Startup visa Netherlands: how to start a business in the Netherlands as a foreign entrepreneur

What is the startup visa in the Netherlands?

The startup visa, officially known as the residence permit for startups, allows entrepreneurs from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland to reside in the Netherlands for up to one year to build an innovative business. During that year, you must develop or introduce an innovative product or service under the guidance of an experienced facilitator. This is not a general entrepreneurship route for every foreign founder, but a specific scheme designed for innovative startups.

For many international founders, this scheme is a practical entry point into the Dutch market. The Netherlands offers a strong startup ecosystem, but the government requires proof that the initiative is innovative, that there is a realistic growth path, and that you personally play an active entrepreneurial role. It is precisely this combination of innovation, feasibility, and personal involvement that distinguishes the startup visa from a standard residency route for self-employed individuals.

Who is this route intended for?

The startup scheme is primarily intended for ambitious non-European entrepreneurs who want to launch their innovative company in the Netherlands. If you are a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you do not fall under this specific residency scheme, and the startup visa is generally not the route you need. For founders outside that group, the visa is highly relevant because it provides the space to spend the first year building your product, team, market validation, and organization.

This makes the scheme particularly interesting for tech founders, SaaS companies, AI startups, deeptech ventures, and other innovative businesses that are still in the development phase but can clearly articulate what sets them apart. In practice, we see that while the Netherlands is eager to attract entrepreneurship, it also sets clear requirements for the substance and structure of the startup. A good story is not enough; the innovation must be concrete and verifiable.

What are the requirements for a startup visa?

You need a facilitator

One of the most important conditions is that you work with a reliable facilitator. This partnership must be documented in a signed agreement. The facilitator is not just a formality on paper but an essential part of the scheme: this party guides you in growing your startup into an operational business. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) maintains a list of recognized facilitators who meet the requirements.

The facilitator must have experience in guiding innovative startups, be financially sound, hold no majority stake in your startup, and cannot be a family member up to the third degree. Additionally, there must be a designated deputy within the facilitator's organization. While this may sound technical, it underscores the requirement for independent and professional guidance.

Your startup must be truly innovative

Not every new business qualifies. According to the IND, a startup is considered innovative if the product or service is new to the Netherlands, if new technology is used in production, distribution, or marketing, or if the startup employs a new way of organizing or collaborating. This means that a simple copy of an existing concept is usually insufficient.

This is a key point of attention for startups and scale-ups. Many founders underestimate how concretely innovation must be substantiated. You must be able to clearly demonstrate what is new, why it is relevant to the Dutch market, and how your company actually puts that innovation into practice. The more sharply you can formulate this, the stronger your application will generally be.

You must have an active role yourself

The scheme is intended for entrepreneurs who are genuinely building their own startup. You cannot be solely a shareholder or financier. The IND requires that you have an active role in the organization. For foreign founders, this is a crucial point, especially when an investor, accelerator, or local partner is also involved. The question is always: are you the one shaping the company in terms of content and operations?

You need a convincing step-by-step plan

Additionally, you must have a step-by-step plan detailing how you will move from idea to business. This plan must address aspects such as the organization's structure, roles and responsibilities, legal form, personnel, the company's objective, the intended innovative product or service, and the timeline of activities required to set up the business. The RVO assesses the content of this plan.

For founders, this is more than a formality. Your step-by-step plan is essentially the bridge between vision and feasibility. This is where it becomes clear whether you have sufficiently considered the legal, commercial, and operational aspects of establishing your business in the Netherlands. A vague plan is rarely enough. A clear plan in which the organization and execution are logically developed makes all the difference.

You must be registered and have sufficient financial resources

Furthermore, both you and the facilitator must be registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce. You must also meet the income requirements. The IND specifies two routes for this: you can demonstrate sufficient funds with a bank statement, or the facilitator can fund your stay for the entire maximum duration of one year. If you are not yet able to open a Dutch bank account, the IND suggests options such as a PO box account in your name via an authorized representative in the Netherlands or using a third-party account held by a Dutch civil-law notary.

This specific aspect demonstrates that immigration and business incorporation cannot be viewed in isolation. Your residency status, banking arrangements, registration, and corporate structure must all align. Those who address this too late risk having a strong application in terms of content that fails due to procedural issues.

What is the application process for the startup visa?

The application is processed by the IND. In some cases, you can submit the application yourself, but your facilitator can also submit it online. If you apply yourself, it must be done in writing by mail. If you are still living abroad, you must submit the application through the Dutch diplomatic mission in your country. Depending on your nationality, an mvv (provisional residence permit) may also be required.

The IND then requests advice from the RVO regarding the facilitator, the innovativeness of your startup, the roadmap, and your registration in the Commercial Register. A positive recommendation from the RVO is required for the residence permit. The maximum processing time is three months. You should also ensure that official foreign documents are legalized and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German where necessary.

