How We Support Founders

Choose the route before a year goes into the wrong one. Then prepare what the application asks for, and settle in after you arrive.

01 Two people comparing route options at a meeting table

Before you move

The route

Moving abroad is stressful enough. We match the route to your idea and your timeline, so your time and energy go into the move, not into guessing.

  • Startup Visa
  • Self-employed
  • A phased plan, if you are not ready yet

You leave knowing your options, the evidence required, and your next step.

02 A neat application dossier and fountain pen on a walnut desk

The application

The step-by-step plan

The residence permit application asks for a step-by-step plan, and for the signed agreement with your facilitator.

  • Your role in the start-up
  • The first year, from idea to business
  • Why the product or service is innovative

The points the IND lists for that plan.

03 House keys and a plant on a windowsill overlooking brick apartments

After you arrive

Arrival and settling in

Practical help with the first steps after you arrive, and introductions to specialists for the rest.

  • BSN and KVK registration
  • A tax adviser and a lawyer
  • An introduction to banks

We stay with you through the registration steps and the introductions. The bank and the landlord make their own decisions.

What clients say

Reviews from people we have worked with in the Netherlands.

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Talk to Michael or Angelina

Working with Angelina and Michael has been the most unique and impactful experience of my entire time living in The Netherlands.

Peyman Entrepreneur, The Netherlands - 2026
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Her guidance helped me make better-informed decisions, avoid unnecessary risks, and feel much more confident as an entrepreneur.

Mehdi Founder of ARIO
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Een van de eerste dingen die zij zei was: als je fundering zwak is kun je niet bouwen. Zij heeft mij in een half jaar tijd geholpen die fundering op te bouwen.

Jaap Fysiotherapeut, Amsterdam
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I cannot recommend Angelina enough. She’s the first person you should speak to if you’re facing any employment concern. […] Angelina brings a much broader perspective, especially valuable if you’re not Dutch and navigating an unfamiliar system.

Gretchen D Amsterdam
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Waar ondernemers door de hoeveelheid informatie soms niet meer wisten waar zij moesten beginnen, wist Angelina structuur en duidelijkheid te bieden en hen praktisch verder te helpen.

Straatmanager
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Your path in the Netherlands

From your first application to a self-employed founder, in four stages

Stage 1

Pre-arrival

Eligibility, strategy, your business plan, and the IND application and entry visa (MVV), all prepared before you move.

Stage 2

Arrival

After you arrive: MVV collection, your BSN appointment, KVK registration, and an introduction for banking.

Stage 3

Programme

Monthly sessions and support through your startup year. Where the startup visa is your route, we can act as the proposed facilitator. The IND and RVO assess that arrangement, and the IND decides the application.

Stage 4

Self-employment

From month nine we prepare the self-employed application, and we submit it if you meet the requirements and the programme evaluation is positive.

A short call before you choose

Fifteen minutes with Michael or Angelina. You talk through your idea, your circumstances and your timeline, and you leave knowing the sensible next step. Continuing afterwards is up to you.

  • Your situation Where you are now, what you are building, and when you hope to move.
  • The route Whether the startup visa, self‑employment, or a little more time is the better fit.
  • The next step A written assessment, a proposal, or waiting. We say which one, and why.
  1. Introductory call
  2. Strategy Session if needed
  3. Proposal

The €199 Strategy Session is for when you want that recommendation in writing. If your route is already clear, the call can go straight to a proposal.

What it costs, before you commit

A written route assessment, a document review for a self-employment application, or a 12-month startup visa programme.

€199

Strategy Session

A 60-minute assessment with a written recommendation on your residence options and next steps.

  • Which route fits: startup visa or self-employed
  • When a facilitator is required, and when it is not
  • What to prepare next

The session gives you the recommendation. Preparing and submitting an application is a separate service.

€2,495

Self-employment application review

You prepare and submit the application. We review it before you send it.

  • Route-specific evidence checklist
  • Review of your business plan and supporting documents
  • One written gap report
  • One revision review
  • A submission walkthrough

You prepare and submit your own application. We review the documents, send a written gap report, and review one revision. Drafting, correspondence with the IND, and the facilitator role are part of the startup visa programme, because that permit needs a facilitator.

€10,000

Startup visa application and facilitation

For founders who want the application prepared with them, and someone still there after they arrive. We do not take equity.

  • We prepare the startup visa application for you
  • Facilitator coordination and the IND application package
  • Application tracking and follow-up
  • Arrival support: BSN and KVK registration, and introductions for banking
  • 12 months of support while you build the business
  • A self-employed residence application after the startup year, if the requirements are met and the programme evaluation is positive

Programme fee, with payment plans available. We act as your proposed facilitator. The IND and RVO assess that arrangement, and the IND decides the application.

Founding team

Custom

The whole team, one move.

One price for your group, set from who is coming and the route each founder needs. One plan, instead of a separate process for every person.

  • A residence route chosen for each founder
  • One shared story for the company and the move
  • Arrival support for everyone who is relocating

You keep 100% of the company.

If you continue within 14 days, the €199 comes off the service that matches your route. You should not pay twice for the same judgement. A fee paid for one application is not credited toward another. The self-employed permit has no facilitator. The IND looks at your experience, your plan, the value to the Netherlands, and whether you have sufficient means. The startup visa is a separate one-year permit and does require a facilitator. Treaty routes, including DAFT, follow their own rules.

Free PDF

The Dutch Startup Visa Checklist

Not ready to book? Start here. The requirements the IND and RVO assess, the facilitator conditions, and a realistic cost and timeline breakdown.

  • What the IND and RVO actually assess
  • Facilitator conditions in plain language
  • Costs and realistic end-to-end timelines

Get the checklist

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Meet Michael and Angelina

They lead the introductory calls and the programme.

