Netherlands Japanese Trade Treaty

1. Residence permit24 months
2. Renew60 months at a time
3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
4. Citizenshipafter 5 years

• Permanent residency 5 years
• Citizenship 5 years
• Dual citizenship not allowed
• Language required for citizenship A2

Country

Netherlands

Program

Netherlands Japanese Trade Treaty

Local name

Verdrag van handel en scheepsvaart tussen Nederland en Japan

Type

Freelancer

Status

Active

Initial duration

24 months

Renewable

Yes (60 mo)

Self-employment residence permit for Japanese citizens under the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the Netherlands and Japan. The points test does not apply. For most company forms the IND uses a minimum of €4,500 of capital in the business.

Savings required

$5,043

Application fee

$474

Tax regime

Worldwide

Regime name

Progressive income tax up to 49.5%

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

embassy, in country

Processing time

Up to 90 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

Japanese nationality is required. United States citizens use the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty record. The qualifying activities match that treaty: trade between the Netherlands and Japan, a key position representing a Japanese company, an independent profession outside government and healthcare, or substantial capital in a Dutch business. The capital floors match the American treaty. €4,500 is the minimum for a sole proprietorship, and the same floor applies together with a 25 percent share for a general partnership, a managing partner, and a private limited company. A public limited company needs €11,250, which is 25 percent of the €45,000 minimum paid-up capital. Borrowed capital does not count. At the ECB rate on 9 October 2026, €1 = $1.1206, €4,500 is about $5,043 and €11,250 is about $12,607. The DAFT record still stores an older conversion of the same €4,500. A first treaty application without an existing Dutch residence permit has six months after the decision to register with the Chamber of Commerce and make the investment. The fee is €423, about $474. A partner's application is €254, about $285, and a child under 18 is €85. The first permit is at most two years and each extension at most five years. The decision period is 90 days. Japanese citizens may apply in the Netherlands without an MVV. Permanent residence and naturalisation take five years, with A2 Dutch for naturalisation and ordinary renunciation of the other nationality.

• Self-Employed Residence Permitdigital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026

   Added

   created. Japanese treaty route, €4,500 for most company forms, €423 fee, two years then extensions of five years (https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/residence-permit-self-employed-person).