There are fees associated with the application. Currently, the application for a startup residence permit is € 423. While that amount may seem straightforward at first glance, do not underestimate the preparation: the real work usually lies in building a complete, consistent, and persuasive file.

What additional steps should you take to set up your business in the Netherlands?

A startup visa is only one part of the bigger picture. As a foreign entrepreneur, you must also establish your business legally and practically in the Netherlands. This involves not only residency but also your company structure, registration, tax position, and daily operations.

Choose the right legal structure

One of the first choices is the legal structure. For a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) or a general partnership (vof), there are no incorporation requirements involving a notary, and you can handle the registration yourself. If you choose a private limited company (bv), notarial incorporation is required. This choice is relevant for liability, governance, investments, and how you can scale your business further. Especially for startups looking to attract investment, hire staff, or work with shareholders, the legal structure is not an administrative detail but a strategic choice.

If you already have a business abroad, the question may also arise whether it is better to set up a separate subsidiary in the Netherlands or to operate as a branch of an existing foreign company. Which route is most suitable depends on your activities, liability preferences, and growth plans in the Netherlands.

Arrange a business address and Chamber of Commerce registration

To register your company in the Netherlands, you need a Dutch business address. A PO box is not sufficient for this. To register with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), you generally make an appointment, fill in your details online in advance, and bring items such as a valid ID and proof of your Dutch business address. In some situations, registration from abroad is possible, but the KVK will then assess whether there are sufficient sustainable economic activities in the Netherlands.

Registration with the KVK currently costs € 85.15. After registration, the KVK will pass your details on to the Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst), so you do not need to submit a separate standard registration. The Tax and Customs Administration will then determine whether you are an entrepreneur for VAT purposes and provide the relevant VAT number and VAT ID.

Address banking, administration, and taxes immediately

Anyone doing business in the Netherlands will also have to deal with banking and tax obligations. Business.gov, for example, points out that you generally need a Dutch business bank account for financial transactions and registration. In addition, you must account for Dutch tax obligations, which in many cases include VAT and income tax, as well as the obligation to maintain proper records and keep them for several years.

For foreign founders, the complexity often lies not in a single rule, but in the intersection of multiple regulations. Residency rights, registration, banking, taxation, and contracts must all align. This is precisely why it is wise not to approach establishing a business in the Netherlands as merely an immigration issue, but as a broader corporate structure that needs to be solid from day one.

What happens after the first year?

The residence permit for startups is valid for a maximum of one year and cannot be extended. This is an important point: the startup visa is not a final destination, but a stepping stone. After that first year, if you meet the requirements, you can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed entrepreneur. For this, you also need a statement from the facilitator showing that you have successfully completed the guidance program for at least three months.

For founders, this means you should not wait until the eleventh month to think about the next phase. Those who use the first year wisely are not only building their product and market but also a file that supports the transition to the self-employed permit. Legal and business preparations therefore run in parallel.

Where do things often go wrong in practice?

In practice, we see that foreign founders often stumble on three points. First, innovation is sometimes described too broadly, whereas the government specifically wants to see what is concretely new for the Netherlands or what is technologically or organizationally innovative. Second, the role of the facilitator is underestimated. That party must not only be willing to participate but also fit within the formal requirements. Third, the residence application and the business setup are treated too much as separate processes, while they are actually intertwined.

For startups and scale-ups, this is especially relevant because speed is often important. In a rapid growth phase, it is tempting to focus on commercial movement first and arrange the legal structure later. But for an international establishment, that often backfires. An unclear legal form, late registration, or a file that does not properly align with immigration requirements can cause significant delays.

How Startup-Recht helps with establishing a business in the Netherlands

At Startup-Recht, we regularly assist foreign founders, management teams, and investors who want to establish their company in the Netherlands. This often involves not only the question of whether a startup visa is feasible, but also the legal choices surrounding it: which legal form fits, how to structure the Dutch company, how to properly coordinate the collaboration with a facilitator, and how to ensure the structure is ready for growth, investment, and further scaling.

This is particularly important for innovative companies. A startup that comes in today with a residency question often has questions tomorrow about incorporation, governance, contracts, and the legal basis for a subsequent funding round. It is helpful when those lines are well-aligned from the start.

Summary

Starting a business in the Netherlands as a foreign entrepreneur is very possible, but it requires careful preparation. The startup visa offers non-European founders a clear route to launch an innovative startup in the Netherlands, provided you meet the requirements regarding innovation, guidance, resources, and execution. Those who smartly combine this route with a strong legal business setup increase the chance of a smooth landing in the Netherlands and a solid foundation for further growth.

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