---
title: "Netherlands Start-up personnel permit 2026: €3,122+/mo needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/essential-startup-personnel/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-11
---

Netherlands · Work

# Netherlands Start-up personnel permit

**Income needed:** €3,122+ a month ≈ $3,490

Residence permit for essential start-up personnel

First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** €3,122+ a month ≈ $3,490 (Income of at least EUR 3,122 a month (≈ $3,490) · Gross income per month without holiday allowance, valid for 2026. A fee of EUR 423 (≈ $470) · IND application fee for a first application or change of purpose of stay; an extension also costs EUR423.)
- **First stay:** 3 yrs (Regular temporary residence permit with the restriction 'paid employment', granted for the duration of the employment contract or work, up to a maximum of three years; five years where the holder has had a work-authorising temporary residence permit for five uninterrupted years and has not moved their main residence outside the Netherlands. Extensions are granted on the same limits.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.)

## Key facts

Start-up personnel permit is a work route for Netherlands. Applicants need income of €3,122+ a month ≈ $3,490. You can stay 3 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** €3,122+ a month ≈ $3,490
- **Government fees:** €423 ≈ $470
- **First stay:** 3 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee €423 ≈ $470; income to show €3,122+/mo ≈ $3,490. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: €423 ≈ $470**

- EUR 423 (≈ $470) IND application fee for a first application or change of purpose of stay; an extension also costs EUR423 (≈ $470).

**Shown, not spent: €3,122+/mo ≈ $3,490**

- EUR 3,122 a month (≈ $3,490) Gross income per month without holiday allowance, valid for 2026.

**Renewal: Renewable**

The permit can be extended on the same terms; the Ministry of Economic Affairs' advice on the start-up is valid for three years from the first permit.

[Business.gov.nl](https://business.gov.nl/coming-to-the-netherlands/permits-and-visa/residence-permit-for-foreign-startups/) [Ministry of Justice and Security](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012289)

**Permanent residence: General rule: 5 years of residence**

A permanent residence permit needs 5 consecutive years on a valid permit with main residence in the Netherlands, extensions made on time, income and integration (level A2) requirements met.

[Immigration and Naturalisation Service](https://ind.nl/en/replace-extend-renew-and-change/permanent-residency/permanent-residence-permit)

**Citizenship: General rule: 5 years of residence**

Naturalisation needs 5 consecutive years of legal residence with extensions made on time, the integration exam (level A2), and usually renouncing your other nationality.

[Immigration and Naturalisation Service](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/becoming-a-dutch-national-through-naturalisation)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Needs a job offer from an employer in Netherlands
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a highly skilled foreign expert who is essential to the development and growth of a start-up.
- The employer is a start-up; it does not have to be a recognised sponsor.

#### What you must show

- Gross monthly income of at least EUR3,122 (≈ $3,490) without holiday allowance.
- The application fee is EUR423 (≈ $470).

## When you become tax resident

How Netherlands decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** Residence determined by durable ties to the Netherlands rather than a fixed day count.
- **Income tax:** Work and home income for people under retirement age: 35.75% up to EUR38,883, (≈ $43,400) 37.56% to EUR78,426 (≈ $87,600) and 49.5% above.

[All tax rules for Netherlands](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Residence scheme for highly skilled foreign experts who are essential to the development and growth of a start-up. The start-up does not need to be a recognised sponsor, which the highly skilled migrant permit requires. The scheme continues until 1 June 2028. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least EUR 3,122 a month (≈ $3,490) · Gross income per month without holiday allowance, valid for 2026. (source 2)
- A fee of EUR 423 (≈ $470) · IND application fee for a first application or change of purpose of stay; an extension also costs EUR423 (≈ $470). (source 3)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a highly skilled foreign expert who is essential to the development and growth of a start-up. (source 1)
- The employer is a start-up; it does not have to be a recognised sponsor. (source 1)
- Gross monthly income of at least EUR3,122 (≈ $3,490) without holiday allowance. (source 2)
- The application fee is EUR423 (≈ $470). (source 3)

