Startup visa · Recognised facilitator · Any nationality
Startup visa Netherlands — we build the company around it.
The Dutch startup visa is a one-year permit to build an innovative business with a recognised facilitator. The residence permit is an IND process and the mentoring is the facilitator's — we handle the company: KVK registration, BTW, bookkeeping and tax, in plain English at a transparent fee.
- Register your company at the KVK
- Bookkeeping and Dutch tax, investor-ready
- We work alongside a recognised facilitator / immigration-law partner
- Not a US citizen? This is your route (compare DAFT)
Startup visa at a glance
- Permit: 1 year → self-employed permit
- Needs a recognised facilitator
- Means: ~€2,801/mo (indexed)
- Decided by: the IND
Requirements change — verify with the IND before relying on this. Updated: 2026-07-28.
How the scheme actually works
The Dutch startup visa lets an entrepreneur come to the Netherlands for one year to develop an innovative product or service, under the guidance of a recognised facilitator. It is deliberately different from ordinary self-employment: the government is betting on the facilitator's mentoring to de-risk an early-stage venture. If the business is developing after the first year, the founder can then apply for the regular self-employed permit.
Being honest about the moving parts matters here, because three different actors are involved and only one of them is us:
| Who | Does what |
|---|---|
| The IND | Grants the residence permit and decides eligibility. |
| The facilitator | A party recognised by the RVO/IND (generally 2+ years guiding startups) who signs an agreement to mentor your business in year one. |
| Helderboek (us) | Registers and runs the company — KVK, BTW, bookkeeping and Dutch tax. We are not necessarily a recognised facilitator; where you need one, we work with an approved facilitator or immigration-law partner. |
The main requirements
- A recognised facilitator. You must have a signed guidance agreement with a facilitator on the official list.
- An innovative business. The product or service should be new to the Netherlands or use new technology / a new way of working — with a step-by-step business plan.
- Sufficient means. Enough independent income to support yourself — the IND figure is indexed and sits around €2,801 per month at recent levels. Confirm the current amount with the IND.
- KVK registration. The business must be registered in the Dutch trade register (Handelsregister).
Immigration requirements and euro amounts change and are indexed — this is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Verify with the IND before relying on this.
Startup visa vs DAFT
These are the two routes founders most often weigh up. If you hold a US passport, compare the DAFT visa first — it is usually the lighter path.
| Startup visa | DAFT | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Any nationality | US citizens only |
| Facilitator | Required (recognised) | Not required |
| Core condition | Innovative plan + ~€2,801/mo means | €4,500 capital in the business |
| Permit length | 1 year → self-employed permit | Usually 2 years, renewable |
What we do around it
Whichever way your permit goes, the company underneath has to be real and well-run. We register your Dutch BV or eenmanszaak, arrange your BTW number, and keep your bookkeeping and tax filings so the venture is compliant and stands up to investor and IND scrutiny. If you also expect to hire, we can add Dutch payroll from day one.
Dutch tax basics (2026)
| Tax | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| BTW (VAT) — standard / reduced | 21% / 9% |
| Corporate income tax (Vpb), if you use a BV | 19% up to €200,000, 25.8% above |
Dutch rates change periodically; general information, not tax advice — see the 2026 figures overview. Updated: 2026-07-28.
What it costs
Our business-side package — company registration plus your first bookkeeping around the startup visa — starts from €1,500. This is indicative until finalised in your proposal and excludes third-party costs (KVK fee, notary if you use a BV), the facilitator's own fee, and any immigration-law fees. You get a fixed quote before anything starts — see pricing.
Startup visa — FAQ
What is the Dutch startup visa?
The startup visa is a one-year residence permit for an ambitious founder to build an innovative business in the Netherlands while working with a recognised facilitator. After the first year, if the business is on track, you can apply for the ordinary self-employed permit. The permit is granted by the IND — verify current rules before relying on this.
Do I need a facilitator?
Yes. A defining feature of the scheme is that you must work with a facilitator recognised by the RVO/IND — an experienced mentor (generally with 2+ years guiding innovative startups) who signs an agreement to guide your business in year one. We are a formation and bookkeeping office and are not necessarily a recognised facilitator; where you need one, we work alongside an approved facilitator or immigration-law partner.
What income do I need?
You must have sufficient independent means to support yourself during the permit — the IND publishes an amount that is indexed periodically (around €2,801 per month at recent levels). Treat this as indicative and confirm the current figure with the IND for your application date.
What do you actually do for me?
We handle the business side: registering your company at the KVK, arranging your BTW number, and keeping your bookkeeping and Dutch tax filings so the venture is compliant and investor-ready. The residence permit itself is an IND process, and the mentoring is the facilitator’s role — we make sure the company underneath it all is properly run.
Startup visa or DAFT?
If you are a US citizen, the DAFT route is usually simpler — no facilitator, just €4,500 of capital and a Dutch business. The startup visa is open to any nationality but requires a recognised facilitator, an innovative business plan and the income requirement. We can set up the company for either.
What happens after the first year?
The startup permit lasts one year. If the business is genuinely developing, you can apply to switch to the self-employed residence permit, which is assessed on its own (points-based) criteria. We keep your accounts in order so that transition — and any investor due diligence along the way — is straightforward. The IND decides; verify the current path.
We are an independent company-formation and bookkeeping office — not immigration lawyers, not the IND, and not necessarily a recognised startup-visa facilitator. We handle the business side (company registration, bookkeeping and Dutch tax) and work with an approved facilitator or immigration-law partner for the permit itself. This page is general information, not immigration, legal or tax advice; scheme rules and euro amounts are indexed and change — verify with the IND before relying on this. Updated: 2026-07-28.
Official sources
- IND — Residence permit for a start-up (one-year permit, facilitator, conditions).
- RVO / IND — recognised facilitators list and the facilitator requirement.
- KVK — Registering your business with KVK (Handelsregister registration).
How we source this: we rely on official primary sources (IND, RVO, KVK) and update this page when the scheme changes. About us
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