel document. If you need an MVV, your passport must remain valid for at least six months when the MVV sticker is placed in it.

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• Public order

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

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• Work with a facilitator

  You must work with a reliable facilitator and have a cooperation contract signed by both of you.

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• Suitable facilitator

  The facilitator must have experience mentoring innovative start-ups, be financially healthy, have no suspension of payment, liquidation or negative equity, hold no majority interest in the start-up, not be your child, parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, and have a deputy within the organisation.

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• Innovative business

  The product or service must be new to the Netherlands, the start-up must use new technology in production, distribution or marketing, or it must have a new way of working and organising.

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• Active role

  You must play an active part in the organisation, rather than being only a shareholder or financier.

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• Step-by-step plan

  You must have a plan covering the organisation’s structure, roles and responsibilities, legal form, personnel and goals, your innovative product or service, and the activities and timetable for setting up the company.

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• Trade Register registration

  You and the facilitator must be registered in the Chamber of Commerce Trade Register.

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• Money for your stay

  You must meet the income requirements. The IND says you can show sufficient money in a Dutch personal or business bank account, or the facilitator can finance your entire stay of at most one year; the route page does not give a start-up-specific amount.

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• MVV if required

  A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for the application unless an exemption applies. The route page also describes an exception for someone already in the Netherlands to set up an innovative company who has a short-stay visa or does not need a visa.

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• TB test if required

  You must take a tuberculosis test after arrival unless exempt; the IND lists exemptions based on nationality and certain other circumstances.

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• First start-up application; standard feeResearched just now · being double-checkedSource€423 per person
• First start-up application; Turkish citizenResearched just now · being double-checkedSource€85 per person
• First start-up application; citizen of Israel or San MarinoResearched just now · being double-checkedSource€0 per person
• Decision timeThis is the IND’s decision period, not a guaranteed processing time. The IND can extend it and will notify you if it does.About 3 months

1. Get ready

   • Agree to work with a facilitator

     Find a facilitator who meets the IND’s conditions and sign a cooperation contract.

     You’ll need: Signed facilitator agreement

   • Write your step-by-step plan

     Explain your innovation, your active role and how you will turn the idea into a company.

     You’ll need: Step-by-step plan

   • Arrange registration and funds

     Ensure you and your facilitator are in the Trade Register and gather evidence that your stay can be financed.

     You’ll need: Trade Register details, Evidence of means of support

   • Collect your application documents

     Use the application form’s document list and have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German where needed.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Passport copy, Antecedents Certificate, Signed facilitator agreement, Step-by-step plan, Evidence of means of support

2. Apply

   • Apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate

     If you need an MVV and are applying from abroad, make an appointment to apply for the MVV and residence permit together and provide your biometric data.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Passport photo, Valid passport

   • Send your documents and pay

     Send the completed application and documents to the IND and pay the fee within three weeks of the date entered on your form by the embassy or consulate.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Supporting documents, Embassy or consulate confirmation letter, Proof of payment

   • Wait for the IND’s decision

     The IND asks the Netherlands Enterprise Agency for advice and sends its decision by letter.

3. Visa

   • Collect your MVV if required

     After a positive decision, make an appointment at the Dutch representation within three months to have the MVV sticker placed in your passport.

     You’ll need: Passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to the Netherlands

     When you arrive

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

     You’ll need: Passport, MVV, if required

5. Settle in

   • Register with your municipality

     After arrival, register in the Personal Records Database; the application form says you need your birth certificate for this.

     You’ll need: Birth certificate, legalised and translated if necessary

   • Collect your residence permit

     When the IND tells you the permit is ready, make an appointment to collect it.

   • Take a TB test if required

     If you said in your application that you would take a TB test, make an appointment with the Municipal Health Service within three months after receiving your residence permit.

     You’ll need: TB test referral form

After one year, you can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed person if you meet its requirements; the IND also requires a facilitator’s declaration showing that you successfully completed at least three months of mentoring.

• ind.nl/en/forms/9541.pdfOfficial
• ind.nl/en/apply-for-mvv-and-residence-permit-from-abroadOfficial
• Start-up | INDind.nlOfficial
• Fees: costs of an application | INDind.nlOfficial
• Decision periods | 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.