Founder permits
The Freelance Visa for the Netherlands and the Self-Employed Permit
No separate freelance visa exists: a non-EU freelancer applies for the self-employed permit. We prepare the file and the order of steps.
- IND fee EUR 423.00 (2026)
- IND decision period: 90 days
- First permit: up to two years
- EU, EEA and Swiss nationals: no permit needed
The file starts with your own clients.
Which rule applies to you as a freelancer
The law has one permit for self-employed work (art. 3.30 Aliens Decree 2000); a freelancer files it with letters of intent or assignment contracts from clients.
Sources (2026): Aliens Decree, Regulation and Circular 2000; government.nl; RVO.
| Your situation | The rule | What to read next |
|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA or Swiss national | Self-employed work without a visa, residence permit or work permit | Nothing to apply for |
| US or Japanese national | A treaty route under art. 3.30 Vb, with conditions of its own | For US founders, our page on applying for DAFT |
| Turkish national | No points test: the business must let the entrepreneur draw at least the gross minimum wage (Annex 8aa VV) | A route check on your file |
| Self-employed artist | The Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) advises instead of the points test (Annex 8aaa VV) | A route check on your file |
| Holder of a start-up permit | That permit runs at most one year and is not extended on the start-up basis. A facilitator's declaration of at least three months of positive guidance counts as the minimum score on all three parts; at the first extension RVO advises on continuity and solvency | The switch, read on your file |
| Everyone else | The points test: at least 30 points on each of three parts, or at least 45 on personal experience and 45 on the business plan | How the points test is scored, below |
The long-stay visa (MVV) is applied for with the permit unless Annex 2 VV exempts the nationality (the United States is listed). The investor permit ended on 17 April 2024; money in a company without activity of one's own is a refusal ground.
What's included in our freelance visa service
For non-EU freelancers working for their own clients from the Netherlands.
The route check
Which rule applies to you: the points test, a treaty, the Turkish or artist route, or a switch from a start-up permit.
Your contracts read for the work model
Your draft contracts and letters of intent, read against the published signs of false self-employment. No legal opinion.
The points grid walked through
Parts A, B and C of Annex 8a and both routes, set against your documents. A reading, never a score forecast.
The evidence checklist
The Aliens Circular's list for a self-employed applicant, the freelancer's own line included, then a completeness check.
The Dutch registrations around the file
BRP or RNI, BSN, DigiD, visiting address and KVK, prepared and accompanied. You register your own eenmanszaak with your own DigiD: see freelancer registration in the Netherlands.
The application file, family included
Your application and your partner's and children's, prepared for you to sign and file.
The renewal calendar
Expiry, the day-before deadline, 1.5 years of income history and the IND's dated required amount, on one calendar.
Where our service stops
The IND decides: no approval, score or date is promised, and you sign and file. No nominee or resident director, nominee shareholder, general power of attorney or company is supplied; our bookkeeping is never the independent expert. A client who takes this service does not take our business address.
How the points test is scored
The Minister of Economic Affairs advises on the points (art. 3.20a(1) VV), through RVO according to the EU immigration portal. The IND decides.
Annex 8a points grid, 2026. Source: Aliens Regulation 2000, art. 3.20a and Annex 8a.
| Part | Minimum | Blocks and maxima | What the grid says for a one-person business |
|---|---|---|---|
| A, personal experience | 30 | Education up to 35; entrepreneurial experience up to 35; work experience, income and experience with the Netherlands up to 10 each | A diploma recognised by Nuffic counts; a passive shareholder or financier scores nothing for entrepreneurial experience; work experience needs written employer references |
| B, business plan | 30 | Market potential up to 25; organisation up to 25; financing up to 50 | Forecasts of at least three years, approved by an independent expert. The grid gives 50 points where a Dutch bank granted the financing |
| C, added value for the Dutch economy | 30 | Innovation up to 20; job creation up to 40; investment up to 40 | Jobs count without the applicant and within 1.5 years; investment counts tangible and intangible fixed assets, within one year |
The second route: at least 45 on A and 45 on B with C below 30, which Annex 8a then sets at 30. The often-quoted "90 points" is those two 45s, not a pass mark.
How the application works, step by step
Who acts, and a time only where one is published.
The route and the work model
(you, with us). Which rule applies, and whether your contracts read as self-employment. No state step.
The plan and the evidence
(you; the expert). The documents listed below, with an independent expert's check of the financials. No official time is published.
Address, BSN and DigiD
(the municipality or RNI). BRP within five days for a long enough stay, or RNI for under four months (non-EU nationals: Breda or Venlo, in person, free). DigiD from abroad by collection and activation code.
The KVK registration and the IND file
(you; the KVK; the IND). No fixed order: the Circular uses the KVK extract as IND evidence; business.gov.nl says a permit may be needed first. You register your eenmanszaak with your own DigiD, by appointment, for EUR 85.15 (2026): see the KVK registration.
Filing
(you; the embassy; the IND). Where an MVV is needed, MVV and permit are applied for together at a Dutch embassy or consulate-general, which forwards the file to the IND. IND fee EUR 423.00 (2026).
