UnitCity

You have a business in the Netherlands, or you plan to open one. But that doesn’t automatically guarantee that you can apply for a residence permit based on your business.

If you’re a non-EU entrepreneur, these are some of the main routes to consider:

1. Start-up Residence Permit 🚀

The Dutch Start-up Residence Permit allows founders to live in the Netherlands while developing an innovative company.

You generally need:

→ an innovative product, service, or business model
→ cooperation with an approved facilitator
→ a concrete plan for developing the business

The permit is valid for 1 year. After that, you can potentially switch to the Self-Employed Residence Permit.

2. Self-Employed Residence Permit 💼

Already have a functioning business?

For most applicants, RVO assesses whether your business has sufficient value for the Dutch economy. Your experience, business plan, and added value are taken into account. You also need to meet requirements, including KVK registration and sufficient income.

3. DAFT / Dutch-Japanese Treaty 🇺🇸🇯🇵

US and Japanese entrepreneurs have a special route under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty or Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty.

Instead of going through the standard RVO assessment in the same way, qualifying entrepreneurs can rely on treaty rules. For most business structures, IND currently requires at least €4,500 of capital invested in the business.

4. Orientation Year 🎓

Recently graduated or completed qualifying research?

During the Dutch Orientation Year, you can freely work as an entrepreneur, freelancer, or self-employed professional. That means you can use the year to actually build your business and later switch to a Start-up or Self-Employed Residence Permit if you qualify.

Have a question? Send us a DM for a free audit .nl. We’ll check your business and current residence situation and advise you on what to do next.

🇳🇱 WARNING to all ZZP’ers:

Since 1 October 2026, the government opened consultation on a new Zelfstandigenwet, intended to create clearer rules for deciding who genuinely qualifies as self-employed.

The proposed law would introduce two main tests for ZZP’ers. And here is what the government says about these tests:

“The self-employed test mainly looks at the entrepreneur himself. For example, a self-employed person must have the basis in order, such as invoicing himself and registering with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK). The number of clients counts. And whether an independent has made provisions against entrepreneurial risks.

The working relationship test ensures that there is sufficient independent work within a specific employment relationship.

Anyone who meets these 2 tests and works in this way in practice will end up in ‘a safe haven’.”

The tests have not yet appeared in the system, but here is what they will mean in practice:

👉 First, actual checks on your KVK registration, invoices, clients (has to be more than 3), financial details and separate bank account. 
👉 Second, whether you are independent at work. Do you decide how the work is performed? Do you negotiate your own rates? Do you carry financial risk if a project takes longer or costs more than expected? Or does the client manage you like an employee?

If you work as a ZZP’er in the Netherlands, now is a good time to check whether your contracts, client structure and actual way of working clearly demonstrate your independence. The Zelfstandigenwet is still a proposal, so the exact rules may still be adjusted.

At .nl, we help entrepreneurs understand their business structure, immigration position and compliance risks in the Netherlands.

Not sure whether your ZZP setup is safe?

⏰ Contact us at .nl for a free audit to avoid the heavy fines

This is the only legal way to move to the Netherlands without a job offer and without a minimum salary needed ✅

If you are a recent graduate from a non-EU country, this is your chance for that European life. DM us to receive a free qualification audit from our lawyer at .nl

Whether YOU actually lose the 30% depends on when your ruling started ⬇️

That’s a fact that from 1 January 2027, the maximum tax-free allowance under the Dutch expat scheme will fall from 30% to 27%. Now let’s take a look at various personal situations:  

1️⃣ Your 30% ruling started before January 2024?

Good news for you: you’re safe and you remain under the old rules. You can continue receiving up to 30% tax-free for the remaining duration of your ruling, with the unchanged salary threshold.

2️⃣ Your ruling started after January 2024?

Right now until the end of 2026, you still receive up to 30% tax-free. But from 2027, this becomes 27%. It is very important for you to recalculate your salary in this case!

3️⃣ Your ruling starts in 2027?

There will be changes to your ruling and your salary. 

→ maximum tax-free allowance: 30% → 27%
→ you need to match the new, higher salary requirement if you want to apply

You must check this before the end of the year:
• When was my ruling first applied?
• Which transitional rules apply to me?
• Will I meet the applicable salary threshold in 2027?
• How much will my actual net salary change?
• Does my employment agreement affect how much of the tax benefit I actually receive?
• Are there other new Dutch tax consequences I should prepare for?

We know that 3% change sounds small, but it will significantly affect your salary, employment structure and residence in 2027. And if you don’t figure out the changes right now, your payslip and tax returns would be problematic. 

At .nl, our tax legal advisor reviews your current 30% ruling, check which transitional rules apply to you and explain what the 2027 changes mean for your personal tax situation.

📩 Send us a DM to book a free audit with our tax legal advisor

Check the requirements here 👇🏻

1️⃣ START-UP VISA

You don’t need a recognised employer sponsor, but you do need to work with an approved facilitator and have an innovative business idea. There is no separate fixed “salary” for the Start-up Visa: instead, you must prove that you have sufficient means to support yourself for 1 year.

2️⃣ SELF-EMPLOYED VISA
You don’t need a recognised employer sponsor because you apply based on your own business. Your work must meet the applicable IND/RVO requirements and be of essential interest to the Dutch economy. From 1 July to 31 December 2026, the IND income requirement is €1,766.77 gross profit per month, including holiday allowance, and this must be supported by your business plan. If you work as a freelancer, you also need one or more commissions in the Netherlands.

3️⃣ PARTNER VISA
You don’t need a recognised employer sponsor, but your partner in the Netherlands becomes your sponsor. You can be married, registered partners or unmarried, but you must prove your relationship and intend to live together in the Netherlands. From 1 July to 31 December 2026, the sponsoring partner generally needs at least €2,337 gross per month excluding holiday allowance, or €2,523.96 including holiday allowance. The income must also meet the IND rules for being independent, sustainable and sufficient.

Not sure which route applies to you in the Netherlands?

Answer four short questions on our website and we’ll point you to the most likely residence permit. You can also request a free audit of your situation. ⬇️

Where to find the questions:

1. Go to our profile and tap on the link in bio that says “Website”
2. Click on “Residence permits” when you land on the website
3. Scroll down the page to find the questionnaire
4. Answer the four questions to see which residence permit may fit your situation