The Self-Employed Residence Permit is issued by the Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND) to non-EU nationals who wish to run their own business in the Netherlands, whether as a sole proprietor, freelancer (ZZP), or director-shareholder of a Dutch company. It falls under the Vreemdelingenwet 2000 and the Wet arbeid vreemdelingen.
Applicants are assessed against a points system, advised on by the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO). Points are awarded across personal experience, business plan quality, and added value to the Dutch economy, with a minimum score required in each category. The business must be registered with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) and meet the conditions for self-employment under Dutch tax rules.
Certain nationalities benefit from bilateral treaties that waive the points test, including United States citizens under DAFT, Japanese nationals, and, in a modified form, Turkish nationals. The standard permit is granted for up to two years and can be renewed based on continued business performance.