What are the Netherlands DAFT requirements in 2026?

US citizenship, a KvK-registered Dutch business, at least €4,500 held as own capital on the business balance sheet (verified by a Dutch accountant), a Dutch address for BRP registration, and Dutch basic health insurance within 4 months of BRP registration. The DAFT does not require the standard IND points-based self-employment test that non-US applicants face.

Can Green Card holders or dual nationals use DAFT?

No — DAFT is strictly tied to US citizenship. A Green Card holder must qualify under a different residence-permit route. A dual national must apply on the US passport for DAFT to be usable; filing on the second nationality closes the DAFT route.

Is the €4,500 a one-off deposit or an ongoing requirement?

Ongoing. The €4,500 must appear as own capital on the business balance sheet at issuance AND at each renewal audit. Withdrawing the equity after the first permit issues jeopardises renewal.

How long is the DAFT permit issued for?

The first DAFT permit is typically issued for up to 2 years. Renewals are granted in 2-year blocks as long as the €4,500 equity and active business conditions continue to be met. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you may apply for permanent residence (Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd), subject to the standard integration exam.

Can I bring my spouse and children on DAFT?

DAFT itself is a self-employment permit and does not include family members. Dependants must qualify under a separate ground — typically Dutch family reunification (verblijf bij partner/familielid) — which has its own income and relationship requirements. Many DAFT couples file the treaty applicant first, then use the resulting Dutch residence to sponsor the partner under family reunification.

Do I need a real Dutch business, or is a shell company enough?

It must be a real, trading business. The DAFT sidesteps the points-based test but the IND still verifies at renewal that the business exists, has customers, files BTW (VAT) returns, and remains capitalised at €4,500. Dormant shell companies fail renewal.

How long does the Netherlands DAFT take end-to-end?

KvK registration and Dutch banking: 2–6 weeks. IND processing of the DAFT application: 30–90 days from submission (statutory maximum 90 days). BRP registration: within 5 working days of moving into your Dutch address. Total realistic end-to-end from starting incorporation to residence-permit card in hand: 3–6 months.

Netherlands DAFT vs Portugal D8 or Italy DNV — which fits me?

DAFT wins on capital (€4,500 vs €28,000/yr income floors elsewhere) and on speed to permanent residence (5 years, same as EU peers, but with a lighter substantive threshold). It loses on nationality (US citizens only) and on family (no built-in family reunification). Choose DAFT if you are a US citizen ready to operate a real Dutch business; choose Portugal D8 or Italy DNV if you need a passive-income or family-included route.

🇳🇱 Netherlands · DAFT

Netherlands DAFT Visa — US-citizen self-employment residency in 2026

The Netherlands DAFT residence permit is a self-employment residency route reserved for US citizens under the 1956 Dutch-American Friendship Treaty. It requires only a €4,500 investment in a KvK-registered Dutch business and does not require the Dutch business to meet the standard points-based self-employment test. The permit is issued for up to 2 years and is renewable; after 5 years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for permanent residence.

Build your kit — $49 to downloadType D kit · flat fee · monthly stay plan included

What is the Netherlands DAFT residence permit?

The DAFT (Dutch-American Friendship Treaty of 1956) is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Netherlands that grants US nationals preferential access to Dutch self-employment residency. It is codified in Dutch immigration law and administered by the IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) as a distinct residence-permit category for US entrepreneurs.

The route is uniquely narrow: only US citizens qualify — Green Card holders, dual nationals filing on their non-US passport, and other nationalities cannot use DAFT. It is uniquely light in another respect: unlike the standard Dutch self-employment permit, DAFT does not require the applicant to score a minimum on the IND's points test for value to the Dutch economy. The only substantive economic requirement is a €4,500 minimum equity investment in a KvK-registered Dutch business (typically a sole proprietorship — eenmanszaak — or a BV private limited company) held on the business's balance sheet.

