Start-Up Visa Netherlands – Turn Your Innovative Idea into a Dutch Company
The Dutch Start-Up Visa lets non-EU founders live in the Netherlands for a year (subject to transparent prolongation scheme) to launch an innovative, scalable business – with a recognised facilitator at your side.
UnitCity handles the whole journey: eligibility, facilitator matching, an RVO-ready business plan, the IND application, and your setup and soft landing once you arrive.
Check if your start-up qualifies.
Based
in Rotterdam
Highest on market
approval rate
20+ сountries
among our clients
Experienced
advisors
Who Is This For?
The Dutch Start-Up Visa (residence permit “work on a self-employed basis in a start-up”) is designed for non-EU/EEA/Swiss entrepreneurs building an innovative, scalable business in the Netherlands.
This is the right route if you:
Yes
Are a non-EU national with an innovative product, service, or business model;
Are ready to work with a recognised Dutch facilitator during your first year;
Will play an active, operational role – not just invest;
Have enough funds to support yourself (and family) during the start-up year.
This is usually not the right route if you:
No
You have an innovative product or service and want to build a company in the Netherlands.
Have a Dutch job offer
Are a recent graduate exploring options
Are a US or Japanese citizen wanting a simpler self-employed route
NOTE! EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals have free movement and do not need this permit.
Start-Up Visa at a Glance
Who it’s for
Innovative non-EU founders
Key condition
Signed agreement with a recognised facilitator
Innovation test
Assessed by RVO (new product/tech or novel approach)
Initial validity
1 year
After year 1
Switch to Self-Employed residence permit
Financial means
Sufficient funds to live for the year (~30k EUR per family)
Family
Partner & minor children may join, with work rights
Decision time
3-9 months (IND/RVO)
INSIGHT: The Start-Up Visa is an entry phase, not a destination. It is explicitly designed to convert into a Self-Employed permit after year one.
The Four Core Requirements
Every Start-Up Visa application rests on four pillars.
Miss one and the application fails.
A recognised facilitator
You must work with an experienced, IND-recognised facilitator (incubator, accelerator, or business mentor), documented in a signed cooperation agreement.
This is mandatory – see “The Facilitator: Why It Makes or Breaks Your Application” section below.
An innovative product or service
Your business must be genuinely innovative for the Dutch market – a new product or technology, or a novel organisational or process approach.
RVO assesses this – see “What Counts as “Innovative”?” section below.
A step-by-step business plan
A structured plan showing how you take the idea to an operating company: roadmap, roles, market entry, and milestones.
RVO expects a clear, pitch-style plan – not a generic 50-page document.
KVK registration & an active role
Your start-up must be registered in the Dutch Commercial Register (KVK), and you must be actively involved in running it – passive investors do not qualify (this may be achieved by the end of year one).
What Counts as "Innovative"?
This is where most applications are won or lost. Innovation does not have to mean deep tech or patents only. RVO generally accepts a business as innovative if it shows at least one of:
A product or service new to the Netherlands;
Yes
Innovative technology in production, delivery, or distribution;
Yes
A new organisational or process approach.
Yes
Ordinary consulting, standard agencies, import/export, or non-scalable local services.
No
The strongest applications position innovation clearly and back it with scalability and market potential.
Sectors that tend to fit well include AI & data, HealthTech, AgriTech/FoodTech, sustainability & green tech, maritime, and deep tech.
UnitCity helps you frame your idea against RVO’s assessment standards before you commit.
The Facilitator: Why It Makes or Breaks Your Application
A facilitator is a recognised Dutch organisation or mentor that supports you through your first year – with business validation, market strategy, and networking.
A signed agreement with one is a hard requirement: without it, the application cannot proceed.
What you should know 
Facilitators are independent, selective, and have their own commercial models – many charge monthly fees, and some request equity;
A strong facilitator relationship also strengthens the credibility of your IND application;
Choosing the right facilitator for your sector is one of the most strategic steps in the whole process.
For many founders, securing the right facilitator is harder than the IND application itself.
UnitCity’s facilitator network means we match you to a suitable, sector-relevant partner – instead of leaving you to cold-approach incubators alone.
How UnitCity Helps: Our Process
The rules are published, but the innovation positioning, the facilitator match, and the documentation are where founders get stuck.