Advice and decision
(the Minister advises; the IND decides). 90 days, the IND's period for a regular permit, extendable to at most 6 months, plus 2 weeks for a missing document. Pending residence is not a right to work.
Working and renewing
(you, with us; the IND). Your own clients need no work permit for you; a job needs the employer's TWV; changes go to the IND at once. Extension received by the day before expiry, on 1.5 years of earned income.
- Route and work modelYou, with usNo state step
- Plan and evidenceYou; the independent expert checks the financialsNo official time is published
- BRP or RNI registrationThe municipality, or the RNI desk at Breda or Venlo for non-EU nationalsBRP within five days for a long enough stay RNI: free of charge
- KVK registration and IND fileSide by side: the order depends on your caseKVK fee EUR 85.15 (2026) IND file: no official time is published
- Filing and IND feeYou; the embassy or consulate-general where an MVV is neededIND fee EUR 423.00 (2026)
- Advice and decisionThe Minister advises; the IND decides. Pending residence is not a right to work90 days, extendable to at most 6 months Plus 2 weeks for a missing document
- First permitUp to two yearsAliens Decree 2000, art. 3.58
- ExtensionReceived by the day before expiry, on 1.5 years of earned incomeAliens Decree 2000, art. 3.80
- Each further extensionUp to five yearsAliens Decree 2000, art. 3.58
- Permanent residenceAfter five consecutive years of lawful residenceAliens Act 2000, art. 21 No TWV for a job after five years of work
Not sure which rule applies to your nationality?
Tell us your nationality, clients and planned address. We reply with the rule, the documents and the order of steps.
Documents you will need
The Aliens Circular 2000 list for a self-employed applicant (B6/4.5); we check completeness.
- Letters of intent or assignment contracts from your clients
- A business plan with the seven required contents
- Financial forecasts covering at least three years
- The signed income declaration annex, with its evidence
- Turnover figures, annual accounts and tax data
- An independent expert's check of the financials
- Foreign diplomas with a Nuffic or SBB evaluation
- Employment contracts and written references from former employers
- A KVK extract describing your activities
- Any licence the activity needs; BIG registration for individual healthcare where mandatory
- Company papers: foreign deed and statutes, BV share register and deed, vof or cv contract
- Foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German
A BV director-shareholder counts as self-employed only with 25 percent or more, the entrepreneurial risk and a say over their own salary. A separate question: whether a founder employed by their own BV can use the 30 percent ruling.
What the state charges and the deadlines in 2026
State fees and statutory periods, each with its year; our fee is on request.
2026 amounts; the IND changes its fees every 1 January, and the EU portal's EUR 1,446 dates from 2022. Third-party costs (translation, legalisation, the expert) are not priced here. Sources: Aliens Decree 2000, IND, KVK.
| Item | Amount or period | Set by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND fee: first application, change of purpose, each extension | EUR 423.00 (2026) | IND | IND fees |
| IND fee: partner | EUR 254.00 (2026) | IND | IND fees |
| IND fee: child under 18 | EUR 85.00 (2026) | IND | IND fees |
| KVK one-off registration of the eenmanszaak | EUR 85.15 (2026) | KVK | Financiële regeling handelsregister 2019, art. 5 |
| RNI registration | Free of charge | RNI desk | NetherlandsWorldwide |
| IND decision period | 90 days, extendable to at most 6 months; plus 2 weeks if a document is missing | IND | IND decision periods |
| Validity | First permit up to two years; each extension up to five years | Aliens Decree 2000, art. 3.58 | Vb, row c |
| Renewal deadline | Received at the latest the day before expiry; a late application counts as a first one unless the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant | Aliens Decree 2000, art. 3.80 | Vb |
| Income at renewal | Earned for at least 1.5 years and available for one more; IND required amount EUR 1,766.77 gross profit a month with holiday allowance, valid 1 July to 31 December 2026 | Aliens Regulation 2000, art. 3.20; IND | IND required amounts |
| Permanent residence | After five consecutive years of lawful residence; IND fee EUR 254.00 (2026); decision period 6 months | Aliens Act 2000, art. 21; IND | IND fees and decision periods |
Problems we solve
Freelancers' questions, answered as far as the official texts go. The status itself: how a freelancer differs from an employee and from a BV owner.
- Invoicing before the decision
Without the permit a non-EU freelancer may not work as self-employed, and lawful residence while the IND decides is not a right to work. We plan your start date around the decision.
- One main client
No source we read sets a minimum number of clients. If the work is in fact employment, your client becomes the employer and may need a work permit or single permit (business.gov.nl), enforced by the Belastingdienst since 1 January 2025 (in Dutch).
- KVK first or IND first
Two official statements point different ways, and neither sets one order. We prepare both document sets and settle the order on your facts.
- The Dutch-bank shortcut
The grid gives 50 points where a Dutch bank granted the financing. No source says a freelancer abroad can obtain it, so we read your file without it.
