Answers to practical questions from international founders who want to start a company in The Netherlands. Written for people considering the Dutch Startup Visa, not as a knowledge centre.
RVO advises the IND on whether your product or service is innovative. Official language points to something new to The Netherlands, new technology, or a new way of working. There is no public score, and nobody can promise RVO’s advice.
Read article
They are different permits. The start-up route is a one-year residence permit with a facilitator and an RVO innovation/plan advice. Self-employed is a separate IND scheme. After the start-up year you typically apply for self-employed; you do not extend start-up.
Read article
They are different doors. DAFT is the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty route, grouped by the IND under self-employed. The Startup Visa is a one-year innovative-founder permit with a facilitator. US nationality does not make start-up optional if DAFT is the better legal fit, or the reverse.
Read article
No published start-up requirement says you must speak Dutch to get the one-year start-up residence permit. The tests are facilitator, innovation, plan, KVK registration, and means.
Read article
A Dutch personal or business bank account is not listed on RVO’s start-up requirements page. You must show you have enough money to live here. Running the company later usually does need a Dutch business account.
Read article
You need a step-by-step plan that shows how the idea becomes a company. RVO assesses that plan. A long investor business plan is not what the official requirement calls for, and it will not hide a weak idea.
Read article
Yes, the company can hire. Your start-up permit does not replace each employee’s own right to work. EU/EEA/Swiss staff are different from non-EU staff. There is a separate IND permit for essential start-up personnel.
Read article
Your spouse does not automatically inherit a job from your start-up permit. Whether they may work is decided on their own residence document. For some work-related permits the IND says the partner may work without a separate TWV. Check the live IND partner page for your permit type.
Read article
Yes, your spouse, partner, and dependent children can apply to live with you. They do not “ride along” on your start-up permit. Each person has a family application, fees, and IND conditions. Means must cover the household.
Read articleNot ready to book? Start here. The requirements the IND and RVO assess, the facilitator conditions, and a realistic cost and timeline breakdown.
Next step
A 60-minute assessment with a human. Credited toward Full Facilitation within 14 days if you continue. Immigration decisions remain with the IND.
Book a €199 Strategy Session