Angelina Fortes Cardoso, Co-founder

Angelina Fortes Cardoso

Co-founder & HR and Immigration Specialist

HR specialist and business coach with more than 30 years of experience supporting entrepreneurs on people, operations, and family matters. She guides international founders through IND requirements with a hands-on, detail-first approach.

Dutch citizenship Immigration specialist

Michael Andersen

Co-founder & Programme Director

Entrepreneur and former CTO with more than 18 years in technology. He specialises in business plan development, technical assessment, and IND application strategy, focused on giving each application its strongest footing.

Dutch citizenship Former CTO

Experienced with the Dutch Startup Visa Process

IND Startup Visa process

Dutch KVK-registered business

RVO Startup Visa framework

Partner Network

A selected network of independent Dutch specialists. We introduce founders by situation. We do not publish a public supplier list.

Notary and corporate law

Incorporation and Dutch company structure

Accounting and tax

Bookkeeping, tax, and annual filings

Immigration legal

Formal legal advice where required

Banking and admin

Bank, payments, and business administration

Relocation and housing

Housing, BSN, and municipal registration

Insurance and pension

Health, liability, and founder cover

Employment law and HR

Payroll, first hires, and Dutch HR

Market entry

Sales setup and localisation where needed

Inclusion is free. Providers stay independent; clients contract them directly. Applying does not guarantee acceptance or referrals.

Founder Community Events

Connect with entrepreneurs building businesses in The Netherlands

6

Events Per Year

Bi-monthly gatherings designed for meaningful connections

Network with Peers

Meet entrepreneurs navigating similar visa, cultural, and business challenges

Share Experiences

Discuss practical challenges and solutions with founders who understand the process

Learn from Experience

Hear from entrepreneurs who have successfully established businesses in The Netherlands

Understand Dutch Business Culture

Learn practical insights about working and doing business in The Netherlands

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions founders ask before they decide

What if I'm not eligible for the Startup Visa?

We would rather say so on the call than let you build a file around the wrong permit. If another route fits, we name it. If the honest answer is to wait, we say that too.

How is this different from hiring a lawyer?

A lawyer is the right person for a legal dispute or a legal opinion. Most founders come to us earlier, when the question is which route fits and how to prepare. We will tell you when a lawyer should be in the room. We are not a law firm, and the IND decides.

What if my application gets rejected?

We will not encourage an application we think is weak. If you go ahead, we prepare the file with care, and if the IND asks for more, we help you answer. The decision remains the IND's.

Do you take equity in my startup?

Never. Unlike accelerators or equity-based programmes, we believe your equity should stay with you. Our flat-fee model means no dilution, no valuation disputes, and no ongoing complications.

Do I have to pay €10,000 before I know this fits?

No. The first conversation is fifteen minutes with Michael or Angelina, and there is no charge. If you want that recommendation in writing, the €199 Strategy Session is the next step. If you continue within 14 days, that fee comes off the service that matches your route. The €10,000 programme is for when the startup visa is the route, and you want the application prepared with you and someone still there for the year.

What happens after I arrive?

We stay with you through the registration steps: your BSN, KVK registration, and introductions to a tax adviser, a lawyer, and banks. The bank and the landlord make their own decisions. Where the startup visa is the route, the support continues through the 12-month programme.

I’m not Dutch. Do I need to know the rules already?

No. Most people who come to us do not. We explain which route fits, what the application has to prove, and the first steps after you arrive. You do not need to arrive already knowing the difference between a startup visa and a self-employed permit.

How quickly can I get started?

Start with a 15-minute call. There is no charge for it. When you want a written assessment, book the €199 Strategy Session. The IND aims to decide on a Startup Visa application within 90 days of submission; allowing for preparation and any requests for additional information, the end-to-end process typically takes around 3–6 months.

Talk with Michael or Angelina

Fifteen minutes, at no charge. You talk through your idea, your circumstances and your timeline. If you want that judgement in writing, the €199 Strategy Session is a 60-minute assessment. Continue within 14 days and the fee comes off the service that matches your route. You can reschedule the session at no charge.

See whether the startup visa is worth a closer look

Four questions. A first indication, which we then review with you.

Which country are you a citizen of?

The Dutch Startup Visa is for founders who need a Dutch residence permit. If you hold more than one nationality, choose the passport you would use to enter the Netherlands.

Do you have an innovative business idea?

Your startup should offer something new to the Dutch market or use innovative technology/methods.

Do you have sufficient funds?

You will need approximately €25,000–€50,000 to cover living expenses and initial business costs. If the money is not in place yet, say so. We would rather plan for that than pretend.

Will you take an active role in the business?

The IND expects you to work in the company. Holding shares, or financing the business, is not enough on its own.

The startup visa may be worth exploring

Your answers suggest this route could fit. We still need to review your business idea, the evidence, and the facilitator arrangement.

Get in touch

A 15-minute call, at no charge. For a written route assessment, book the €199 Strategy Session.

This route may still be possible

Some answers need a closer look. Another residence route may also fit better. A short call is a good way to sort that out.

Get in touch

A 15-minute call, at no charge. For a written route assessment, book the €199 Strategy Session.

You likely do not need a Dutch Startup Visa

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland can as a rule live and work in the Netherlands without this permit. If you still want help setting up a company, get in touch.

Get in touch

This is a preliminary indication, not an immigration decision. A written review is the €199 Strategy Session.

Book Your Strategy Session

This is the optional €199 assessment: 60 minutes. You leave with a written recommendation on your residence options and next steps, including when the right advice is to wait. If you enrol within 14 days, the fee is deducted once from the service that matches the assessed route. To start without that fee, use the 15-minute call.

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Address
Amsterdam, The Netherlands