Netherlands DAFT Visa for Americans

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The Netherlands DAFT visa provides a pathway for American entrepreneurs to establish and manage their own businesses in the Netherlands. Designed exclusively for US citizens, it’s one of the best options—alongside the self-employment visa—for Americans looking to live and work in the Netherlands, and possibly one of the easiest ways to relocate from the USA to Europe. The DAFT visa is also one of the reasons why the Netherlands is one of the easiest countries to move to if you’re a US citizen. It’s initially granted for two years, and it can be extended.

The DAFT visa is quite special among visas in Europe because it accommodates every kind of American entrepreneur. Solopreneurs, big businesses, startups—just right about every self-employed American can apply and get it, because you’ll just need a modest investment of €4,500 in the Dutch economy to qualify for a DAFT visa. That’s less than US$5,000.

 

What is a DAFT visa? DAFT visa Netherlands for Americans, explained

The DAFT visa is the visa from the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty from 1956. Like you’ve surmised from the treaty’s name, this visa only works for American citizens. If you landed on this page and are looking for other self-employment visas for the Netherlands or how to obtain Dutch citizenship, check the specialized pages instead.

To qualify for the DAFT visa, besides being an American, you need to meet some minimal requisites. One of those requisites is to invest €4,500 in the Dutch economy. But it seems that just having that amount in your Dutch bank account will suffice. There’s no evidence of the government asking out where you have spent that money on.

When the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty was drafted more than fifty years ago, it’s possible that no-one thought that “solopreneurs” could eventually access it. (Google’s Ngram Viewer agrees with this take.) But given how low this entry barrier is, it’s a good visa option—quite possibly the best—for freelancers, solopreneurs, or big companies alike who want to move to the Netherlands for at least two years.

DAFT visa Netherlands Requirements: Eligibility criteria for Americans

Unlike the Dutch self-employment visa, which uses a points-based system to assess your eligibility, the DAFT visa does not stipulate any points you need to score. Instead, you just need to meet the following criteria:

• You’re American: You need to have an American passport to apply for the DAFT visa.
• You want to live in the Netherlands and run your business from there: But of course, you knew that!
• You do business in the Netherlands: Either because you represent a US business and have a key position at that business, or because you carry out an independent profession (freelancing, being a digital nomad, or being a solopreneur).
• You can invest €4,500, about $5,000, in the country: Now, watch out for this, because they are the government's official words. “You [must] invest a lot of money (substantial capital) in your business.” Now, if you agree with us, that sum is not a lot of money when compared to how other golden or startup visas work in Europe. Take Ireland’s startup visa, for example, which requires a minimum of €50,000 in funding for your startup to become eligible. As for the DAFT funds, you must hold €4,500 in the business for the length of your visa.

That’s the checklist—simple as that! According to people working in immigration in the Netherlands, the DAFT visa has a nearly 100% approval rate.

But you need to complete the process first. And keep in mind that at some point, you’ll also need to take care of the following:

• Obtaining a Dutch BSN, which is their tax ID
• Signing up for Dutch health insurance
• Opening up a business bank account so you can invest your €4,500
• Getting a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce or the KVK
• Scheduling your IND appointments
• Providing proof of a lease in the Netherlands
• Filling out the forms for your family members (if applicable)
• Having the documents translated into Dutch

With that in mind, you might want to consider working with immigration experts who can help you through the DAFT process.

You may also qualify for the DAFT visa if you trade between the Netherlands and the United States. In that case, beyond the DAFT-specific requirements mentioned above, you must meet the general visa requirements everyone applying for a Netherlands visa needs to meet, as detailed here.

Differences between the DAFT visa and the self-employment visa

The main difference between the DAFT visa and the self-employment visa is that the DAFT visa is easier to obtain and requires fewer prerequisites. For example, the self-employment visa asks the applicants to bring in “added value” to the Netherlands under certain activities, and strictly those, only. The DAFT visa, for its part, doesn't have the same stringent requirements.

But the self-employment visa is for most international citizens, and the DAFT visa is for Americans only.

Can you access both the DAFT visa and the 30% ruling?

If you want to make at least €66,000 yearly with your business, you should start a BV company. This will give you access to the 30% ruling. You can read about the 30% ruling on the government’s official site.

