Start-up
Requirements
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You work together with a reliable mentor: a facilitator. This cooperation must be written down in a signed contract between you and the facilitator.
- Your company is innovative in the following situations:
- The product or service is new to the Netherlands.
- The start-up uses new technology in production, distribution and/or marketing.
- The start-up has a new way of working and organising.
- See the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (in Dutch: Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland or RVO) for more information on innovative entrepreneurship.
- You play an active part in the organisation. This means that you must be more than just a shareholder or financier.
- You have a step-by-step plan to go from idea to company. The RVO assesses the start-up and sees whether you meet the requirements for the step-by-step plan. The step-by-step plan sets out the following information:
- The structure of the organisation
- The roles and responsibilities
- The legal form
- The personnel
- The company’s goals
- A description of your innovative product or service
- A description of the planning and activities involved in setting up the company
- You and the facilitator are registered in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK).
- You meet the income requirements. You can prove this in 2 different ways:
- You can show a bank statement demonstrating that you have enough money in your account. This must be a Dutch personal or business bank account. Can you not open a Dutch bank account? You could do one of the following things:
- You can authorise a person in the Netherlands to open a postbus rekening - a bank account connected to a PO box in your name.
- You can use of a third-party account from a Dutch notary.
- The facilitator can finance your stay. The amount of money must be available for your entire stay (1 year at most).
- You can show a bank statement demonstrating that you have enough money in your account. This must be a Dutch personal or business bank account. Can you not open a Dutch bank account? You could do one of the following things:
Requirements for facilitators
The RVO keeps a list of facilitators who meet these requirements.
- The facilitator has experience with mentoring innovative start-ups.
- The facilitator is financially healthy.
- The facilitator has not been granted suspension of payment or been put into liquidation and has no negative equity capital.
- The facilitator does not have a majority interest in the start-up company.
- The facilitator is not your child, parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt (family up to and including the third degree).
- The facilitator has a deputy within the organisation.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit:
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application.
Make sure you meet the requirements.
You are already in the Netherlands
Are you already in the Netherlands to set up an innovative company? And do you have a short stay visa or are you not required to have a visa? Then select the option No MVV needed on this page. If you meet all the other conditions, the IND will not reject your application because you do not have an MVV.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. Your facilitator can upload the documents in the online application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusYou apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time.
Are you abroad? Then you apply at the Dutch representation abroad.
Are you already in the Netherlands to set up an innovative company? And do you have a short stay visa or are you not required to have a visa? Then select the option No MVV needed on this page. You or your facilitator can apply in the Netherlands. Your facilitator can submit the application online. You can submit the application yourself in writing by post.
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3. Apply open minusYour facilitator can submit the application online. You can submit the application yourself in writing by post.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our webpage Fees: costs of an application.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send you a letter.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send you a letter.
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6. Decision on application open minusThe IND asks the RVO for advice on the facilitator, the innovativeness of your start-up, the Step-by-Step Plan and registration in the Trade Register. Positive advice from RVO is needed for a residence permit. You will receive the IND’s decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: You will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: You will not get an MVV or residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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6. Decision on application open minusThe IND asks the RVO for advice on the facilitator, the innovativeness of your start-up, the Step-by-Step Plan and registration in the Trade Register. Positive advice from RVO is needed for a residence permit. You will receive the IND’s decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: You will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: You will not get a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusYour can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Biometrics
You must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. You will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. You also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
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8. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
Application forms
Written application forms
More information on access to and the possibilities in Business Portal
Written application forms
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:
TB test
Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the Municipal Health Service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:
Working with the residence permit
It says on the back of your residence permit whether you are allowed to work as an employee. The residence permit reads ‘Work as an employee only allowed with a work permit (in Dutch: arbeid in loondienst alleen toegestaan met TWV. This means that you are only allowed to work as an employee if your employer has a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you.
Legal obligations
You have an obligation to provide information. This means that you must inform the IND of changes in your situation. Read more about your obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligation. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.
Validity of the residence permit
The maximum term of validity of the residence permit is 1 year. After 1 year you can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed person. You must, however, meet the requirements for this residence permit.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of the residence permit
Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend the residence permit
It is not possible to extend the residence permit as a start-up.
Apply for a different residence permit
After 1 year, you can apply for a residence permit as a self-employed person. You must meet the requirements for this residence permit. In addition, you must provide a declaration from the facilitator showing that you have successfully completed a mentoring process of at least 3 months.
See also
- Residence permit for essential start-up personnel
- Residence permit self-employed person
- Residence permit for foreign start-ups | RVO.nl | Rijksdienst
- Living in the Netherlands
- Travel and return visa (in Dutch: terugkeervisum or TKV)
- Webinar Business.gov.nl: starting a business in the Netherlands
- Frequently Asked Questions Work