The first DAFT permit is typically issued for up to 2 years. Renewals are granted in 2-year blocks as long as the €4,500 equity remains on the business balance sheet and the business continues to trade. After 5 years of continuous legal residence in the Netherlands, DAFT holders may apply for permanent residence (Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd) subject to the standard integration exam and continuous-residence conditions. DAFT itself is not a family-reunification route; dependants must qualify under a separate ground.

Financial requirements — 2026

Last verified: 2026-07-13 · figures cross-checked against the cited source on each row.

The €4,500 is an equity floor, not a bank-account balance. It must appear as own capital on the business's opening balance sheet, verified by a Dutch accountant's declaration filed with the IND. Withdrawing the €4,500 after the permit is issued jeopardises the renewal — the equity must remain visible at renewal audits.

Requirement	2026 figure
Minimum equity investment	€4,500 held on the KvK-registered business's balance sheet as own capital Source: Dutch IND — DAFT residence-permit conditions
Applicant nationality	US citizenship required — not open to Green Card holders or other nationalities Source: 1956 Dutch-American Friendship Treaty
Business form	Any KvK-registered form (eenmanszaak / sole proprietorship, BV, partnership) with the applicant as active entrepreneur Source: IND — DAFT guidance
Health insurance	Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) required within 4 months of registration in the BRP Source: Zorgverzekeringswet — Dutch Health Insurance Act

Required documents

Signed IND application (Toepassing MVV / verblijfsvergunning — DAFT)
Valid US passport with ≥ 6 months validity beyond the requested permit
Two recent biometric photos meeting Dutch standards
KvK (Kamer van Koophandel) registration extract for the Dutch business
Opening balance sheet showing ≥ €4,500 own capital, signed by a Dutch accountant
Business plan (short — the DAFT does not require the full points-based test but IND expects a coherent activity description)
Proof of a Dutch business bank account holding the €4,500
Address registration proof for the Netherlands (rental contract, host declaration) — required for BRP registration
Dutch basic health insurance policy (or evidence of application, to be finalised post-arrival within 4 months of BRP registration)
TB-test appointment confirmation where applicable (waived for US citizens)
Cover letter explaining the DAFT ground, the business activity and the €4,500 equity position

The motivation / cover letter

The DAFT cover letter is short by design — the treaty framework does most of the substantive work, and the IND is primarily verifying that the applicant is a US citizen operating a Dutch-registered business with the required equity. The letter should name the 1956 Dutch-American Friendship Treaty as the ground, state the KvK number and business form, confirm the €4,500 equity is on the balance sheet, and set out the applicant's Dutch address and health-insurance position.

"To the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND): I, a citizen of the United States of America, respectfully apply for a residence permit for self-employment under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty of 1956 (DAFT). I have established [Business name] as an eenmanszaak registered with the Kamer van Koophandel under KvK number [########], and have deposited €4,500 as own capital on the opening balance sheet, verified by the attached declaration from [Dutch accountant, RB / AA number …]. My business activity is [description]. I have arranged accommodation at [Dutch address], will register with the BRP within 5 working days of arrival, and will finalise Dutch basisverzekering health insurance within 4 months of BRP registration as required by the Zorgverzekeringswet."

SchengenDoc generates the full letter — sub-type, legal references, financial framing, accommodation paragraph and compliance commitment — from a 4-step form. See a full sample kit before you build yours.

