Netherlands residence for entrepreneurs: the self-employed permit

No. The scheme for wealthy foreign nationals investing in Dutch companies ran from 1 October 2013 and has been closed to new applications since 17 April 2024: according to the IND it was rarely used and did little for the economy. Existing permits can still be extended, but no new ones are issued. Today an investment counts only as part of your own business, under the self-employed route.

The IND's list of residence purposes has no separate permit for financially independent people. If you do not plan to run a business in the Netherlands, this route does not fit, and we will say so openly and suggest EU countries that do offer such a status.

The law sets no fixed amount. Investment in fixed and intangible assets made within the first year earns up to 40 points in the added-value area, with the maximum from €500,000. But points are needed in all three areas: money does not make up for a weak business plan or a lack of experience. If a Dutch bank finances the business, the financing criterion scores the full 50 points.

By law the IND decides within 90 days. If RVO advice is requested, the period may be extended by a maximum of 6 months, and longer if the application is incomplete. After the decision you must book the MVV appointment within 3 months; the MVV is valid for 90 days. We do not promise ‘one-month’ timelines.

Start-up is for an early-stage entrepreneur with an innovative product: you need a contract with an RVO-listed facilitator, a step-by-step plan and funds in a Dutch account for up to 1 year. Self-employed is for a business that can already be scored under the points system. After a successful start-up year you can switch to self-employed: the application costs €423, and the facilitator's declaration that mentoring was successfully completed is taken into account in the RVO points system.

The main applicant only if the employer obtains a work permit (TWV) for them. After 5 years of work in the Netherlands the TWV is no longer required. Family members may work freely: their card says ‘free to work’.

The IND may conclude that you have moved your main residence if you spend more than 6 continuous months abroad in a calendar year, or more than 4 continuous months three years in a row and move the centre of your activities abroad. The consequence is withdrawal of the permit or a refused extension. We plan for this in advance.

Permanent residence is possible after 5 years of continuous residence on a non-temporary permit, with sufficient income and a civic integration exam at level A2. Naturalisation also requires 5 years of continuous residence, the A2 exam and, as a rule, giving up your previous nationality; there are exceptions, which we check before filing. India does not allow dual citizenship, so naturalisation means giving up the Indian passport.

Not for the self-employed permit itself. A partner from most non-EU countries must pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad before the MVV. Permanent residence and naturalisation require a civic integration exam at level A2 or an exemption.

You apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or in the country where you have legally lived for more than 3 months on a residence permit — so a UAE resident can apply in the UAE. If there is no Dutch mission there, you use the nearest one. Documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

That the conditions still apply: the business is active, profit meets the IND standard and the invested capital remains in the company. The IND asks for annual accounts and a balance sheet or income statement. Changes in your situation must be reported to the IND even between extensions, or you risk a fine.

Not as ordinary family members. Children under 18 receive a residence permit to stay with a parent. For adult children and parents, IND rules provide no separate route: what remains is an application under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which the IND assesses individually and, in its own words, almost never grants. Parents can visit on a Schengen visa.

The standard rises from €1,766.77 gross profit a month for a single applicant to €2,523.96 with a partner or children (IND standards including holiday allowance for 1 July – 31 December 2026). It does not rise for each additional child. On a first application the income is shown through the business plan; on extension, through actual profit.

Yes. If the application is refused through the fault of our team or an error in building the case, we refund the company's service fee less a minimal retention for costs actually incurred. Refund terms, the payment schedule and the rules on retaining service costs are fixed in the contract before work begins. Before we start, we check your documents and risk history free of charge and tell you about any risks in advance.