Frequently asked questions

Yes, since a Dutch residential address is not required at the start of the application, you may be approved before you arrive in The Netherlands and formally register your Dutch-based business. You can also come to The Netherlands for 90 days with a valid U.S. passport and begin your DAFT residency process from here.

Once the DAFT application has been submitted, the approval takes about 6-8 weeks.

No, since the business does not necessarily need to be profitable there are no minimum income or profit requirements. However, there does need to be revenue and incurred expenses, i.e. you must be conducting some amount of business. As a general rule of thumb, yearly revenues of about €5,000 is a safe minimum amount in order to maintain your DAFT residence permit.

Yes, with an important caveat: you do not have to maintain a balance of €4,500 at all times, however equity in your business must not drop below €4,500 on January 1 and December 31 of each financial year.

No, this is optional. However, having a basic business plan is highly recommended to demonstrate to the Dutch immigration authorities that your business intentions are real. This is particularly helpful for those who have little or no entrepreneurial experience. If you opt for the BV corporate structure, a business plan is not required at all.

No, this is not required for U.S. citizens applying for the DAFT residence permit. This is only required if you are already a legal resident of The Netherlands and you switch to a DAFT residence permit. Then you must provide an opening balance sheet to be prepared by an officially recognized, or ‘BECON certified’, bookkeeper in The Netherlands.

No, under the DAFT program it is assumed that the primary applicant is operating a business. However, your spouse can work in salaried employment. If, while living in the Netherlands, you find a Dutch company that would like to hire you as a ‘Highly Skilled Migrant Worker’ you can switch your DAFT residence permit to a permit for the purpose of employment. Even in this case, you are still permitted to work in self employment on the side.

Yes, you can continue serving your U.S. client while living and working in The Netherlands. There are no restrictions on where your clients originate. Simply invoice them from your new Dutch business and receive payments through your Dutch business’s bank account.

Applying for the DAFT residence permit assumes that the center of your life will be in The Netherlands. You may spend up to 6 months each year abroad, as long as you keep a registered address in The Netherlands. In The Netherlands, the address you register with is considered your primary residence, and therefore should not be the address of a friend or acquaintance.