Kingdom of the Netherlands · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement
Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Treaty-based self-employment residence for US nationals starting a business in the Netherlands.
- Processing time
- 2–4 weeks after complete submission.
- Government fees
- Around €1,500.
- Typical duration
- Initial 2 years, renewable for 5; leads to permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
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).
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓US or Japanese nationality.
- ✓€4,500 held in a Dutch business bank account.
- ✓Registration of a Dutch company with the Chamber of Commerce.
Common blockers
- !Non-US/Japanese nationality.
- !Lack of Dutch company registration at application time.
Typical evidence
- ·US or Japanese passport.
- ·KvK registration.
- ·Bank statement showing €4,500.
Application pathway
Register Dutch company
Most DAFT applicants set up as eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) or BV.
Deposit €4,500 in business account
Capital must be retained during the permit.
Apply with IND
DAFT route is self-sponsored.
Live and trade
Renew at year 2; permanent residence option after 5 years.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicantApply as self-employed ↗
DAFT applicants use this IND self-employed route page to prepare and file the residence application.
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) entrepreneur application runs about €508.15 in government fees (uS citizen, arrival + IND + KvK (ignoring the €4,500 maintained equity)). A decision then typically takes 4 weeks – 3 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Is DAFT only for US citizens?+
DAFT itself is for US nationals. Japanese nationals access an equivalent self-employment route under the Dutch-Japanese friendship treaty. Other nationalities fall under the general Dutch self-employment points system, which is more demanding.
How much capital do I need and what does it cost to apply under DAFT?+
DAFT requires 4,500 euros held in a Dutch business bank account, and the government fee is around 1,500 euros. The route is for US nationals, with an equivalent treaty route for Japanese nationals. Confirm current figures on the official IND page.
Does the DAFT entrepreneur route lead to permanent residence?+
Yes — DAFT starts as an initial 2-year permit, renewable for 5 years, and leads to permanent residence after 5 years. Confirm the permanent-residence requirements on the official IND page.
What kind of company do I register for DAFT — a sole proprietorship or a BV?+
Most DAFT applicants register either as an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship) or a BV with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK), and the company must be registered when you apply. Lacking a Dutch company registration at application time is a common blocker. Confirm requirements on the official IND page.
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