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Essential start-up personnel

A new residence permit for key employees of early stage start-ups. The employee will receive a salary and financial participation in the form of 1% of company shares.

Apply at the IND

Requirements

The essential start-up personnel permit is a residence permit to work with a innovative and scalable start-up company. The permit is a pilot project and runs to 1 June 2028. The permit provides early stage start-ups with the possibility to hire specific skills and experience with easier conditions than the highly skilled migrant permit. No recognised sponsorship is needed. Salary conditions are lower as employees are offered financial participation in the company. The permit is valid for three years. The IND must take a decision within 90 days, but this can take longer as advice from the RVO is asked for first applications. 

Innovative start-up

  • The start-up has an innovative and scalable business model.
  • The start-up is financially sound.
  • The start-up has a maximum of 15 employees.
  • The start-up can hire five foreign employees with the essential start-up personnel permit.

Financial participation

  • The employee is an expert in a special field that the startup needs.
  • The employee has an employment contract with the company.
  • The employee has an employee participation agreement with the company.


 

Go to IND for all requirements

Income requirements

  • The employee meets the income requirement of €3,122 monthly gross salary excluding 8% holiday pay.
  • The employee will be given at least a 1% share in the company. Or a shareholding with a financial value of at least €65,000. The employee will receive shares or options within three years after the contract started and will always be entitles to the shares. 
Group of employees behind computers

Tips for the essential start-up personnel permit

  • The IND and RVO are dealing with delays, so the application time might be longer than expected (July 2026).
  • The Netherlands Point of Entry (part of RVO) advises companies on the essential start-up personnel permit. Reach out for help. 
  • The business model of the start-up must be innovative and scalable. The RVO assessment framework is similar as the start-up visa. 
  • Hire the first non-EU/EEA employees on the essential start-up personnel permit. In time apply for the recognised sponsorship to be able to hire highly skilled migrants as the company grows. 

FAQs

  • The legal decision period is 90 days. The IND will ask the Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO for advice on the start-up. This can take longer. 

  • The essential start-up personnel depends on the duration of the employment contract. The permit is valid for a maximum of three years. Afterwards you can extend the residence permit.

  • Yes, a family member such as a spouse, partner or child can stay with you. Your spouse or partner has the same rights on the labour market as you. The spouse can work freely without work permit in the Netherlands. 

  • The Dutch Enterprise Agency RVO assesses the start-up based upon this assessment framework (in Dutch). 

Checklist to apply for the essential start-up personnel permit

  1. 1

    Check the requirements on the website of the IND. 

    A MVV visa sticker may be required to travel to the Netherlands if you are abroad. 

    Your nationality determines whether you need an MVV. In some personal situations you may be exempt from a MVV. For example, when you already live in the Netherlands. 

  2. 2

    Collect all documents before you apply with your employer. Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

    • Valid passport
    • Employment contract
    • Employee participation documents
    • Business plan of the start-up
    • Documents about the involvement of founders and employees
    • Antecedents (criminal records) certificate

     

  3. 3

    You can submit the application in writing by post. Apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time.

    The employee can also submit the application on their own at the Dutch representation abroad.

    Pay for the application costs of the permit. 

  4. 4

    The IND must take a decision within 90 days. The IND can extend the decision permit if the application is not complete or the RVO needs to assess the application.  

    You will receive a message with a positive or negative decision. 

  5. 5

    Once you get a positive decision you can travel to the Netherlands. Depending on your nationality and personal situation you may need to collect your MVV visa sticker first. You need the MVV visa to travel to the Netherlands. If you do not need a MVV visa you can travel to the Netherlands directly.

    • You need to make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate where you submitted the application. You have to make the appointmnet within three months after the IND has taken a decision on your application. 
    • Your passport must be valid for at least another six months after the Dutch represenation places the MVV sticker in your passport. 
    • You need to travel to the Netherlands within 90 days after getting the MVV sticker. 
  6. 6

    When the residence permit document is ready, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect the document at the desk you selected during your application. 

    If you did not need a MVV visa sticker, you need to first make an appoinment to submit biometrics. You can collect your residence permit document after 10 working days. You will receive a letter when it is ready. 

    You can collect your document at the international centre in The Hague and Rotterdam or at the IND desk in The Hague.