International Welcome Center North
The International Welcome Center North (IWCN) is an organization for internationals living in Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. The Center offers services in three areas: government formalities (residence permits and municipal registration), practical information and referrals to reliable service providers and social activities. Visit their website for more information.
General requirements checklist
Here you will find a brief overview with links to forms and more information about the requirements as stated by the Dutch government to be able to qualify for a startup visa. If you have any questions please contact us!
- You need an application form for the Startup Residence Permit. You find the link here.
- Then submit your application. You can submit your application in the Netherlands and wait for the outcome in the Netherlands if:
- You are a citizen from one of the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Vatican City, United States of America or South Korea.
- You are a citizen of an EU/EEA Member state or Switzerland.
- You have a valid Schengen visa and are in the Netherlands.
- You currently have a residence permit in the Netherlands.
If you are not one this list you will have to submit your application at the embassy of your country and wait for its approval there. For more information follow this link.
- Do you need a short stay Visa? Then please check out this link.
Startup Residence Permit checklist
For an overview of the general conditions of the Startup Residence Permit you can visit the website of the IND via this link. In short, you need the qualify for these general conditions.
- General conditions of the Startup Residence Permit:
- A valid passport
- An Antecedents certificate
- A Tb test (if applicable)
- Application fee:
- First application and change in purpose of stay, € 326
- In purpose of stay: self-employed after startup, € 361
- Extension after self-employed after startup, € 361
Please follow this link for the most recent fee.
- Sufficient means. You need to be able to show that you have sufficient means for the coming year on a Dutch bank account. This needs to be:
- 70% of the statutory monthly minimum wage: € 1,221.54
- Amount shown on bank account € 14.658,48
Please follow this link for the most recent requirements.
- Registration at the Chamber of Commerce
Your startup needs to be registered with the Chamber of Commerce. If you cannot register yet we need to declare how you will register as soon as you are able to. If you will open a B.V. (limited company) the RVO government need to know the division of shares and the position of yourself within the company. In short:- A registration with the Chamber of Commerce. Not possible? Applicant and facilitator will need to declare that the company will be registered as soon as possible and in which entity.
- Starting a B.V. (limited company)? We need to know the division of shares if the applicant is not the sole shareholder at the Chamber of Commerce registration. Submit your notary deed stating the division of shares.
- Step-by-step plan
We need a step-by-step plan for the coming year during the startup visa. What are the plans and what milestones is the startup planning to reach. - Innovation
The RVO prefers for the facilitator to state why the startup is innovative. This could be written down in the agreement made up with the startup. - Agreement between facilitator and startup
The facilitator (us) and the startup (you) will need to provide an agreement. The facilitator needs to state what they offer the startup. This should contain at least a three months of customized support for the startup. If the startup offers shares in return this needs to be in the agreement. The agreement cannot contain any conditions that could be harmful to the startup.