Step-by-step application

1
Incorporate a Dutch business at the KvK
The simplest and most common form is an eenmanszaak (sole proprietorship). Register with the KvK in the municipality of your intended Dutch address; the registration issues a KvK number and BTW (VAT) number.
2
Open a Dutch business bank account and deposit €4,500
Dutch business banking (Bunq, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, ING) increasingly onboards DAFT applicants pre-arrival. Deposit ≥ €4,500 as own capital and have a Dutch accountant prepare a signed opening balance sheet showing that equity.
3
Draft a short business plan
The DAFT does not require the full 30-point self-employment test, but the IND expects a coherent description of the business activity, target market and revenue plan. A 2–4 page plan is standard.
4
File the IND DAFT application
US citizens can typically file the residence-permit application directly at the IND from within the Netherlands under the treaty terms; some file the MVV route from outside the Netherlands. The IND processes DAFT decisions in 30–90 days; the fee is set annually by the IND.
5
Register with the BRP within 5 working days of moving in
The BRP (Basisregistratie Personen / municipal register) registration is a pre-requisite for the residence-permit card, a citizen service number (BSN), and access to Dutch health insurance and banking.
6
Take out Dutch basisverzekering within 4 months of BRP registration
Under the Zorgverzekeringswet you must hold Dutch basic health insurance within 4 months of BRP registration. Failure to comply triggers automatic enrolment and back-billing by the Central Administration Office (CAK).
7
Maintain the €4,500 equity and renew every 2 years
Renewal at year 2 requires the €4,500 equity to remain on the business balance sheet and the business to be genuinely trading. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you may apply for permanent residence, subject to the standard integration exam.

What does the Netherlands long-stay kit cost?

Most Netherlands relocation consultants charge €900–€1,500 for a long-stay file. Lawyers in Netherlands typically charge more for the same paperwork stage. SchengenDoc generates the same document set — motivation letter, monthly stay plan, financial-means statement and country-specific checklist — for a flat fee.

$49one-time · long-stay kit

Build your kit — pay only when you download

🔒 Secure checkout · PDF delivered by email · Not happy? Contact us and we'll regenerate it.

Netherlands DAFT residence permit — FAQ

What are the Netherlands DAFT requirements in 2026?: US citizenship, a KvK-registered Dutch business, at least €4,500 held as own capital on the business balance sheet (verified by a Dutch accountant), a Dutch address for BRP registration, and Dutch basic health insurance within 4 months of BRP registration. The DAFT does not require the standard IND points-based self-employment test that non-US applicants face.
Can Green Card holders or dual nationals use DAFT?: No — DAFT is strictly tied to US citizenship. A Green Card holder must qualify under a different residence-permit route. A dual national must apply on the US passport for DAFT to be usable; filing on the second nationality closes the DAFT route.
Is the €4,500 a one-off deposit or an ongoing requirement?: Ongoing. The €4,500 must appear as own capital on the business balance sheet at issuance AND at each renewal audit. Withdrawing the equity after the first permit issues jeopardises renewal.
How long is the DAFT permit issued for?: The first DAFT permit is typically issued for up to 2 years. Renewals are granted in 2-year blocks as long as the €4,500 equity and active business conditions continue to be met. After 5 years of continuous legal residence you may apply for permanent residence (Verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd), subject to the standard integration exam.
Can I bring my spouse and children on DAFT?: DAFT itself is a self-employment permit and does not include family members. Dependants must qualify under a separate ground — typically Dutch family reunification (verblijf bij partner/familielid) — which has its own income and relationship requirements. Many DAFT couples file the treaty applicant first, then use the resulting Dutch residence to sponsor the partner under family reunification.
Do I need a real Dutch business, or is a shell company enough?: It must be a real, trading business. The DAFT sidesteps the points-based test but the IND still verifies at renewal that the business exists, has customers, files BTW (VAT) returns, and remains capitalised at €4,500. Dormant shell companies fail renewal.
How long does the Netherlands DAFT take end-to-end?: KvK registration and Dutch banking: 2–6 weeks. IND processing of the DAFT application: 30–90 days from submission (statutory maximum 90 days). BRP registration: within 5 working days of moving into your Dutch address. Total realistic end-to-end from starting incorporation to residence-permit card in hand: 3–6 months.
Netherlands DAFT vs Portugal D8 or Italy DNV — which fits me?: DAFT wins on capital (€4,500 vs €28,000/yr income floors elsewhere) and on speed to permanent residence (5 years, same as EU peers, but with a lighter substantive threshold). It loses on nationality (US citizens only) and on family (no built-in family reunification). Choose DAFT if you are a US citizen ready to operate a real Dutch business; choose Portugal D8 or Italy DNV if you need a passive-income or family-included route.

Compare other long-stay visas

Looking for a broader overview of all Netherlands long-stay sub-types? See the full Netherlands hub