Self-employed residence permit
Dutch Entrepreneur Visa for Non-EU Founders
Your residence permit for self-employed work, prepared from the route screen to the IND file, with the business structured so you count as self-employed.
- Points test: 30/30/30 or 45/45
- IND fee EUR 423.00 (2026)
- 90-day decision period
- Valid up to two years, then up to five
One permit behind the entrepreneur visa
We prepare the Dutch entrepreneur visa for non-EU founders who will live here and run their own business. In law it is the residence permit for work as a self-employed person (art. 3.30(1) Vb 2000); the visa proper is the MVV (provisional residence permit) some nationalities need for entry. A business not yet formed starts with company formation in the Netherlands.
Owning a Dutch company gives no right to live here. The permit follows from the work you do, the means it earns and the way the business is structured. US and Japanese founders take a different test, under the friendship treaty between the US and the Netherlands or the Dutch-Japanese trade treaty.
What's included
Seven parts, from the first route check to the renewal.
Route screen
Whether you need this permit at all, sorted before any points: living abroad, EU, EEA or Swiss, US or Japanese, Turkish, or start-up first.
Points pre-assessment
Annex 8a scored on paper from your own documents, with the choice between 30 points in each part or 45 and 45.
Structure for the permit
Vehicle, cap table, board seat and salary drawn so that you count as self-employed, with your tax adviser on the salary side.
Business plan and evidence file
The seven contents the Aliens Circular requires, forecasts of at least three years, and written evidence for every point you claim.
The independent expert's check, coordinated
Every financial document must be checked by an authorised independent expert. We brief and coordinate that third party; we are never the expert.
Filing and follow-up
The application at the embassy (TEV procedure) or with the IND, the completeness letter answered within its two weeks, the decision tracked.
Start-up switch and renewal
The change of purpose for a start-up permit holder, and the extension filed before the expiry day with your income history.
Which route fits your situation
The route is settled before the points. The table gives the conditions; the choice is made in a conversation on your facts.
| Situation | Route | Key facts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| You keep living abroad | No permit | A Dutch business can be started while you live abroad. A founder on the Dutch payroll who lives outside the Netherlands is refused this permit | business.gov.nl, read on 29 September 2026; Aliens Circular, B6/2.5 |
| EU, EEA or Swiss national | No permit | No visa, residence permit or work permit needed to work in the Netherlands | Government.nl, read on 4 October 2026 |
| US or Japanese national | DAFT or the Dutch-Japanese trade treaty | The same permit without the points test; the means condition of art. 16(1)(c) Vw does not apply; a BV needs substantial capital of at least EUR 4,500, borrowed capital not counted; IND fee EUR 423.00 (2026) | Aliens Circular, B6/2.5, read on 29 September 2026; IND fees |
| Turkish national | Annex 8aa | No points test; a viability test instead | Aliens Regulation, art. 3.20a(4) |
| Innovative idea, no track record yet | Start-up permit | At most one year, not renewable on that ground; guided by a Dutch start-up visa facilitator recognised by RVO; founder and facilitator both in the KVK Business Register; then the switch to this permit at 30 points per part | Aliens Decree, art. 3.30(6) and 3.58; RVO, start-up permit requirements |
| Investor seeking residence | None | The investor permit ended on 17 April 2024; new applications are refused | Staatscourant 2024, 13488 |
| Everyone else who will live here and run the business | This permit | The points test, the means test and every licence the activity needs | Aliens Decree, art. 3.30(1), read on 3 October 2026 |
Routes as the Aliens Decree, the Aliens Regulation and the Aliens Circular set them in 2026. The table sorts; your facts decide.
