Netherlands•EuropeResidence Permit for Essential Start-Up Personnel
At a Glance
Processing Time
Varies
Application Fee
Free
Stay Duration
1 to 2 years
Renewable
Yes
Job Offer
Not Required
Dependents
Allowed
PR Pathway
No
This visa does not offer a direct route to permanent residency.Remote Work
Not Required
Overview
Work and residence permit for key employees of eligible start-ups. Requires company ownership share and specialized expertise. Maximum 5 foreign employees per startup.
This permit is designed for key employees at innovative Dutch start-ups. The employee must be essential to the startup's growth phase with specialized expertise, and must own at least 1% of the company.
Annual Visa Allocation
500 visas per year
The pilot scheme has a national limit of 500 residence permits per year. Individual startups are restricted to a maximum of 5 essential employees under this scheme at any given time.
No lottery system
Check Your Eligibility
Take our quick assessment to see how well you match this visa and get personalized tips
Requirements
Financial
Minimum Income
33,612 EUR
per year
Personal
Passport Validity
6 months
Criminal Record Policy
Clean record required
Professional
Required Skills
Excluded Nationalities
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, CH, IS, LI, NO
Documentation
Applicant Documents
Valid passport
At least 6 months validity
Employment contract
Signed job offer with startup
Proof of share ownership
Documentation of minimum 1% stake
Professional credentials
Evidence of specialized expertise
Sponsor Documents
Startup registration
Business registration and proof of status
Innovation documentation
Proof of innovative/scalable nature
Employee participation
Documentation of share allocation
Financial documentation
Proof of financial viability
Track your documents or upload them for AI-powered review
Advantages
- Combined work and residence permit
- Family members can join
- Clear startup focus
- Ownership stake included
- Renewable if criteria maintained
Considerations
- Limited to 5 employees per startup
- Requires ownership stake
- Startup must be innovative
- Employee cap restrictions
Application Process
Work for eligible startup
Company must be innovative with scalable activities
Obtain ownership share
Receive minimum 1% company share
Startup applies
Company submits permit application for essential personnel
Prepare documentation
Gather employment and financial documents
Apply for MVV if needed
Obtain entry visa from embassy
Receive permit
Collect combined work and residence authorization
Application Forms
Essential Start-Up Personnel Application
Form ID: 7570
Ready to Apply?
Check your eligibility first to see how well you match this visa
