Do you want to work as an entrepreneur in the Netherlands? Do you have an innovative business idea? Do you have a non-EU nationality? If 3x yes, you can apply for a Dutch startup visa. You need a residence permit to start your dream company in the Netherlands. From 1 January 2016, as an innovative start-up, you can renew your residence permit using the Self-Employment Scheme.

So, what are the eligibility requirements for a Dutch startup visa? How does the application process work? What are the steps involved?

A residence permit allows an immigrant entrepreneur to launch an innovative company. However, they must have a reliable supervisor (called Facilitator in this respect) in the country to support the business operations. The government of the Netherlands provides sufficient support to these entrepreneurs to develop their enterprises, help them generate employment opportunities, and boost the economy.

Why start your business in the Netherland?

  • The Netherlands is one of the top five most dynamic economies worldwide
  • Foreign entrepreneurs have excellent accessibility to roads, rail, ports, and airports. The entire infrastructure is state-of-the-art.
  • The Netherlands is reputed for its digital infrastructure, one of the fastest globally.
  • The business climate is good, accompanied by excellent living conditions and a stable banking system.
  • The Netherlands is a leader in education, healthcare, and recreation.

Conditions for a Dutch startup visa

There are specific conditions that apply to the Dutch startup visa for applicants interested in starting their company in the Netherlands:

  • Work with a reliable facilitator. This cooperation must be signed between the startup entrepreneur and the facilitator.
  • The Netherlands Enterprise Agency will evaluate whether your product or service is ‘innovative.’
  • As a startup entrepreneur for a Europe business visa, you must submit a solid business plan stating how you will establish your business, and what the structure will be
  • The startup entrepreneur must register at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK).
  • You must have sufficient funds to live in the Netherlands and manage your expenses initially.

What is the role of a facilitator?

Having a facilitator on board is one of the key conditions of a Dutch residence permit. An immigrant entrepreneur must work with a reliable facilitator to carry out the business operations of a startup. The most significant role of the facilitator is to provide the entrepreneur with customized solutions as per the enterprise’s needs. The facilitator provides support with operational management, research and development, marketing, and investment.

Apart from the above, a facilitator must fulfil the following conditions:

  • Have considerable experience in guiding start-up companies
  • Must be financially sound
  • Have no negative equity or in the verge of bankruptcy
  • Must have no major interest in the startup company
  • Must not be a family member or relative of the startup owner
  • Have a deputy within the organization

Startup founders from non-EU countries with a VU diploma (<12 months) or still studying at VU Amsterdam.

Are you a non-EU citizen, and a student or recent (12 months) graduate at VU Amsterdam, with an innovative idea and do you want to apply for a startup visa in the Netherlands? Please read below.

We offer you the Amsterdam Startup Launch, a 14 week business plan program, during which you will be guided towards a robust business plan, by professionals from our partner Roland Berger. Please check here for details about the program. After the program (either in January for the Fall cohort or in June for the Spring cohort) you will have regular meetings with the facilitator about your progress on the agreed milestones. All together you will be in the facilitator program for 12 months. After that you can submit a ‘Doorstroomverklaring’ with which you can apply for a ‘self-employment visa residence permit’ (2 yrs): key question will be “is the entrepreneur going to be able to pay her/himself?”.

Startup visa facilitation is open for startup visa applicants who are also Virtual Member of the VU StartHub community. The Virtual Membership fee is € 159 per month ex VAT. It offers a lot of benefits such as access to our networks, access to the VU mentor pool of seasoned entrepreneurs, access to all community knowledge lunches, use of the VU StartHub address, use of the meeting rooms and muc more. See all details here.

Contact us to find out if the startup visa is suitable for you.