Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

Russian applicants · Kingdom of the Netherlands

Startup Visa (Netherlands) for Russian citizens

By · Last reviewed:

1-year residence permit for founders working with a recognised Dutch startup facilitator.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residency1 year, non-renewable as Startup Visa; transitions to self-employment route.

This page covers the Startup Visa (Netherlands) specifically for Russian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Russia. 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 — Startup residence permit service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Government fees
Around €350 (plus facilitator arrangement costs).
Typical duration
1 year, non-renewable as Startup Visa; transitions to self-employment route.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) ↗

Bilateral context

  • Schengen Area

Consular processing: a Kingdom of the Netherlands consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence

Tourist entry vs. this route

Tourist-entry rules for Russian nationals change periodically and are separate from the Startup Visa (Netherlands). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

Key figures for Russian applicants

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

How long it takes

No fixed national clock published

IND — Startup residence permit 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 — Startup residence permit service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.

Verified 10 September 2026 · IND — Startup residence permit

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

The Dutch Startup Visa is a 1-year residence permit for non-EEA founders with an innovative business. Applicants partner with a recognised facilitator (RVO-approved) who provides mentorship and vets the business. After the first year, founders typically switch to the general self-employment route.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

  • !Business not judged innovative by the facilitator.
  • !Facilitator list is relatively short.

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Choose RVO-recognised facilitator

    Consult the RVO public list and secure an engagement.

  2. Submit IND application

    Facilitator endorses the application.

  3. Travel and build

    Operate the business during the 1-year permit.

  4. Transition to self-employment route

    After year 1, switch to the standard self-employment permit based on business viability.

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 + sponsor
    Apply for start-up permit ↗

    Founders and facilitators use this IND page to confirm documents and access the start-up application form.

    Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · verified

Other Kingdom of the Netherlands routes covered for Russian applicants

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Are Russian citizens eligible for the Startup Visa (Netherlands)?+

Eligibility for the Startup Visa (Netherlands) is set by Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Russian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do Russian applicants typically file the Startup Visa (Netherlands)?+

a Kingdom of the Netherlands consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence. 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 Russian applicants need a tourist visa for Kingdom of the Netherlands as well?+

Tourist-entry rules for Russian nationals change periodically and are separate from the Startup Visa (Netherlands). Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

How long does the Startup Visa (Netherlands) take to process from Russia?+

IND — Startup residence permit 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 — Startup residence permit service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Russian applicants usually file via a Kingdom of the Netherlands consulate or visa application centre in your country of residence, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: IND — Startup residence permit, 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.

Can the Startup Visa be extended?+

Not as Startup Visa. Founders transition to the standard self-employment route or to Kennismigrant if they take a qualifying employed role.

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

Compare routesCheck my options