DAFT Visa Netherlands – Live and Work Self-Employed as a US Citizen
The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa is the easiest route for Americans to live and work in the Netherlands – no employer, no points test, no business plan.
UnitCity handles the whole setup: your Dutch business, the €4,500 deposit, the 30% ruling where it fits, and the full application – so it’s done right the first time.
Based
in Rotterdam
Highest on market
approval rate
20+ countries
among our clients
Experienced
advisors
What Is the DAFT Visa?
The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) is a 1956 treaty between the United States and the Netherlands, signed as part of the Marshall Plan to strengthen trade between the two countries. Seventy years on, it still gives American entrepreneurs one of the most accessible routes into the Netherlands.
The DAFT visa is a combined work and residence permit for US citizens, tied to a business you own in the Netherlands. It’s a simplified version of the regular Dutch Self-Employed Visa: where that route uses a demanding points test to weigh your “added value” to the Dutch economy, DAFT skips it entirely – thanks to the special US–Netherlands relationship.
Entrepreneurs of every size qualify. A solo freelancer or 1099 worker is just as eligible as someone opening a Dutch subsidiary of an established US company. There are no rules on the type of business, the kind of customers, or where they’re based.
Who Is This For?
The DAFT visa is designed for US citizens who want to live in the Netherlands and work for their own business.
This is the right route if you:
Yes
Hold a US passport;
Will run your own Dutch business (freelance, ZZP, or BV) that generates revenue;
Will own at least 25% of that business and play an active role;
Can deposit and maintain €4,500 of capital in the business.
This is usually not the right route if you:
No
Rely on passive income or are retiring
DAFT requires active economic activity;
Want regular employment with a Dutch employer
Have an innovative, scalable start-up idea and want a facilitator and entry into Dutch start-up ecosystem
Are a Japanese national wanting a similar treaty route
NOTE! DAFT is for American passport holders only. It cannot be combined with regular employment – you must be self-employed in your own Dutch business.
DAFT Visa at a Glance
Who it’s for
US citizens working self-employed in the Netherlands
Main requirement
€4,500 deposited and maintained in your Dutch business
Business ownership
At least 25%, with an active role, or sole proprietorship
Points test / business plan
Not required
Permit validity
2 years, renewable
Government fee
~€423 main applicant, ~€254 spouse, ~€85 per child
Processing
Verdict in about 2–3 months; residence sticker within weeks of arrival
Family
Partner and minor children may join – with full work rights
Path to residence
Permanent residence after 5 years
INSIGHT: The DAFT visa is uniquely flexible. Because US citizens are “MVV-exempt”, you can move to the Netherlands and start living while your application is still being decided – you don’t have to wait abroad for approval.
The Core Requirements
US citizenship
The DAFT visa is available only to American passport holders.
Note that if you were born outside the US, you’ll need your original birth certificate from your country of birth – a naturalisation certificate is not a substitute.
Your own Dutch business
You must register and run a revenue-generating business in the Netherlands (ZZP or BV), own at least 25% of it, and be actively involved.
Passive investors, retirees, and dormant shell structures do not qualify.
The €4,500 capital deposit
You must deposit €4,500 into your business bank account – not a private account – and keep it there for the duration of your visa.
Proof comes from a bank statement plus an opening balance sheet from a Dutch BECON-registered accountant.
No FBI check, no business plan, no points test
Unlike the Self-Employed or Start-Up routes, DAFT requires no business plan and no points-based assessment, and an FBI background check is not required.
You do need apostilled certificates (see below).
ZZP or BV? The Choice That Affects Your 30% Ruling
One of the first – and most important – decisions is your business structure, because it determines whether you can claim the valuable 30% ruling tax benefit.
The simplest form, ideal for solo freelancers. It’s set up at the end of the process, once you have your BSN number.
Straightforward, but it does not support the 30% ruling.
A Dutch private limited company lets you employ yourself and, if you’re eligible, claim the 30% ruling – a substantial tax advantage for those relocating to the Netherlands.
Pro Tip: This is where setup sequence matters most. The 30% ruling has strict conditions – including being recruited from abroad – and an incorrect DAFT setup can cost you the ruling entirely. Getting the structure and timing right from day one is exactly where working with UnitCity pays for itself. If you’re moving as a couple, a combined 30% ruling structure may also be possible.
Personal documents You'll Need
Here is the list of main personal documents you’ll need:
Passport copies for everyone, including children
Birth certificates for everyone, apostilled
Marriage or non-marriage certificate if applicable, apostilled
Divorce, name amendment, or death certificate where relevant, apostilled
Common document problem: an apostille is a separate sheet attached to a certificate. We confirm exactly what you need before you start, so nothing expires or gets rejected.
How UnitCity Helps: Our Process
The DAFT rules look simple on paper, but the business setup, the investment formalization, the 30% ruling sequence, and the legalization of documents are where Americans get stuck. Here’s the path we use.
