Kingdom of the Netherlands
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur: government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
DAFT costs US citizens about €510 in IND and KvK fees, plus €4,500 that must be maintained as Dutch business equity throughout the permit.
These are the fees paid to the Kingdom of the Netherlands government. You pay these directly as part of your application. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur cost in Netherlands?
DAFT costs US citizens about €510 in IND and KvK fees, plus €4,500 that must be maintained as Dutch business equity throughout the permit.
Verified against IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT) on 1 June 2026.
Headline total
€508.15
US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)
Currency
EUR (Euro)
Last checked
1 June 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
MVV entry visa (if required) US citizens are MVV-exempt and can travel to the Netherlands to apply directly. | €192 | Optional |
Residence permit — DAFT self-employed IND fee for the self-employed residence permit (incl. the 1956 US-NL Friendship Treaty / DAFT route). €423 from 1 January 2026 — the treaty route carries this reduced IND fee, not the higher general self-employed rate. | €423 | Yes |
Residence permit — renewal (after 2 years) | €423 | Optional |
KvK business registration One-off Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registration fee; raised from €80.10 in the annual inflation adjustment. | €85.15 | Yes |
BSN registration (gemeente, typically free) | €0 | Yes |
Minimum business capital (must be maintained, not a fee) Not an IND fee — this is the treaty-required minimum equity in the Dutch business account at all times. | €4,500 | Yes |
Worked example
US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity) — €508.15
- €423 IND residence permit
- €85.15 KvK registration
- €0 BSN at the gemeente
How to read these fees
The €508.15 headline covers uS citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity). Of the 6 components listed above, 4 are mandatory and 2 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Minimum business capital (must be maintained, not a fee) at €4,500.
This route does not add separate dependant fees on top of the headline. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Why fees change
IND fees reset each 1 January; the self-employed (incl. DAFT) residence-permit fee is €423 for 2026. (Earlier four-figure estimates conflated this with the general self-employed route — the treaty fee is materially lower.) The €4,500 treaty minimum has been stable since 1956 and is unlikely to change.
Primary source
IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT)
https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/residence-permit-self-employed-person
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur cost in government fees?
DAFT costs US citizens about €510 in IND and KvK fees, plus €4,500 that must be maintained as Dutch business equity throughout the permit. The worked example assumes us citizen, arrival + ind + kvk (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity), totalling €508.15. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
IND fees reset each 1 January; the self-employed (incl. DAFT) residence-permit fee is €423 for 2026. (Earlier four-figure estimates conflated this with the general self-employed route — the treaty fee is materially lower.) The €4,500 treaty minimum has been stable since 1956 and is unlikely to change.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Dependant fee rules vary by route. Consult the linked source before including dependants in your application.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur.
Processing time
How long the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur takes from application to decision.
Compare: Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant) fees
Primary sponsored work route for high-skill workers hired by IND-recognised sponsors.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.