The points test, part by part
RVO scores three parts of 100 points for the Minister of Economic Affairs; the IND decides (art. 3.20a(1) VV 2000).
| Part | What scores | Pass mark | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A, personal experience (100 points) | Education up to 35, recognised by IDW; entrepreneurial experience up to 35, for active founders only (a shareholder or financier only scores nothing); work experience up to 10; income of the last 12 months up to 10 (under EUR 12,000 scores 0, EUR 45,000 or more scores 10); experience with the Netherlands up to 10 | 30, or 45 on the alternative route | Aliens Regulation, art. 3.20a and Annex 8a, read on 29 September 2026 |
| B, business plan (100 points) | Market potential 25; organisation 25; financing 50, scored on solvency, turnover and the liquidity forecast; a Dutch bank's financing gives the full 50 without further check; forecasts of at least three years | 30, or 45 on the alternative route | Aliens Regulation, Annex 8a, part B |
| C, added value for the Dutch economy (100 points) | Innovation up to 20; job creation up to 40, jobs filled within 18 months; investment in fixed assets up to 40, made within one year | 30; set at 30 where parts A and B reach 90 on the alternative route | Aliens Regulation, Annex 8a, part C |
| Start-up permit holder switching to this permit | A facilitator's declaration of three months' positive guidance | 30 in each part | Aliens Regulation, Annex 8a, start-up row |
Annex 8a VV 2000 as in force in 2026. Written evidence scores more than its absence; Turkish nationals are outside the points system (Annex 8aa).
- Part A, personal experience
- 30
- Part B, business plan
- 30
- Part C, added value
- 30
- Total
- 90
- Part A, personal experience
- 45
- Part B, business plan
- 45
- Part C, added value
- Set at 30
- Total
- 90
- A Dutch bank's financing gives the full 50 in financing.
- Part C: jobs filled within 18 months, investment made within one year.
How the process works
For a non-EU founder who will live in the Netherlands and run the business in person.
Route screen
First we check whether you need this permit at all: abroad, EU, EEA or Swiss, US or Japanese, Turkish, start-up, or the points test. You, with us.
Points pre-assessment
Annex 8a scored on paper from your documents, on the 30/30/30 or the 45/45 route; if neither is reachable, we stop or change route. Us, with you.
Structure and licences
The vehicle chosen; for a BV, 25 percent or more, risk and salary control; every licence the activity needs in place before the IND decides. Us, you and your tax adviser.
If a BV: deed and KVK
Deed before a Dutch notaris (civil-law notary), in English electronically only if every natural-person founder is an EU national (art. 2:175a BW); KVK registration within one week (art. 20 Hrw 2007), EUR 85.15 (2026). The notaris; the KVK. Buying an existing BV instead: we assist the buyer in the notarial share transfer; see the ready-made companies page.
Business plan and evidence
Seven contents, three-year forecasts, written evidence and the expert's check of every financial document; foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. You, with us; the expert.
Filing
The TEV application at the Dutch embassy or consulate-general where an MVV is required (Government.nl), otherwise with the IND; EUR 423.00 (2026). Start-up permit holders enter here. You, or your authorised representative.
Assessment
RVO scores Annex 8a for the Minister; the IND checks means, licences and general conditions within 90 days, extendable to at most six months. RVO and the IND.
Running and renewal
Your card requires a work permit (TWV) for paid employment. Scored jobs filled within 18 months, investment within one year; the extension received by the day before expiry, now with 1.5 years of income. You; the IND.
- Route screenYou, with usNo official time is published
- Points pre-assessment, 30/30/30 or 45/45Us, with youNo official time is published
- Structure and licencesUs, you and your tax adviserNo official time is published
- If a BV: notarial deed and KVKThe notaris; the KVKKVK within one week (art. 20 Hrw 2007), EUR 85.15 (2026)
- Business plan and expert checkYou, with us; the expertNo official time is published
- Filing: TEV at the embassy or with the INDYou, or your representativeEUR 423.00 (2026)Start-up permit holders enter here: 30 points in each part
- RVO scores, the IND decidesRVO and the IND90 days, at most six months
- Running and renewalYou; the INDPaid employment needs a TWV; renewal received by the day before expiry
Not sure your file reaches 90 points?
We check the route and score the points on your own documents, in a conversation, before anything is filed.
Documents you will need
What the IND and RVO read, part by part of the file.
- Passport, and the MVV application where your nationality needs one.
- Diplomas, evaluated for recognition by IDW.
- Employer references and contracts, and evidence of active entrepreneurship.
- Tax assessments or annual statements for your last 12 months' income.
