Netherlands - Work Skills & Ancestry - Self-Employed Permit

Foreign nationals are allowed to set up business in the Netherlands if they satisfy business criteria set by the Dutch government. According to Dutch immigration law, applications for activities in self-employment imply:

that the setting up and the pursuing of the business is aimed at developing multiple customer/client relations
that the setting up and the pursuing of the business require establishment by the applicant, i.e. taking up residence for an indefinite period.

Required conditions to apply for a work permit being a self employed person

Firstly, you must satisfy the following conditions:

Possession of a valid passport
No tuberculosis
Not having a criminal record. You must sign a statement about your past to confirm your declaration.
Have a health insurance that it covers all your risks.
Have a MVV before you come to The Netherlands
Have sufficient means of support. You are able to earn enough money to support yourself from your business.

Secondly:

You have not reached the age of 60 years old
You possess a required qualification related to your business


Thirdly:

1. A business must be new. This means:

o It is a first entry on the market and a first registration in the chamber of commerce, or
o Simultaneously changing the corporate structure and management (expanding, reducing, replacing), or
o A drastic change of business activity


2. A business activity serves an essential Dutch economic interest if:

The business activity has a clearly innovative value and contributes to the Dutch economy.
The business activity does not disrupt competition in the Dutch market.



For the third criteria, the following documents are needed for a company to prove.
An extract from the commercial register of the chamber of commerce.
Recent certified financial accounts.
Information about the business and any products related to it.
A declaration from the tax department that you have to pay value added tax.
Copies of purchase or lease contracts for business premises.
Financial forecasts made by an accountant or an administration bureau.

Legalisation and verification- official documents from a foreign country must be legalised. This means that official documents related to a company should be legalised by a notary of a government body, like the ministry of foreign affairs.

A business plan(if it’s a new business)

For the business plan the following documents are needed (only if it’s a new business)
Personal details of the owner: including any diplomas, qualifications and the degree, work experience and so forth.
Company details: a summary plan of the company including all the branch office information etc.
Legal matters: the legal status, trade marks, any other legal related matters
Commercial plan: the target areas, SWOT analysis etc.
Management plan: the number of staff, and the organisation structure.
Financial plan: an investment budgets, a financial plan, a repayment plan, a liquidity forecast, and all the financial related documents etc.