Kingdom of the Netherlands · Processing time
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur: how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) applications commonly resolve in 4–12 weeks; the IND legal decision period is 90 days.
How long does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur take to process in Netherlands?
The typical published decision window is 4 weeks – 3 months from a complete application. DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) applications commonly resolve in 4–12 weeks; the IND legal decision period is 90 days.
Verified against IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) on 1 June 2026.
Typical wait
4 weeks – 3 months
from complete application
Government fees
Around €1,500.
Last checked
1 June 2026
What is the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur?
Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.
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).
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residency in Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- Typical permit length: Initial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.
- Indicative government fees: Around €1,500.
How to read this estimate
The 4 weeks – 3 months window is the time IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) typically associates with the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur — measured from a complete, correctly-lodged application through to a decision, not from when you start gathering documents.
- Collecting documents, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the clock starts.
- If the authority requests more information, the clock pauses until you reply — so a fast, complete response keeps your place in the queue.
- Processing times shift with application volumes and policy changes. The IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) page linked below is the only figure that is current on the day you apply.
Official source
IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT)
https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/work-as-a-self-employed-person/self-employed-person-on-the-basis-of-an-international-agreement
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur take to process?+
The typical wait is 4 weeks – 3 months from submitting a complete application. DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) applications commonly resolve in 4–12 weeks; the IND legal decision period is 90 days. These figures come from IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) and were last verified on 2026-06-01. Always confirm on the primary source before you apply.
When does the 4 weeks – 3 months clock start?+
The clock starts when IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT) receives a complete, valid application — not when you begin collecting documents. Gathering evidence, getting qualifications recognised, and booking consular appointments all happen before the window starts.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Netherlands routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur application as delayed?+
Wait until you have passed the upper end of the published window (4 weeks – 3 months) before treating it as delayed. At that point, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Do not chase repeatedly, as this tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, fees, and FAQs for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur.
All Netherlands processing times
Compare decision windows across every Netherlands visa route.
Government fees breakdown
Full itemised fee schedule for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.