- Business plan with the seven contents and forecasts of at least three years.
- The (opening) balance sheet and the budget of jobs and investment.
- Written evidence: letters of intent, contracts, references, patents.
- A Dutch bank's financing agreement, where one exists.
- The independent expert's check of every financial document.
- By vehicle: BV share register and deed, VOF or CV contract, or freelance contracts.
- The KVK registration, and the licence document where the activity is regulated.
- Legalised, translated foreign documents; for a switch, the start-up permit and facilitator's declaration.
Dutch requirements, fees and deadlines
What the state charges and when, each with its year. Our own fee is on request.
| Item | Rule or amount | Statute and year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND fee: first application, change of purpose after a start-up permit, extension | EUR 423.00 each | IND fees, 2026 | IND, fees, read on 29 September 2026 |
| IND fee, family members | Partner EUR 254.00; child EUR 85.00 | IND fees, 2026 | IND, fees, read on 29 September 2026 |
| Means test | Gross profit of EUR 1,766.77 a month with holiday allowance; the amount changes on 1 January and 1 July | Valid 1 July to 31 December 2026 | IND, required amounts, read on 29 September 2026 |
| Income history | 1.5 years of earned income, from the first renewal, not at the first grant | Art. 3.20(1) and (2) VV 2000 | Aliens Regulation, read on 29 September 2026 |
| Decision period | 90 days, extendable to at most six months; two weeks to complete a file, which adds two weeks | IND, 2026 | IND, decision periods, read on 3 October 2026 |
| Validity and renewal | Up to two years, then up to five years each renewal; the extension received at the latest the day before expiry | Art. 3.58(1) and art. 3.80 Vb 2000 | Aliens Decree, read on 3 October 2026 |
| Part C delivery | Jobs filled within 18 months; investment made within one year | Annex 8a VV 2000 | Aliens Regulation, Annex 8a |
| KVK registration, where a business is registered | EUR 85.15 (2026); a BV within one week of the deed | Art. 5 Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019; art. 20 Hrw 2007 | wetten.overheid.nl, both acts as in force in 2026 |
| After five years | Free on the labour market; permanent residence on application, subject to conditions | Art. 21 Vw 2000 | Aliens Act 2000, art. 21 |
State charges and statutory deadlines for 2026. Notary, expert, legalisation and translation costs are private fees and are not shown.
Problems we solve
No official approval rate is published. These are the structural points a file is decided on.
- No company required, but a BV must fit the test
The Aliens Circular accepts a BV, a VOF or CV, or freelance contracts as evidence. A BV is chosen for liability, investors or a holding layer; a Dutch private company with limited liability is formed separately.
- The 25 percent line in the cap table
As a BV founder you need an interest of 25 percent or more, entrepreneurial risk and influence over your own salary. Dilution below 25 percent, or a salary an investor sets, falls outside. A holding layer is checked case by case, never promised.
- Owning and funding is not enough
Living abroad while on the Dutch payroll, or investing money without running the business, are refusal grounds. A shareholder or financier only scores nothing for entrepreneurial experience.
- The customary salary beside the means test
Your BV salary as director-major shareholder is at least the highest of the comparable salary, the highest-paid employee and EUR 58,000 (2026, art. 12a(1) Wet LB 1964). Our tax advisor in Amsterdam plans it beside the IND means test.
- Points that need evidence
A Dutch bank's financing gives the full 50 points in financing without further check; written evidence scores more than its absence. Bank side: the corporate bank account page; no financing is promised.
- The start-up permit ends; the switch continues
The one-year start-up permit cannot be extended on that ground. The change of purpose to this permit, on the facilitator's declaration, gives 30 points in each part.
Want your structure checked before the plan is written?
We check your cap table, salary and vehicle against the 25 percent test and the means test before the business plan is drafted.
Why work with us
On every permit file we settle the route before counting points, and the cap table and salary before the plan is written; then the expert checks the figures.
Elif Demir, Compliance, licensing and founder permits lead, Amsterdam; Turkish, Dutch and English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Dutch BV to get the entrepreneur visa?
