Investor visa routes in Kingdom of the Netherlands
Thinking about Kingdom of the Netherlands as a place to work? Below is the 1 Kingdom of the Netherlands visa route that most commonly fits investors, 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: high-net-worth individual, HNW, wealth migrant, passive-income migrant.
What this means for investors
Of the 1 Kingdom of the Netherlands route that commonly fits investors, 0 need a sponsoring employer and 1 does not, and 1 can lead to permanent residence. Investors 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 investors 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 investors
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 |
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit investors moving to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Kingdom of the Netherlands has 1 route that commonly fits investors: Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur. 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 investors need a job offer to move to Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Not always. 1 of the 1 matched Kingdom of the Netherlands route 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 investors settle permanently in Kingdom of the Netherlands?+
Yes. 1 of the 1 matched route leads 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).