Self-employed residence permit — essential economic interest points route

You want to start a business in the Netherlands.

Your work is of essential interest to the Dutch economy.

If you are a freelancer, you must have one or more commissions in the Netherlands. Working as a freelancer means that you have no boss and accept separate commissions.

Your product or service needs to be of essential interest for the Dutch economy. The product or services you offer must be new for the Netherlands. To assess this, the IND requests advice from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

The RVO assesses the essential interest of the work you want to start as a self-employed person in these 3 areas: Personal experience; Business plan; Added value for the Netherlands.

Do you have at least 30 points for each area? Or 45 points for your personal experience and 45 points for your business plan? Then your business is of essential interest to the Netherlands.

You are registered in the Trade Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel). You meet the requirements to practise your profession or to start working as a self-employed person. This means that you have all the necessary permits.

You meet the income requirements. This must be evident from your business plan.

Business plan;

Then your residence permit says ‘work allowed on a self-employed basis, work as an employee only allowed with a work permit’ (in Dutch: arbeid als zelfstandige toegestaan, arbeid in loondienst alleen toegestaan met tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV)). This means that, with this residence permit, you are only allowed to work if your employer has a work permit (TWV) for you.

Your family members or relatives are allowed to work in the Netherlands without a work permit (TWV).

Have you worked in the Netherlands for 5 years? Then you no longer need a work permit (TWV) to work in the Netherlands.

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) abroad.

The application costs € 423,00.

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period. The IND can extend the decision period by a maximum of 6 months if we ask for advice from the RVO or the OCW.

Your residence permit is valid for a maximum of 2 years.

Will your residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend your residence permit.

Have you had a residence permit for 5 years? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit.