Netherlands

Residence permit for self-employed persons (zelfstandig ondernemer). For non-Americans: a Dutch business residence permit that survives a points test on the applicant’s experience, the business plan, and its value to the Dutch economy.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Residence permit for self-employed persons (zelfstandig ondernemer)

A 2-year residence permit to run the business, renewable if the business remains viable.

Who qualifies

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) scores the application on a points system across personal experience, the business plan, and added value to the Netherlands (innovation, investment, job creation); a minimum score across the categories is required before the IND will grant the permit.
IND: residence permit for self-employed persons
Sufficient and sustainable income from the business to support the applicant (and any dependants) without relying on Dutch public funds.
IND: residence permit for self-employed persons

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

It could fit.

For non-Americans: a Dutch business residence permit that survives a points test on the applicant’s experience, the business plan, and its value to the Dutch economy.

Every option that fits your family

Not legal advice.

What it takes.

Time: 3–4 months for the RVO assessment and IND decision.
Cost: About $400: the €350 IND application fee, plus costs of preparing a competitive business plan.
The hard part: Clearing the RVO’s points bar, which favours innovative, investment-heavy, or job-creating businesses over simple freelancing; unlike DAFT, there is no treaty shortcut.

Citizens by 2033.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

2027
First residence permit
2 years, renewable for 5 years at a time.
2029
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 5 years.
2032
Permanent residence
5 unbroken years with a valid residence permit and the Netherlands as your main home, a current permit for a non-temporary purpose, and the civic integration exam at A2. Years on a study permit count half; an orientation year does not count.
2032
Apply for citizenship
With a language test and a civics test.
2033
Citizenship
The decision usually takes 12 months.

Language: Dutch at A2: the civic integration exam’s reading, listening, writing and speaking parts.
Civics: Part of the civic integration exam: Knowledge of Dutch Society, a 45-minute computer test.
Time away: 5 consecutive years living in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit, which must be for a non-temporary purpose when you apply. Spending more than 6 months in a row abroad in a year, or more than 4 months in a row three years running, can cost you your main residence.
Two passports: Usually not: new citizens are asked to give up their other citizenship.

The first permit runs at most 2 years and a renewal can run up to 5 years.
This country asks new citizens to give up their other citizenship.

The law behind these dates

Living there.

Time you must spend there: The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax: Living in the Netherlands on this permit makes you Dutch tax resident, with worldwide income taxable and no special regime for self-employed permit holders.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

Start today.

Read the IND’s self-employed residence permit page.Open ind.nl ↗
Gather these documents.
- The business plan, and the endorsement or approval it needs
- Request your FBI Identity History Summary
- Health cover for the move

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →

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