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American applicants · Kingdom of the Netherlands

Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur for American citizens

By · Last reviewed:

Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyInitial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.

This page covers the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur specifically for American applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to United States. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.

Processing time
No fixed national clock publishedUse the current IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Worked-example cost
€508.15
Typical duration
Initial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) ↗

Bilateral context

  • Schengen Area
  • Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT)

Consular processing: Amsterdam (IND direct)

Tourist entry vs. this route

Yes — American nationals can enter Kingdom of the Netherlands without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur.

Key figures for American applicants

Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.

Worked-example route cost

€508.15

US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)

Verified 10 September 2026 · IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT)

How long it takes

No fixed national clock published

IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.

Use the current IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

Verified 10 September 2026 · IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT)

Time to permanent residence

Arrival → PR and citizenship eligibility parallel at 5 years.

Leads to Permanent Residence Permit (Verblijfsvergunning regulier onbepaalde tijd), then Dutch citizenship.

IND — Dutch citizenship

Visa overview

DAFT is a bilateral treaty allowing US nationals to live in the Netherlands as self-employed business owners with a relatively low capital investment (€4,500 held in the business). The route also extends under equivalent treaties to Japanese nationals (the Dutch-Japanese friendship treaty).

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Register Dutch company

    Most DAFT applicants set up as eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) or BV.

  2. Deposit €4,500 in business account

    Capital must be retained during the permit.

  3. Apply with IND

    DAFT route is self-sponsored.

  4. Live and trade

    Renew at year 2; permanent residence option after 5 years.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Netherlands. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Apply as self-employed ↗

    DAFT applicants use this IND self-employed route page to prepare and file the residence application.

    Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · verified

Not sure Kingdom of the Netherlands is right for you? Compare similar routes

Other countries offer entrepreneur routes that American nationals also apply to. See how they compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are American citizens eligible for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur?+

Eligibility for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur is set by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). American applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do American applicants typically file the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur?+

Amsterdam (IND direct). Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Do American applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of the Netherlands as well?+

Yes — American nationals can enter Kingdom of the Netherlands without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur.

How much does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur cost for a American applicant?+

The stored worked example (US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)) totals about €508.15. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT), verified 10 September 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.

How long does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur take to process from United States?+

IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. American applicants usually file via Amsterdam (IND direct), and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT), verified 10 September 2026.

How long until permanent residence in Kingdom of the Netherlands?+

Arrival → PR and citizenship eligibility parallel at 5 years. The route leads to Permanent Residence Permit (Verblijfsvergunning regulier onbepaalde tijd), then Dutch citizenship. See IND — Dutch citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.

Is DAFT only for US citizens?+

DAFT itself is for US nationals. Japanese nationals access an equivalent self-employment route under the Dutch-Japanese friendship treaty. Other nationalities fall under the general Dutch self-employment points system, which is more demanding.

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

Last checked: 8 July 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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