Start Ups
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.
Conditions
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.
International talent at your start-up
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.
Facilitator
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
