The Netherlands Golden Visa scheme for High Net Worth Investors

Netherlands has an exciting golden visa scheme offering residency to foreign investors who are interested to live and invest in Netherlands.

The Dutch government wants to attract HNW investors from outside the European Union to the Netherlands. The investment must bring added value and benefits to the Dutch economy.

• European business visa by investing in The Netherlands.
• Free movement in Schengen zone
• Dutch residence permit for family and children
• No minimum residence requirements.
• EU citizenship after 6 years of living.
• Option Invest in Dutch real estate market such as buying a home.
• Access to Dual citizenship.
• Ease of doing business in Europe
• Right to work in Netherlands

The Dutch investor visa scheme requires a minimum investment of €1,250,000 euros to qualify for for residence permit in Netherlands. Family members can join later once the investor has received residence permit.

How it works?

There are certain conditions that apply to everyone. In addition to these conditions, the following conditions apply for you:

• You invest a minimum amount of €1,250,000 in a company that is based in the Netherlands. Investing in real estate for private occupation is excluded.
• You deposit the amount to be invested into a bank account of a Dutch bank or a bank of an EU Member State with a branch in the Netherlands. This branch is supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Banks subject to supervision make use of the single European licence.
• Your investment has an added value for the Dutch economy. This will be assessed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) . The Netherlands Enterprise Agency uses a points system. The added value is there if the investment meets 2 of the following 3 criteria:
  • Within 5 years at least 10 jobs will be created.
  • A contribution is made to increasing the innovativeness of the Dutch company; this may be proven through, among other things, the introduction of a patent, investing in both technological and non-technological innovation or investing in a company that belongs to a top sector.
  • There is another, non-financial added value, such as specific knowledge, networks, clients and active involvement of the investor.
• The capital which is invested has not been gained through illegitimate means.  The IND can ask information about this from the Netherlands Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Netherlands). You give permission to investigate the origin of your capital abroad.
• You have not given incorrect information or withheld relevant information in a previous application for a residence permit.
• You have not previously been in the Netherlands illegally.

This application costs approximately € 2,000.

Applications must be launched with Immigration and Naturalisation office (IND) for the purpose of residence of ‘wealthy foreign national’ (‘foreign investor’) (Form 641)

Applicants must also provide the investment plan strategy.

Minimum investment plan requirements

1. Company details
Name, size (employees, turnover), management, innovative character,
product / service, market (strategy, position, geographic, target group, competition)
and 3 years prognosis after investment.
2. Name of foreign investor.
3. Period investment.
4. Purpose and size of investment: in which investments and for
what amount.
5. Expected effect of the investment.
6. Conditions, under which the investment takes place.
7. Signature by investor and company. There can also be in one
separate agreement to the investment plan.
As the foreign investor in a private company
investing does not have to sign it.
Think of points 4 and 5:
Job creation: number and level f.t.e.’s, time path realizing job creation.
Innovation: patent (contribution / purchase), innovations at the company (see
review form), top sector.

Permanent Residency and Citizenship 

Permanent residency is possible after 5 years of uninterrupted living in Netherlands and after another year you may naturalize for becoming a ‘dutch citizen’. You must also pass dutch language citizenship test.

How to apply?

• If the foreign investor resides in the Netherlands, starts the application procedure for residence permit via the application form ‘Request for a residence permit with the purpose of residence ‘wealthy foreigner ‘(‘ foreign investor ‘) can be downloaded from the IND website.
• If the foreign investor stays outside the Netherlands, he must report to the Dutch representation in the country of origin or permanent residence.

If the conditions are met, the residence permit will be issued granted to the foreign investor for a maximum of three years. Investors must register a residence in Netherlands and also must have a health insurance coverage, to receive residence permit.

Read more at official IND website: https://ind.nl/en/other/Pages/Investing-in-the-Netherlands.aspx

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/13274211@N00/