Do you need to live in the Netherlands to request the DAFT visa?

Yes, you’ll need to be in the Netherlands to complete the process. But you can start with most steps from the USA and finish the process once you’re there.

Documentation for the Netherlands DAFT Visa

Applying for the Netherlands DAFT visa requires some documentation, which you’ll have to mail or submit in person. More specifically:

Application forms

Application forms to work on a self-employed basis can be found here. It’s the same form as the self-employment visa, but you need to skip to page 5.

Supporting documents

For your convenience, we’re listing exactly what shows up in the respective form.

• Copies of your passport.
• An original certificate of the registration at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (not older than 3 months). You can get this one with help from experts.
• If you’re a solopreneur, you’ll need a bank statement of the business account showing the €4,500 amount.
• An opening balance sheet verified by a certified external expert. You can get this with help from immigration experts.

Duration of the Netherlands Self-Employment Visa

The Netherlands DAFT visa grants you a temporary residence permit for two years. You can apply for an extension of your residence permit after the initial two years. Extensions are typically issued for a maximum of five years.

If you're preparing to move into the country and get Dutch citizenship, then this visa can act as a clear entry point, considering you’ll need five years to become Dutch.

How to apply for a DAFT visa in the Netherlands

The application process for the Netherlands DAFT visa involves several key steps:

Step #1 - Prepare your application

When preparing your application, it can help to work with a consultant who can help you check all the boxes.

• Check requirements: You’ll know these by now.
• Complete the application forms: Fill out the form found here.
• Gather supporting documents: Compile all the necessary documents.

All official documentation must be in Dutch, English, French, or German. If in another language, you'll need to have them legalised and translated, as outlined here.

Step #2 - Submit your application

• Submit your documents: You have to submit your application by post. Apparently you can also present it in-person, but the IND site doesn’t offer appointments for this kind of visa. You can try calling to your local office.
• Pay for the application: The application costs €405. The full breakdown can be found here.
• Comply with the appointments: You might get letters to obtain BSN numbers and submit your biometrics. A BSN number is the citizen service number that you’ll have to use to identify with Dutch authorities. You’ll also notice from the form that you need to provide your biometric data. You’ll have to go to the municipality to do that.

Step #3 - Wait

• Awaiting approval: The IND will always decide within 90 days (three months), and this is typically the time frame you'll hear back in. Some expats claim the whole process, in between getting started and getting the DAFT, took four months. Those four months include this 90-days-wait. By the end of 2024, though, the IND expedited the process, and it could now take between four and six weeks.

You’ll be receiving status updates via post, so keep an eye out for your snail mail.

Step #4 - Pick Up your Permit

• Receive decision: Often, within 90 days, you'll receive the decision via letter.
• Collect your permit: You can pick up your residence permit at any IND desk in the country, but you must schedule an appointment to pick it up. You can book an appointment here.

Consider getting help from a visa consultation service to make the process easier and increase your chances of success.

DAFT visa fees

As already mentioned, for the DAFT visa application, the fee is €405. You’ll then need to invest €4,500. And you might need to pay for your biometrics appointment. Find the full breakdown of the Netherlands visa costs here.

Please note that these fees are always subject to change. Always consult the official IND website for the most up-to-date information on visa fees.

Can you bring family members with the DAFT visa?

You can bring family members or your spouse with the DAFT visa. In the form in which you can request your DAFT visa, you can fill out your spouse’s details. But the IND requests new applications for your children, for example, and they might expect you to request residence permits instead of DAFT visas. Even on their site they say: “Are you going to be working in the Netherlands and bringing your family members or relatives to the Netherlands? If they travel with you, it is useful if your employer submits the applications for residence permits for them at the same time he submits yours.” So, the best idea is to talk with immigration experts who can help you get this done.

Talk to a visa consultant

The DAFT visa is one of the best pathways for Americans to obtain European citizenship. If you plan to eventually get a Dutch passport and live and work in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, or elsewhere in the EU, this is an excellent starting point.

But—as you might’ve noticed, the application process can be a bit overwhelming. Also, you might prefer to start the process while you’re in America, even if you eventually need to complete it in the Netherlands.

So, let a visa consultation service help you with your application and make you can eventually get your DAFT visa.

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