Netherlands Startup Visa

1. Residence permit12 months
2. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
3. Citizenshipafter 5 years

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

Country

Netherlands

Program

Netherlands Startup Visa

Local name

Verblijfsvergunning start-up

Type

Startup

Status

Active

Initial duration

12 months

Max duration

12 months

One-year residence permit for a founder from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland who is building an innovative company with a recognised facilitator. The permit cannot be extended. After the year the founder can apply for the self-employed residence permit.

Income requirement

EUR 1,767/mo (~$1,980 USD)

Application fee

$486

Tax regime

Worldwide

Regime name

Progressive income tax up to 49.5%

Foreign income taxed

Yes

Capital gains taxed

Yes

Method

online, mail, embassy

Processing time

Up to 90 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

Local representative

Required

The facilitator is a reliable mentor, financially healthy, with no majority stake and no family tie to the founder within the third degree. Both register with the Chamber of Commerce. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency must give positive advice on the facilitator, the innovation and the step-by-step plan. The founder has an active role, beyond being only a shareholder or financier. From 1 July through 31 December 2026 the monthly means test is €1,766.77, which is 70 percent of the minimum wage including holiday allowance. A Dutch personal or business bank balance of €21,201.24, twelve times that amount, covers a full year. Periodic transfers, or financing by the facilitator, can replace the lump sum. At the ECB euro reference rate on 9 October 2026, €1 = $1.1206, those figures are about $1,980 a month and $23,758 for the year. The application fee is €423. The stored $486 is an earlier conversion of that fee and is within 10 percent of $474 at the 9 October rate. A partner's own application is €254, about $285. A child under 18 is €85. The purpose is non-temporary, so the year counts toward the five years for permanent residence and naturalisation. The card itself ends at twelve months. Continuing requires another non-temporary permit, usually self-employment, plus a facilitator declaration of at least three months of mentoring. Naturalisation also needs civic integration at A2. Adults ordinarily renounce their other nationality, with published exemptions. The decision period is 90 days. Paid employment needs a work permit. The card authorises the start-up activity. Tuberculosis screening applies unless the nationality is exempt.

• Self-Employed Residence Permitdigital nomad visa

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Income monthly (USD) 1953 1980
   • Income annual (USD) 23430 23758
   • Path to permanent residency No Yes
   • Years to permanent residency none 5
   • Path to citizenship No Yes
   • Years to citizenship none 5

   work authorisation marked as included for the start-up activity. Paid employment still needs a work permit (https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/start-up).