Founder visa
Startup Visa Netherlands
The startup visa Netherlands is designed for international entrepreneurs who want to develop an innovative business here. It grants a one-year startup phase in which you build the company alongside a recognised startup facilitator, inside an ecosystem with real access to investors, incubators and international markets.
We guide the whole arc, not only the permit: the facilitator match, the startup plan the IND wants to read, and the practical side of arriving, from company registration to a place to live.
What is the startup visa?
The startup visa is a one-year residence permit for entrepreneurs building an innovative business in the Netherlands. It exists because a genuinely new company rarely has the revenue or the track record that the ordinary self-employed permit demands on day one.
Its defining feature is the facilitator: an experienced mentor approved by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency who guides your company through its first year. You are assessed on the innovation in the plan and on that partnership, not on turnover. The year is a runway to the self-employed permit, and preparing that next step early is the difference between continuing and starting again.
Who can apply for the startup visa
- Non-EU entrepreneurs introducing an innovative product, service or technology to the Dutch market
- Founders ready to work with a recognised facilitator who provides mentorship during the startup phase
- Teams that need a residence basis to develop the business on Dutch soil
- Founders planning the step to the self-employed entrepreneur permit after year one
Startup visa requirements
The IND assesses the idea, and the facilitator assesses you. Applicants must demonstrate:
- An innovative business concept
- Cooperation with an approved startup facilitator
- A structured startup development plan
- Sufficient financial means for the first year
- That the founder plays an active role in the business
Where we add value
Honest viability check
We tell you upfront whether your case meets the innovation criteria, and what to strengthen if it does not, before you commit money or months.
Facilitator matching
A recognised facilitator must back your application. We help you approach the ones that fit your sector and stage, and coordinate the agreement.
Startup plan preparation
We help structure the required development plan describing your role, the innovation and the milestones for the year.
Application handling
We prepare the IND file, submit it and manage every exchange with the authorities until the decision.
Founder landing
Registration, BSN, housing and the first KvK conversations, so the company and the founder both have an address.
Our working method
- 01
Eligibility assessment
We assess whether your business idea qualifies as an innovative startup under the IND criteria.
- 02
Facilitator coordination
We assist in finding and working with recognised facilitators, and in getting the agreement signed.
- 03
Startup plan
We help structure the development plan the application is judged on.
- 04
Residence permit application
We prepare and submit the startup visa application to the IND, then monitor it.
Professional fees for a startup visa application
Investment from €2,495
- Immigration strategy and eligibility consultation
- Support structuring the plan the application is judged on
- Facilitator selection and coordination
- Application filed with the IND and monitored to the decision
Investment figures represent our professional service fees only and are intended as a guideline. Government fees (including IND filing fees), VAT, legalisation and apostille costs, sworn translations, consular charges and any third-party expenses are not included unless explicitly stated in the proposal.
The startup permit runs for one year and is not extended as such. The planned next step is the self-employed entrepreneur permit, and we start preparing that file well before your year ends.
Detail worth reading before you apply
What counts as innovation?
Innovation can mean new technology, an innovative service model or a new production method. In practice the IND is asking whether the product or service is genuinely new to the Netherlands, and your facilitator’s endorsement carries real weight in that judgement.
What happens after the startup year?
During the year you develop the business and prepare for the next stage. Founders then apply for the self-employed entrepreneur residence permit to continue operating the company in the Netherlands, which is assessed on the economic value of the business.
What does the facilitator actually do?
A recognised facilitator provides mentorship during the startup phase: guidance on the plan, the market and the milestones. The relationship is a formal condition of the permit, not an optional extra, so the match matters more than most founders expect.
Founder questions
Can I bring my family on a startup visa?
Yes. Your partner and children can apply for residence alongside you, and your partner is free to work while you build.
Do I need a minimum investment?
No fixed investment amount is required for the startup visa. You do need to show sufficient means to live on for the year, which we help you evidence.
Can I apply if my company is already trading abroad?
Often yes, if the Dutch activity is genuinely new and innovative for this market. We assess that honestly at intake rather than letting you discover it in a refusal.
Launch your startup in the Netherlands
Pitch us the one-line version of your company. We will tell you whether the startup visa is your route and who should facilitate it.
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