Entrepreneur visa routes in Kingdom of the Netherlands
Thinking about Kingdom of the Netherlands as a place to work? Below are the 2 Kingdom of the Netherlands visa routes that most commonly fit entrepreneurs, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: startup founder, business owner, company director.
What this means for entrepreneurs
Of the 2 Kingdom of the Netherlands routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs, 0 need a sponsoring employer and 2 do not, and 2 can lead to permanent residence. Entrepreneurs are not usually a licensed profession, so your main gates are securing a qualifying job offer where a route needs a sponsor, and meeting any salary or points threshold, rather than re-credentialing.
The most-used skilled route into Kingdom of the Netherlands overall is the Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant); it is not specific to entrepreneurs but is worth understanding as the benchmark route.
Typical figures — Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Government cost
€508.15
US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)
Verified 1 June 2026 · IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT) →
How long it takes
4 weeks – 3 months
DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty) applications commonly resolve in 4–12 weeks; the IND legal decision period is 90 days.
Verified 1 June 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.
Routes that fit entrepreneurs
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur
Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Initial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.
Startup Visa (Netherlands)
1-year residence permit for founders working with a recognised Dutch startup facilitator.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · 1 year, non-renewable as Startup Visa; transitions to self-employment route.
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur | — | 4 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
| Startup Visa (Netherlands) | — | 4 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit entrepreneurs moving to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Kingdom of the Netherlands has 2 routes that commonly fit entrepreneurs: Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur, Startup Visa (Netherlands). The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do entrepreneurs need a job offer to move to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Not always. 2 of the 2 matched Kingdom of the Netherlands routes can be pursued without an employer sponsoring you (such as the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur), while 0 need a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. If you do not yet have an offer, start with the no-sponsor routes.
Can entrepreneurs settle permanently in Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Yes. 2 of the 2 matched routes lead toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How much does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur cost in government fees?+
For the worked example (US citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)), government fees total about €508.15 (IND — Residence permit for self-employed persons (incl. DAFT), verified 1 June 2026). Treat as indicative and confirm the current schedule on the official source.
How long does the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 4 weeks – 3 months (IND — Self-employed residence (DAFT), verified 1 June 2026).