The Dutch authorities are generally keen to issue residence permits to people who want to establish a ‘start-up’ in the Netherlands. This residence permit gives you a year to start your business in the Netherlands. In order to qualify for this, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Your product or service must be innovative in nature
  • You must produce a step plan explaining how you plan to turn your idea into a business
  • You have an approved facilitator who has experience of supporting start-ups

You must have sufficient funds to live and work during the period in which you are setting up your own business in the Netherlands. You may not perform any other work in order to earn income alongside your work for the start-up. Nor will you receive any money from the Dutch state. However, someone else (a person or business) may fund your stay in the Netherlands. The funding must then be available for the entire period of your stay.

If you would like to find out how to establish a start-up in the Netherlands, e-mail or call our attorneys for a telephone consultation without obligation.

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Prakken d'Oliveira, formerly known as Böhler, is a law firm with expertise and experience in asylum and immigration law, European law, administrative law, international criminal law and human rights. Our lawyers provide advice and conduct procedures before the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), the Dutch Review Committee on the Intelligence and Security Services (CTIVD), the District- and Appeals courts, the Administrative Law Division of the Dutch Council of State, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), the Human Rights Treaty Bodies of the United Nations (UN), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and other international tribunals.