A residence permit as 'start-up' gives ambitious starters a year to start an innovative company in the Netherlands. One condition in this regard is that they are supervised by a reliable supervisor (facilitator) in the Netherlands. Start-ups receive a great deal of support in the Netherlands to develop into successful enterprises. This is good for the entrepreneur, but also good for employment and the economy.
Why start up a business in the Netherlands? The Netherlands is in the top 5 of the most competitive economies in the world. We have much to offer foreign entrepreneurs and investors: the accessibility by road, rail, ports and airports is excellent. In addition, our digital infrastructure is one of the fastest and most reliable in the world.
With a good business climate also come good living conditions. The Netherlands also takes a world-leading position in (international) education, healthcare and recreation.
There are certain conditions that apply to everyone. In addition to these conditions, the following conditions apply to you and your facilitator:
One of the conditions for the residence permit is working together with a business mentor: a facilitator. This cooperation must be laid down in a (signed) agreement between the start-up entrepreneur and the facilitator.
The facilitator provides the start-up entrepreneur with a tailor-made package of support depending on the specific needs of the start-up entrepreneur. The facilitator may, for example, help with operational management, marketing, research and investing acquisition for setting up an innovative business.
The facilitator must also meet a number of conditions:
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) assesses whether the facilitator meets the above conditions and maintains the list of facilitators who meet the above conditions.
The product or service is innovative if it has at least 1 of the following 3 aspects:
Examples include the following:
Check for more information www.rvo.nl.
The start-up entrepreneur must undertake specific activities to progress from concept to business. The Government wants to know in advance what activities will take place. The start-up entrepreneur provides a description of this in a step-by-step plan. The step-by-step plan provides:
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) evaluates the start-up and checks compliance with the step-by-step plan.
The start-up entrepreneur must register in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce. The registration must show that the start-up entrepreneur has an active role in the start-up. This is essential in order to be able take decisions regarding the future company. The facilitator must also be registered with the Chamber of Commerce. The RVO will audit the entry in the Trade Register.
The start-up entrepreneur must have sufficient financial resources (income) to be able to reside, live and set up a business in the Netherlands. Start-up entrepreneurs may not rely on welfare benefits or other benefits from public funds.
The start-up entrepreneur can prove he has sufficient resources in various ways:
Other conditions may apply for Turkish nationals and their family members.
Your facilitator can also submit this application online. He can do this in the Business Portal.
Online applicationThis application costs € 342.
The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with your application.
You have to have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
Webinar 'Starting a business in the Netherlands'
The provisional residence permit (mvv) is a visa you need if you wish to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. For more information, check Regular provisional residence permit (mvv).
A country of continuous residence is a country (other than the country of origin) where you may lawfully live for more than 3 months. This means you have a valid residence permit for that country. Or that you are waiting for your application for a residence permit to be approved.
Are you in a country in your free term? Or with a visa for short stay (maximum of 3 months)? This is not continuous residence.
A TWV is a work permit. The employer applies for a TWV with UWV (Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency). UWV examines among other things if there is no employee with the Dutch, EU/EEA or Swiss nationality that is qualified for the job.