Frequently Asked Questions

- your role and tasks in the start-up company (the organisation); You must have an active role. This means that you are not just a shareholder or financier.
- the activities (steps) that you will take in the first year in order to move from idea to business.
- the innovative nature of the product or service; why the product or service is innovative.

1. The product or service is new to the Netherlands.
2. It involves new technology for production, distribution or marketing.
3. It involves an innovative organisational set-up and working method.

o activities stimulated within the context of the Top Sectors policy.
o self-developed new products or services.
o original approach to energy conservation.
o original approach to sustainability problems.
o clever and creative adjustments or combinations for the purpose of cross-sector applications.
o new product-market combinations.
o creative or innovative market approach.
o social innovation.
o introduction to corporate social responsibility

- the nature of the facilitation. The facilitation must be tailor-made. This means that the facilitator is able to facilitate you to get your idea to a business.
- the conditions of the agreement. These may not adversely affect or prevent a healthy development of your business. It may not concern a ‘unconscionable contract’.
- the facilitator’s interest in the start-up company. The facilitator may not have a majority interest in the start-up company

- a copy of a Dutch bank account that is in your name or your company’s name, showing the balance that is available; or
- a statement from the foreign bank where you have your account, detailing the amount (monthly) which is paid into the account in the Netherlands in your name or your company’s name;
If your facilitator is (partially) financing the means of support:
- a contract between you and your facilitator, detailing the financial resources that will be provided to you.
If the means of support are being (partially) financed by a third financier:
- an original statement from the bank that shows the amount that will be paid each month to your personal Dutch bank account, during your period in the Netherlands; or
- an original statement from the financier, which states the monthly amount that will be paid to your personal Dutch bank account during your period in the Netherlands; and
- a copy of your financier’s passport; and
- a recent bank statement or bank specification which shows your financier’s bank balance.

• your role and tasks in the start-up company (the organisation); You must have an active role. This means that you are not just a shareholder or financier.
• the activities (steps) that you will take in the first year in order to move from idea to business.
• the innovative nature of the product or service; why the product or service is innovative.
The product or service is innovative if it has at least 1 of the following 3 aspects:
1. The product or service is new to the Netherlands.
2. It involves new technology for production, distribution or marketing.
3. It involves an innovative organisational set-up and working method.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
• activities stimulated within the context of the Top Sectors policy.
• self-developed new products or services.
• original approach to energy conservation.
• original approach to sustainability problems.
• clever and creative adjustments or combinations for the purpose of cross-sector applications.
• new product-market combinations.
• creative or innovative market approach.
• social innovation.
• introduction to corporate social responsibility

• the nature of the facilitation. The facilitation must be tailor-made. This means that the facilitator is able to facilitate you to get your idea to a business.
• the conditions of the agreement. These may not adversely affect or prevent a healthy development of your business. It may not concern a ‘unconscionable contract’.
• the facilitator’s interest in the start-up company. The facilitator may not have a majority interest in the start-up company.

• Enclose a copy of your passport with your identity details together with your application. Make copies of all the pages with travel stamps as well. Do not copy empty pages;
• The filled in application form, with all applicable appendices;
• A proof of registration with the Chamber of Commerce, not older than three months, or fill in the Chamber of Commerce registration number at 5.12 in the application form;
• A copy of the document that was issued by the competent Dutch authority showing that you have the necessary permits to be allowed to practice a particular profession or run a particular enterprise; and
• A completed and signed ‘Declaration of income of self-employed person appendix’ with the appendices demanded therein;
• If there is an enterprise in the country of origin: a copy of the deed of incorporation and the articles of association of the enterprise;
• A business plan that includes information about:
  - the personal details of the owner;
  - the product or the service;
  - a market analysis that is focused on the relevant product or service;
  - the organisation;
  - balance;
  - turnover and liquidity prognosis, including the calculations;
  - specification and budget of labour creation and investments; and

• Copies of all diplomas awarded. Does this involve foreign diplomas? Then these must include an evaluation from Nuffic/Vocational Education Labour Market (SBB) (International Credential Evaluation);
• Copies of educational certificates (diplomas, doctorate) from Dutch study programmes;
• Financial data, such as turnover data, annual accounts, tax data, pay slips, wage tax declarations, etc.;
• Means of evidence (e.g. patents or references from professional institutes, etc.) that show the innovative character of the product or the service for the Netherlands;
• Means of evidence of labour creation in your own enterprise;
• Data relating to proposed investments;
• A copy of the employment contract(s) from your previous employment(s);
• Turnover data from the Dutch market; and
• If you are a freelancer: copies of agreement(s) relating to the assignment(s) that you will be carrying out as freelancer. Financial means of evidence that support the application must be checked an independent expert authorised to do so (chartered accountant, an accountant/ administratieconsulent [a Dutch accountant’s qualification], bookkeeper or a financial advisor).

Step 4: send the documents to the IND
Sign and send the completed form, the appendices and the requested documents to the IND in the Netherlands by post. Never send any original documents. You must send clearly readable and full copies of the original documents. Do not use any staples or paperclips. Do not send any USB sticks, DC’s, DVD’s and suchlike. Put all the documents in a sufficiently stamped envelope.

All these documents need to be sent BY POST to the IND to the following address:

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
P.O. Box 5
9560 AA
TER APEL The Netherlands

Step 5: pay the fees
Please transfer the fee for the application to the bank account of the IND referred to below. Quote the V-number and case number as your payment reference. You will receive these numbers in a letter from the IND. Please transfer the fee for the application to the bank account of the IND referred to below.