- The first renewal
Your first-period income decides the renewal: 1.5 years of history and the IND's dated required amount, on your calendar from day one.
Unsure whether your contracts read as self-employment?
Send your draft contracts and letters of intent. We read them against the published signs of false self-employment; no legal opinion.
Why work with us
Lina Haddad, Founder permits and banking lead, Amsterdam. Eight years on residence files of founders who move. Arabic, Dutch, English.
From our practice: the first questions are invoicing while the IND decides and whether the KVK or the IND comes first. We answer from the official texts and prepare both document sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a freelance visa in the Netherlands, or is it another permit?
There is no separate freelance visa. A non-EU freelancer applies for the residence permit for work as a self-employed person under article 3.30 of the Aliens Decree 2000 and adds letters of intent or assignment contracts from clients. Where the nationality requires a long-stay visa (MVV), it is applied for together with the permit.
Can I invoice Dutch clients while the IND is still deciding?
Without the permit a non-EU freelancer may not work as a self-employed professional in the Netherlands. Lawful residence while a first application is decided is a different status from a right to work, and no official text we know of says that invoicing before the decision is allowed. We plan the start date around the decision.
Can I freelance for only one client?
No source we read sets a minimum number of clients for the permit. The risk is that the work is in fact employment: the client is then treated as the employer and may need a work permit or a single permit (GVVA). The Belastingdienst has enforced the rules on false self-employment since 1 January 2025.
Do I register at the KVK first or file with the IND first?
The Aliens Circular treats the KVK extract as evidence in the IND file, while business.gov.nl says a founder from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland may need a residence permit before registering. No official page sets one order for every case, so we prepare both sets of documents and settle the order on your facts.
Do my Dutch clients need a work permit for me?
No. The client of a freelancer who holds the permit for self-employed work needs no work permit for them. A job with an employer is different: the residence card allows paid employment only if the employer holds a work permit (TWV) for the holder, until they have worked in the Netherlands for five years.
What happens if my renewal is late or my income is too low?
An extension must reach the IND by the day before the permit expires; a late one counts as a first application unless the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant. Income must have been earned for at least 1.5 years. The IND's required amount: EUR 1,766.77 gross profit a month with holiday allowance, valid 1 July to 31 December 2026.
Is there a success rate, and can anyone guarantee approval?
We found no approval rate for this permit published by the IND, RVO or the government. The Minister of Economic Affairs advises on the points and the IND decides, so nobody outside the IND can promise the outcome or a date. We prepare the file and read the published grid with you; the decision stays with the IND.
What are the requirements for a freelance visa?
The work must serve an essential Dutch interest, give durable and independent means of support, and meet the competence and business requirements (article 3.30 of the Aliens Decree 2000). The essential interest is scored on points: at least 30 on each of three parts, or at least 45 on personal experience and 45 on the business plan.
How do I become a freelancer in the Netherlands?
Freelancer and zzp'er are not legal forms; most freelancers register a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) at the KVK. The owner registers it with their own DigiD, and the one-off KVK fee is EUR 85.15 in 2026. A non-EU national also needs the residence permit for self-employed work before working as a freelancer.
What are the new rules for freelancers in the Netherlands?
The Belastingdienst's enforcement moratorium on false self-employment ended on 1 January 2025, and intent penalties are possible from 1 January 2026. No new model agreements are accepted; existing ones may be used until 31 December 2029. A presumption of employment at a low hourly rate (EUR 38 an hour on business.gov.nl) has passed; its start date is not confirmed.
Is it difficult for a US citizen to move to the Netherlands?
A US national can use a treaty route with conditions of its own, set out on our DAFT application page; we do not compare approval chances between routes. The United States is also on the list of nationalities that need no long-stay visa (MVV), so an application is not refused for want of one.
What is the 5 year rule in the Netherlands?
After five consecutive years of lawful residence, an application for permanent residence can be refused only on the grounds the law lists, such as insufficient lasting means. The IND fee is EUR 254.00 in 2026 and the decision period 6 months. After five years of work in the Netherlands, the holder also needs no work permit (TWV).
How much does a self-employed permit cost and how long does it take?
In 2026 the IND charges EUR 423.00 for the first application and each extension, EUR 254.00 for a partner and EUR 85.00 for a child under 18. The decision period is 90 days, extendable to at most 6 months. The EUR 1,446 on the EU immigration portal is a 2022 figure. Our fee is on request.
Can I get a Netherlands work visa without a job offer?
A self-employed person needs no job offer. A non-EU national does need the residence permit for self-employed work, backed by letters of intent or contracts from their own clients. With that permit, a job with an employer needs the employer's work permit (TWV) until the holder has worked in the Netherlands for five years.
Can you be self-employed without a work permit?
An EU, EEA or Swiss national can work as a self-employed person in the Netherlands without a visa, residence permit or work permit. A non-EU national needs the residence permit for self-employed work; with it, their Dutch clients need no work permit for them, and only a job with an employer needs a TWV.
Request a permit file check
Send your situation and draft contracts. We reply with the route, the documents and the order of steps. Our fee is on request.