No vehicle is prescribed. The Aliens Circular accepts a BV, a VOF or CV partnership, or freelance contracts as evidence of the business. If you do use a BV, you count as self-employed only with an interest of 25 percent or more, entrepreneurial risk and influence over your own salary.
Can I hold my shares through a holding company or bring in investors and still qualify?
The test is written for your interest of 25 percent or more in the enterprise, with entrepreneurial risk and influence over your own salary. The Aliens Circular does not say whether an interest held through a personal holding counts, so such a structure is checked case by case and never promised. Dilution below 25 percent falls outside.
Can I invest in a Dutch company and get residence without running it?
No. Investing money in a business without carrying out the business yourself is a refusal ground for this permit under the Aliens Circular. The separate investor permit for wealthy foreign nationals ended on 17 April 2024, and new applications on that ground are refused. Residence follows the work you do, not the capital.
Is there a minimum income or a minimum investment?
The means test is a gross profit of EUR 1,766.77 a month with holiday allowance, valid from 1 July to 31 December 2026. There is no fixed minimum investment: fixed-asset investment scores up to 40 points in part C if made within one year. The EUR 4,500 floor belongs to the DAFT route.
Can I start working while my application is pending?
No official source we rely on confirms that, so we make no such promise and plan as if the business starts after the decision. The IND has a statutory decision period of 90 days, which it may extend to at most six months, and the file and the start date are built around that clock.
How many points do I need, and who scores my business plan?
At least 30 points in each of the three parts, personal experience, business plan and added value, or 45 in personal experience and 45 in the business plan, with part C then set at 30. RVO scores Annex 8a for the Minister of Economic Affairs and the IND decides. No official approval rate is published.
What does the IND charge in 2026?
EUR 423.00 for a first application, the same for the change of purpose after a start-up permit, and the same again for an extension. A partner joining the permit holder costs EUR 254.00 and a child EUR 85.00. IND fees change each 1 January. Our own fee is on request.
How long does it take to get a Dutch entrepreneur permit?
The IND has a statutory decision period of 90 days, which it can extend to at most six months. If a document is missing, the IND asks for it, you have two weeks to send it, and the decision period runs two weeks longer. The preparation before filing has no official duration.
Can I get a 1-year visa for the Netherlands to start a business?
Yes, the start-up permit: it runs for at most one year, for an innovative business guided by an RVO-recognised facilitator, and it cannot be extended on that ground. The continuation is the change of purpose to this self-employed permit, where the facilitator's declaration after three months' positive guidance gives 30 points in each part.
Is it difficult for a US citizen to move to the Netherlands as an entrepreneur?
US and Japanese nationals apply for the same permit under their treaties, without the points test, and the means condition of art. 16(1)(c) Vw does not apply. A BV route needs substantial capital of at least EUR 4,500, and borrowed capital does not count. The IND fee is EUR 423.00 (2026). Our DAFT page covers the rest.
What is the 5 year rule in the Netherlands?
For this permit it works two ways. The self-employed permit is a non-temporary purpose of stay, so after five years of lawful residence you may apply for permanent residence, subject to conditions (art. 21 Vw). And after five years of work in the Netherlands, paid employment no longer needs a work permit.
What is the self-employed residence permit in the Netherlands?
It is the regular temporary residence permit for work as a self-employed person under art. 3.30(1) Vb 2000. Three conditions apply: the work serves an essential Dutch interest, it earns durable and independent sufficient means, and you hold the professional and business authorisations it needs. The essential interest is scored on the points system.
Can a foreigner start a business in the Netherlands without moving there?
Yes. A Dutch business can be started while you live abroad, and that needs no residence permit. A founder who is on the Dutch payroll but lives outside the Netherlands is refused this permit, so the permit is for founders who will live here. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals need no permit to live and work here.
How long is the permit valid, and can my family join me?
Up to two years at first, then up to five years at each renewal. The extension must be received at the latest on the day before the permit expires. A spouse, registered partner and minor children may join you; the 2026 IND fee is EUR 254.00 for a partner and EUR 85.00 for a child.
Ready to plan your permit?
Tell us your nationality and whether you will live here and run the business; we reply with the next step and the documents to gather.