Start-up

Next to the general conditions that apply to everyone, the following conditions apply if you want to obtain a residence permit as a start-up:

Collaboration with a reliable and experienced facilitator.
The product or the service is innovative.
The start-up entrepreneur has a (step-by-step) plan in order to move from idea to business.
The start-up entrepreneur and the facilitator are both registered in the Trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce.
There are sufficient financial means (resources) to be able to reside and live in the Netherlands.

Find out more on the IND website

Conditions for the residence permit for essential start-up personnel are:

The employee will work in paid employment at a starting, innovative and scalable company
A maximum of 15 employees work for this company.
A maximum of 5 foreign employees of the start-up will receive a residence permit for essential start-up personnel.
The employee receives a salary that is at least equal to the reduced salary criterion for highly skilled migrants.
The employee receives an employee participation in the form of shares, certificates or (virtual) options equal to at least 1% of the capital in the start-up company.

Reduced salary criterion for highly skilled migrants.

A facilitator must meet certain conditions:

Have experience in guiding innovative start-ups.
Be financially sound.
May not, in any case, be in receivership or bankrupt and must have no negative equity.
May not have a majority interest in the start-up company.
May not be a family member up to the third degree.
Have a deputy within the organisation.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) assesses whether the facilitator meets the above conditions.

Visit the RVO website

The Netherlands is in the top 5 of the most competitive economies in the world. A residence permit as 'start-up' gives ambitious starters a year to start an innovative company in the Netherlands.