-
Step 1
Eligibility assessment
We evaluate your background, business concept, team composition, and innovation against current IND/RVO standards – and tell you honestly whether the Start-Up Visa fits, or whether adjustments are required or another route is stronger.
-
Step 2
Facilitator matching
We introduce you to a suitable recognised facilitator from our network and help you get accepted and formalise the signed cooperation agreement.
-
Step 3
Business plan development
We prepare a structured, RVO-ready step-by-step plan and pitch positioning built around innovation, scalability, and execution.
-
Step 4
Application preparation & submission
We compile every document, manage legalisation and sworn translation where needed, coordinate MVV where required, and file with the IND - both for you and your family members.
-
Step 5
Post-arrival support
Once approved: legal entity setup, BSN, Dutch bank account, health insurance, and – crucially – planning the transition to a Self-Employed permit and, where eligible, the 30% ruling.
Not sure if your idea is "innovative enough"? We'll assess it against RVO standards
After Year 1: From Start-Up to Long-Term Stay
The Start-Up Visa lasts one year.
It is designed as a launch phase, and the permit that comes next determines how long you stay.
The standard next step is the Self-Employed Visa, provided you followed the plan declared for the first year;
A key advantage: founders with a positive facilitator evaluation after year one can transition without going through the full RVO points-based assessment;
The years then count toward permanent residence (year 5) and, later, Dutch citizenship.
a separate scheme lets qualifying start-ups hire essential foreign staff outside the standard recognised-sponsor requirement – currently scheduled to run until 1 June 2028.
Start-Up Visa Services: How We Help
UnitCity is a Rotterdam-based business immigration and legal & tax firm. We focus on helping non-EU founders launch and build companies in the Netherlands – the Start-Up Visa is one of our routes.
- Eligibility and innovation assessment against IND/RVO standards
- Facilitator matching and cooperation-agreement support
- RVO-ready step-by-step business plan and pitch positioning
- Full IND application preparation, filing, and follow-up
- MVV coordination
- Family reunification (partner and minor children)
- Transition planning to the Self-Employed permit after year 1
Most clients work with us across several of these, because launching in the Netherlands is rarely a single transaction. Bundling reduces cost and removes the burden of coordinating multiple providers.
Why Founders 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)
What is the role of a facilitator, and is it really mandatory?
Yes, mandatory. A facilitator is a recognised Dutch mentor or organisation that guides your start-up through year one, formalised in a signed agreement. Without this cooperation agreement, the IND cannot process your application.
How do I find a recognised facilitator?
You choose from IND-recognised facilitators, who are independent and selective – many charge fees and some request equity. Matching to a sector-relevant facilitator is often the hardest step, which is why UnitCity handles the introduction from its network.
What actually qualifies as "innovative"?
A product or service new to the Dutch market, innovative technology, or a novel organisational/process approach. Ordinary consulting, standard agencies, and non-scalable local services usually don’t qualify. RVO makes the assessment.
Do I need a business plan before applying?
Yes. A structured, pitch-style step-by-step plan is required and is assessed by RVO. It should focus on innovation, scalability, market entry, and execution rather than being a generic 50-page document.
How much money do I need to show?
You must prove sufficient means to support yourself (and any family) for the visa year: usually between 25k and 35k EUR. The reference amount is indexed and higher for families – confirm the current figure before applying.
How long does the application take?
The IND’s official term is 3 months. In practice, IND and RVO often need more time, so timelines can run longer, up to 9 months in practice – but well-prepared applications move faster.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Your partner and minor children can join under family reunification, and partners generally receive work rights during your stay. Income/means requirements apply.
Can I work outside my start-up during the visa?
The permit is tied to building your start-up and being self-employed. Any additional employment is restricted and depends on the permit conditions – always check your specific situation.
What happens at the end of year 1?
You transition to a Self-Employed residence permit (or another permit you qualify for). With a positive facilitator evaluation, the switch to self-employed is often smoother and lets skip the full RVO points test.
Can the Start-Up Visa lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Yes. Time on the Start-Up Visa and the follow-on Self-Employed permit counts toward the 5-year continuous residence needed for permanent residence, and later for Dutch citizenship (with the integration exam).
