oBTAINING 
rESIDENCY in Netherlands

HOW TO OBTAIN Dutch RESIDENCY Permit AS ENTREPRENEUR IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands allows non-European entrepreneurs to relocate their company, or start a company in the Netherlands if the company is likely to be successful (over 100,000 ER turnover) and will create added value for the Netherlands (at least 2-3 jobs).

Besides that, it’s important that you are an experienced entrepreneur, or you have the right education to establish and operate the company. The preparation of a solid business plan is very important for this type of residency application.

The point system

To become eligible for the Self-employed Entrepreneurs Visa, the Dutch government makes use of a so-called point system, which consists of 3 separate parts: 

1. Personal experience (education, entrepreneurship, work experience)

2. Business plan (market analysis, product/service, price, organization, financing).

3. Added value for the Netherlands (innovation, employment creation, investments). These 3 parts consist of a total of 300 points.

To qualify for the Entrepreneurs Visa, you will need at least a total of 90 points with a minimum of 30 points per section.

Personal experience

The first section requires you to confirm and provide evidence for:

1. Education 

• Ph.D. 35 points€ 

• Master (MSc, MBA, MA) 30 points

• Bachelor 20 points

• Intermediate Vocational Education 10 points

2. Entrepreneurial Experience

0-35 points High scores for this aspect could compensate low scores for other criteria. Evidence has to be solid and beyond all doubt. Active involvement: not limited to shareholding or financing. 

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You might lose points when:

• Your experience is not relevant for the enterprise

• You have marginal involvement in the enterprise

• You have less than 1-year experience 

You can maximize points when:

• You are the active founder/owner enterprise

• You are a member of the board of directors 

• You have more than 10 employees 

• You have more than 5 years of experience 

3. Work experience max. 10 points 

Bachelor/Master/PhD  

1 to 2 years 1 point - 2 to 5 years 5 points - Over 5 years 10 points 

Senior-level 1 to 2 years 1 point - 2 to 5 years 5 points - Over 5 years 10 points

Specialist € 1 to 2 years 1 point - 2 to 5 years 5 points - Over 5 years 10 points

4. Income max 10 points.

Gross income 12 months prior to application:

• up to 12.000 0 points

• 12.000 to 25.000 5 points

• 25.000 to 45.000 7 points

• Over 45.000 10 points 

5. Experience with the Netherlands max. 10 points 

• Dutch trade partners or customers 0-4 points

• Knowledge of Dutch language NT2 level 4 (or higher) 0-2 points

• Education followed in the Netherlands (min. Intermed. Vocational level 4) or Ph.D. at Dutch University. Work experience as knowledge worker (min. Intermed. Vocational level 4) 0 -4 points 

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Business plan

The first section requires you to confirm and provide evidence for: 

1. Potential market max. 25 points 

• Products/service 0-10 points - Features, applications, demand for, unique selling points 

• Market analysis 0-10 points - Market survey, potential customers, competition, market barriers, risks, marketing/promotion  

• Price 0-5 points - Clear pricing based on integral cost calculation 

2. Organization max. 25 points

• Analysis of the relevance of proposed structure, competences, knowledge 0-10 points - and skills for product and service 

• Possible extra points for cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary organization 0-15 points 

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3. Financing max. 50 points 

Solvency ratio (equity/balance total) 

• Balance total < €5.000 0 points 

• Balance total € 5.000 - 25.000 

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Solvency Ratio less than 20% 0 points  

20% to 35% 1 points 35% to 50% 3 points over 50% 5 points  

• •Balance total € 25.000 - 50.000 

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Solvency Ratio less than 20% 0 points

20% to 35% - 4 points 35% to 50% 9 points o ver 50% 13 points 

• Balance total € > 50.000 

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Solvency Ratio less than 20% 0 points

20% to 35% 9 points 35% to 50% 9 points over 50% 16 points 

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Turnover € less than 35.000 0 points 

35.000 to€100.000 5 points € € € 100.000 to€250.000 10 points 250.000 to 500.000 15 points over 500.000 20 points 

Liquidity forecast (positive expectation in) € 

the first year 5 points - the first 2 years 8 points 

the first 3 years 10 points 

Added value for the Netherlands
The first section requires you to confirm and provide evidence for:

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1. Creation of labor max. 40 points 

• Number of FTE 0-10 points€ 
  0,5 to 2 FTE 10 points 2 to 5 FTE 20 points 5 to 10 FTE 30 points over 10 FTE 40 points 

• High-level FTE (>45.000 annual salary) 
  1 to 3 FTE 20 points 3 to 6 FTE 30 points over 6 FTE 40 points

2. Investments max. 40 points

Fixed and intangible assets

• € 0 to 5.000 0 points 

• 5.000 to 50.000 10 points

• 50.000 to 100.000 20 points

• 100.000 to 500.000 30 points

• 500.000 40 points 

Additional Information:
Please note that the requirements in section 3 need to be fulfilled within the first 1.5 years after the incorporation of the company. The application for the Entrepreneurs Visa can be started after the first year of the company's work since some of the sections need to be confirmed by documents as well as by the business plan, annual report and balance sheet of the company. 

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Realistically speaking, during the second year, the application can be submitted to the Immigration Office in case the requirements have been fulfilled. The authority will ask you to confirm every section with the use of relevant documents. You should expect the application process to take another 6 months. After which the Immigration Office will inform you about the decision they’ve made or will follow you up with additional requirements. INCO will support you throughout the procedure. 

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YOUR BUSINESS TOOLKIT

FREE ACCESS TO ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Our experts have combined their knowledge and strengths to create a tool we call the Business Toolkit. 

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The Business Toolkit will help you and entrepreneurs from around the globe to truly understand the Dutch market, regulations and laws. And will enable you to take a deep-dive the many business-related topics.

This way you will easily get up to speed with our Company formation process, Dutch Tax & Accounting and our corporate services. 

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Make sure to check out our handy checklists, explainer video's and extensively written Whitepapers too!