Kingdom of the Netherlands
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur processing time
DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) applications commonly resolve in 4–12 weeks; the IND legal decision period is 90 days.
Typical window
4 weeks – 3 months
Government fees
Around €1,500.
Last checked
20 April 2026
What drives the timeline
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur sits in the entrepreneur category. Typical duration: Initial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.. Indicative government fees: Around €1,500..
- Does not require a sponsor.
- Leads to settlement / permanent residence.
- Suited for: US nationals wanting to run a business in the Netherlands, Japanese nationals (under the equivalent Dutch-Japanese treaty).
Primary 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?
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 2026-04-20. Always confirm on the primary source before acting.
Is there a priority or premium service that speeds this up?
Refer to the linked primary source for current priority / premium options; availability changes frequently and varies by consular post.
Can you guarantee my application will fall inside this window?
No. Processing times are indicative and depend on case complexity, biometrics scheduling, sponsor-side delays, source country, public-holiday calendars, and policy shifts. The linked source is the only authoritative reference on the day you apply.