Startup Visa Netherlands
The Netherlands actively recruits founders, and the startup visa is the front door: a one-year residence permit to build an innovative company under the wing of an IND recognized facilitator. Strong idea, credible plan, right facilitator, and you are in one of Europe’s best ecosystems.
Most advisors stop at the permit. As a boutique agency we take founders through the whole arc: the facilitator introduction, the business plan the IND actually wants to read, and the practical move that lets you spend your energy on the company instead of the paperwork.
Built for founders who are
- Launching an innovative product or service that does not yet exist in the Dutch market
- From outside the EU and need a residence basis to build here
- Ready to work with a recognized facilitator or accelerator
- Planning the step to the self-employed permit after year one
Where we add value
Honest viability check
The IND assesses innovation and the facilitator assesses you. We tell you upfront whether your case is strong, and what to fix if it is not.
Facilitator matching
A recognized facilitator must back your application. We help you approach the ones that fit your sector and stage.
Application and step plan
We prepare the IND file, including the step-by-step plan describing your role and the innovation, and manage the submission.
Founder landing
Registration, BSN, housing and the first KvK conversations, so the company and the founder both have an address.
From pitch to permit
- 01
Assess
We stress-test your idea against the IND innovation criteria before you commit.
- 02
Match and file
Facilitator agreement signed, application prepared and submitted.
- 03
Build
You arrive, we handle the settling in, and you get a year of runway on Dutch soil.
The startup permit runs for one year and is not extended as such. The planned next step is usually the self-employed permit, and we start preparing that file well before your year ends.
Founder questions
What counts as innovative for the IND?
A product or service that is new to the Netherlands, uses new technology, or introduces a genuinely new working method. Your facilitator’s endorsement carries real weight here, which is why the match matters.
Can I bring my family on a startup visa?
Yes. Your partner and children can apply for residence alongside you, and your partner is free to work while you build.
Do I need a minimum investment?
No fixed investment amount is required for the startup visa itself. You do need to show sufficient means to live on for the year, which we help you evidence.
Ready to build in the Netherlands?
Pitch us the one-line version of your company. We will tell you if the startup visa is your route and who should facilitate it.
Thank you, your inquiry has been sent
Johanna will personally review your situation and reply within one business day, usually much sooner. For anything urgent, message us on WhatsApp.
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