Dutch Self-Employment Residence Permit: A Guide for Entrepreneurs & Freelancers
Saturday 24 January 2026
Would you like to obtain a self-employment residence permit in the Netherlands? Your application may seem challenging, and is certainly not as straightforward as some of the more standard employment-based applications. In this article, Orion Immigration Law's partner Charley Nieuwesteeg LL.M. explains when and how you can successfully apply for a self-employment residence permit in the Netherlands, often called a freelancer residence permit. This will help you structure your application.
1. When do you need a self-employment residence permit in the Netherlands?
If you are moving to the Netherlands with the purpose of running a business of your own, or if you are already living in the Netherlands and want to make your residence conditional on your self-employed activities rather than something else, you should consider applying for a self-employment residence permit. This residence permit is often called a freelancer residence permit. Freelancers are, after all, business owners.
Alternative: Innovative Startup Visa
There is an alternative immigration route for business leaders who run an innovative startup. Please read our article on this alternative immigration route here, if you want to read more about this.
2. Employed or self-employed? Where do you stand?
Before making your application, determine whether your activities qualify as actual self-employment or could be framed as a (covert) regular employment. Most of the time, this is obvious Still, we sometimes do receive questions about the distinction between actual self-employment and (covert) employment. If you want to read more about this, please take a look at a dedicated article about this topic:
3. How Does The Application for a Self-Employment Residence Permit Work?
The general scheme for self-employed persons is usually more laborious and less certain in terms of outcome than the innovative start-up scheme. The latter, therefore, has our preference wherever there is a choice between both policies. But not every business is innovative. If you want to work as a freelancer or self-employed person or set up a business that does have potential but cannot with the best will of the world be called an “innovative start-up”, then you have no choice but to apply within the framework of the general self-employment immigration policy.
This application requires a detailed business plan, accompanied by extensive evidence. The IND collects all this information and then transfers the file to RVO, which in turn assesses whether your proposed immigration serves a “substantial Dutch economic interest”. This assessment is based on a point-based system, with points being awarded in the following three categories:
- Category A: your personal experience
- Category B: your business plan
- Category C: any added value for the Dutch economy
The points system is designed in such a way that applicants must score a total of 90 points in the three categories in order to receive a positive recommendation from RVO, after which the IND will grant the residence application. These 90 points may be divided across the three categories in two ways: an applicant must either score (at least) 30 points in all categories, or score 45 points in each of categories A and B. In the latter case, category C does not count. The table below briefly summarises the type of facts for which points are awarded in each category.
Category |
Points are awarded for ... |
| A - personal experience | In category A, points are awarded for your personal experience. RVO awards points for your educational level, your relevant work experience, entrepreneurial experience and the extent to which your personal experience is related to the Netherlands. |
| B - business plan | Category B is where RVO assesses your business plan. This part often poses the greatest challenge in the application process. In the business plan, you must clearly and concretely demonstrate that your business has market potential. The business plan must also demonstrate that the business is viable. A clear, concrete description of the market, customers, suppliers, competitors, products and services, their cost price and selling price, operating costs, a marketing plan and so on must all together demonstrate that the products or services can indeed be sold at the intended price. Naturally, the higher the expected turnover and profit, the more points will be awarded. |
| C - added value |
In Category C, points are awarded for innovation (the product or service is new to the United Kingdom), job creation (for which very concrete evidence is required) and for large investments in intangible fixed assets (such as patents, machinery, business premises). This third category is usually the most difficult. In practice, 30 points are rarely awarded in this category. That is why most applicants aim to achieve at least 45 points in both category A and category B. This makes an assessment of category C unnecessary. |
Would you like advice about this?
We can discuss the different options with you and provide more details on the application process. If you would like an advice meeting, please feel free to go to Orion Immigration Law's booking page and schedule your advice meeting with us.
Charley Nieuwesteeg LL.M.
Charley Nieuwesteeg LL.M. is a partner and co-founder of Orion Immigration Law. She advises both business and private clients on simple and complex applications for residence and work permits. In addition to her advisory practice, Charley has also gained extensive experience in litigation before the courts and in handling appeals before the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State.