-
Step 1
Eligibility and structure check
We confirm you qualify, then advise on the business structure based on which one fits you the best – getting this decision right before anything is set up.
-
Step 2
Business setup
We incorporate your Dutch business and handle the €4,500 deposit and opening balance with a registered accountant.
-
Step 3
Application preparation and filing
We compile your documents, coordinate legalization and translations where needed, arrange MVV for any non-US family members, and file your DAFT application – which, for US citizens, can be filed from abroad so you can move in parallel
-
Step 4
Arrival and registration
We plan your IND appointment (residence sticker and biometrics) and your Gemeente registration for your BSN number, so the sequence is right and nothing is delayed.
-
Step 5
Post-approval and beyond
We set up your 30% ruling where eligible, handle ongoing bookkeeping and tax compliance, and plan ahead to your renewal after two years.
Not sure how to set up your DAFT business the right way?
We’ll structure it to protect your 30% ruling
After Two Years: Renewal and Long-Term Stay
The DAFT visa is granted for two years and is renewable. Unlike the initial application, renewal looks at your business performance.
At renewal, the IND generally wants the business going and the initial investment maintained;
After five years of lawful residence, you can apply for permanent residence – which lets Americans keep their US passport while removing the need for any future visa; you are also free to apply for Dutch passport;
Time on DAFT counts toward that five-year residence requirement.
Most Americans opt for permanent residence rather than Dutch citizenship, since it removes the visa requirement while letting them keep their US passport.
A proposed law may extend the citizenship residency requirement, but it would not apply retroactively and does not affect the five-year path to permanent residence.
DAFT vs Other Dutch Visas
For self-employed Americans, DAFT is almost always the best route. Here’s how it compares.
| Visa type | Difficulty of requirements |
Best for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAFT visa | Low | US freelancers, entrepreneurs, 1099 workers | €4,500 business deposit |
| Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) | Medium | Employees with a Dutch job offer | Sponsoring employer + salary threshold |
| Start-Up Visa | High | Founders with an innovative, scalable idea | Recognised facilitator + pitch deck + business plan |
| Self-Employed Visa | High | Non-US self-employed entrepreneurs | Points-based assessment |
For US citizens, DAFT wins because it needs no employer sponsorship, no facilitator, no business plan, and no points test – just a real business and the €4,500 deposit.
DAFT Services: How We Help
UnitCity is a Rotterdam-based business immigration and legal & tax firm. We help US citizens move to the Netherlands under DAFT and set everything up correctly from day one – the visa is one part of a bigger relocation.
- Eligibility and business-structure advice (ZZP vs BV / BV + holding BV + 30% ruling)
- Dutch business incorporation
- The €4,500 deposit and opening balance with a registered accountant
- Full DAFT application preparation, filing, and follow-up
- Sworn-translation coordination where needed
- MVV coordination for non-US family members
- IND and Gemeente appointment planning (residence sticker, BSN)
- Renewal support after two years
- Housing and soft landing
most Americans also need
Most clients work with us across several of these at once, because moving to the Netherlands is rarely a single transaction. Bundling keeps the setup correct end-to-end – and protects benefits like the 30% ruling that a fragmented approach can jeopardise.
Why Americans Choose UnitCity
Based in
Rotterdam
Highest on market approval rate
Clients from
20+ countries
Experienced
advisors
Contact Us
Drop us a message.
We typically reply within a few hours during business days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need the DAFT visa before I move to the Netherlands?
No – you apply and then move. As a US citizen you’re MVV-exempt, so you can enter on your 90-day Schengen entry, pick up a residence sticker from the IND within a week or two of arriving, and start living straight away while the final DAFT verdict is pending.
How much money do I really need for DAFT?
The core requirement is a €4,500 deposit held in your Dutch business account for the duration of the visa. Budget your business run-up costs on top of that, since the €4,500 must stay in the account – it isn’t spending money.
Should I set up a ZZP or a BV?
It depends on the business. ZZP is good for freelancers while BV is a better choice for scalable businesses.
Can I keep my US clients, or do I need Dutch clients?
You can work with clients anywhere in the world. DAFT places no restrictions on the type of business, the kind of customers, or where they’re based – you simply need a revenue-generating business run from the Netherlands.
Can my family come with me, and can they work?
Yes. Your partner (even if you are unmarried) and minor children can join, and they receive broader work rights than you do – they can take regular employment or start their own business, while you must remain self-employed in your DAFT business. Non-US family members go through an MVV step first.
What happens when I renew after two years?
Renewal looks at your business results, so keeping proper books from the start matters. We handle the renewal as part of ongoing support.
Can DAFT lead to permanent residence?
Yes. After five years of lawful residence – with DAFT time counting toward it – you can apply for permanent residence, which lets Americans keep their US passport while removing the need for any future visa.
What's the most common DAFT mistake?
Setting up the business structure wrong and losing the 30% ruling. Because the ruling has strict conditions and the BV must be in place early, an incorrect sequence can forfeit a major tax benefit – which is exactly the part we get right from day one.
