Netherlands Startup Visa: Key Requirements and How to get it in 2024

To attract foreign talents and startup investments, the Dutch government launched the Netherlands Startup Visa in January 2015. The startup visa is a program that allows international businesspeople to launch an innovative startup in the Netherlands. This visa makes it easier for budding entrepreneurs from non-EU countries to establish their businesses in Europe.

What Is The Netherlands Startup Visa?

The Netherlands Startup Visa is a residence permit for entrepreneurs from outside the European Union (EU) who wish to establish an innovative business in the Netherlands. The startup visa is valid for a maximum of one year.

During these 12 months, you will be expected to create or launch an innovative new product or service with the help of an experienced facilitator.

You have the option to stay in the country after this time has passed. You can do so through the self-employed scheme, which no longer requires a facilitator. However, you will need to provide appropriate proof that the business you started will continue to be of interest to the Dutch economy.

Who is a Netherland Startup Visa Facilitator

A facilitator for Netherland Startup Visa is a business mentor with whom you will collaborate. The facilitator cannot have any stake in the startup and cannot be related to you.

The facilitator assists you depending on the specific needs of your startup company. This assistance could include marketing, operational management, research, and so on. This support helps you in transitioning from a startup to a fully-fledged business.

You must find and work with a facilitator who has been authorized by the Business Register of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce before applying for a startup visa. This is done to ensure that the facilitator is reliable, financially secure, and has prior experience mentoring new businesses.

When you find a Startup Visa Facilitator you must formally declare your cooperation by entering into a contract with them.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst Voor Ondernemend Nederland, RVO) determines who qualifies to be a facilitator for a startup visa. They also have a list of authorized facilitators.

About Netherland Startup Ecosystem

The Netherlands, known for its open society and growing emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, currently has a thriving startup ecosystem. The country's startup sector has grown steadily during the last decade. Startups are given a lot of support to succeed and do well in the Dutch market.

According to a new Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking report from Startup Genome, the Netherlands has one of the best startup ecosystems in Europe.

The Netherlands offers world-class infrastructure, a favorable economic environment, and a workforce that speaks multiple languages. A high percentage of Dutch citizens are fluent in English and there is a strong entrepreneurial spirit, as seen by large sums spent on established and start-up businesses.

Another reason entrepreneurs prefer to establish a business in the Netherlands is the country's location as one of the most globally connected countries. The Netherlands is strategically located between the United Kingdom and Germany, two of Europe's most important economies.

Who is Eligible For a Netherland Startup Visa?

Citizens of any country are eligible to apply for the startup visa as long as they meet all of the conditions. Citizens of EU/EEA nations and Swiss nationals do not need a startup visa to live and work in the Netherlands because they are already permitted to do so under EU legislation.

To be eligible for a startup visa, you must meet the Dutch government's eligibility requirements. These includes:

1. You must have an agreement to work together with a recognized facilitator:

Working with a facilitator is one of the prerequisites for obtaining a residency permit. This collaboration must be documented in a written agreement between the startup founder and the facilitator.

2. The product or service is unique:

The RVO will determine whether your good or service qualifies as innovative. A product/service is innovative if:

• It is new to the Netherlands,
• It has an innovative organizational method and procedure,
• It produces, distributes, and advertises by employing new technologies.

3. You have a viable business idea that you will be able to implement within a year.

The Dutch government is interested in finding out what steps will be taken to turn the ideas into a profitable venture. A step-by-step plan that contains the aim of the business, the organization's structure, the legal form, and other details must be provided by the startup entrepreneur.

4. There are sufficient financial resources to reside and live in the Netherlands:

The startup entrepreneur must have enough money to reside, live, and start a business in the Netherlands. Your bank statements will be used to verify this.

Required Documents for Applying for Netherland Startup Visa

In addition to the startup conditions, some conditions apply to everyone, no matter what type of permit you are applying for. You need to:

• Have a valid passport or identification card.
• Sign a certificate of antecedents.

Permit applications come with this document. It is a certificate that you must sign indicating that you have no criminal record and that you are not in Holland illegally.

• Have taken tuberculosis (TB) test.

How To Apply for Netherland Startup Visa

Startup visa applications are accepted online by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, IND), a government website, and your facilitator can submit your application on your behalf. This entails supplying information about yourself, your business concept, and your suggested operating method.

Startup entrepreneurs who are still living abroad can apply for a residence visa at the Dutch embassy or consulate in their home country.

Firstly, you need to know if you might need an MVW, which is a provisional residence permit. Not every national requires one. You can submit an application for your Netherlands startup visa at the IND if you are a citizen of a nation that does not require an MVV to visit the Netherlands.

If you are in another country and your country requires an MVV, you can apply for both the MVV and the residency permit at the same time. This can be done at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country. Your facilitator cannot apply for the startup visa on your behalf if you require an MVV.

When applying, you must have a completed application form as well as the necessary papers (and copies for each of them.) All of your documentation must be in English, French, Dutch, or German.

The application fee is €326 and must be paid when the application is submitted. Following the submission of your application, the IND should decide within 90 days. You'll be informed of the time and location for permit pickup.1,