#### Stay

- Regular temporary residence permit with the restriction 'paid employment', granted for the duration of the employment contract or work, up to a maximum of three years; five years where the holder has had a work-authorising temporary residence permit for five uninterrupted years and has not moved their main residence outside the Netherlands. Extensions are granted on the same limits.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Checked 2026-10-11 · partly verified

## Official sources

1. [Residence permit for foreign startups: essential personnel for startups](https://business.gov.nl/coming-to-the-netherlands/permits-and-visa/residence-permit-for-foreign-startups/) · Business.gov.nl (IND and Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Required amounts: income requirements (valid 2026)](https://ind.nl/en/required-amounts-income-requirements) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Immigration and Naturalisation Service: fees for residence permit applications](https://ind.nl/en/fees) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Aliens Circular 2000, part B5: pilot for essential start-up personnel and validity of paid-employment permits](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012289) · Ministry of Justice and Security (Wetten.overheid.nl) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Permanent residence permit (requirements and decision period)](https://ind.nl/en/replace-extend-renew-and-change/permanent-residency/permanent-residence-permit) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/becoming-a-dutch-national-through-naturalisation) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11

## Start-up personnel permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Start-up personnel permit | Needs income of €3,122+ a month ≈ $3,490 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/eu-blue-card/) | Needs income from €4,754 a month ≈ $5,310 | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| [Highly Skilled Migrant](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/highly-skilled-migrant/) | Needs income from €3,122 a month ≈ $3,490 | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| [Work permit (single permit)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/work-single-permit/) | Needs income of €2,337+ a month ≈ $2,610 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Start-up personnel permit?

Income of at least EUR 3,122 a month (≈ $3,490). Gross income per month without holiday allowance, valid for 2026. A fee of EUR 423 (≈ $470). IND application fee for a first application or change of purpose of stay; an extension also costs EUR423 (≈ $470).

### How long can I stay on the Start-up personnel permit?

Regular temporary residence permit with the restriction 'paid employment', granted for the duration of the employment contract or work, up to a maximum of three years; five years where the holder has had a work-authorising temporary residence permit for five uninterrupted years and has not moved their main residence outside the Netherlands.

### Who can apply for the Start-up personnel permit?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

### Does the Start-up personnel permit lead to permanent residence in Netherlands?

The general rule for permanent residence in Netherlands is 5 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.

### How are Start-up personnel permit holders taxed in Netherlands?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Start-up personnel permit. The standard rules apply: Work and home income for people under retirement age: 35.75% up to EUR38,883, (≈ $43,400) 37.56% to EUR78,426 (≈ $87,600) and 49.5% above.

## More in Netherlands

[Orientation year (zoekjaar)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/orientation-year/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/working-holiday/) [DAFT self-employed](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/daft-self-employed/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/self-employed-residence/) [Startup permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/startup-residence-permit/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/student-residence/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources.** Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Residence permit for foreign startups: essential personnel for startups](https://business.gov.nl/coming-to-the-netherlands/permits-and-visa/residence-permit-for-foreign-startups/) · Business.gov.nl (IND and Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO) · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Required amounts: income requirements (valid 2026)](https://ind.nl/en/required-amounts-income-requirements) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Immigration and Naturalisation Service: fees for residence permit applications](https://ind.nl/en/fees) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Aliens Circular 2000, part B5: pilot for essential start-up personnel and validity of paid-employment permits](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0012289) · Ministry of Justice and Security (Wetten.overheid.nl) · checked 2026-10-11
5. [Permanent residence permit (requirements and decision period)](https://ind.nl/en/replace-extend-renew-and-change/permanent-residency/permanent-residence-permit) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11
6. [Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/becoming-a-dutch-national-through-naturalisation) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.