Business Immigration · Europe
Netherlands
The Dutch route we advise for founders is start-up residence: a recognised facilitator plus an RVO innovation assessment, not a BV on the register. DAFT is limited to US and Japanese nationals and is not available to Pakistani nationals. The IND fee is about €423, alongside a living-funds requirement; relocate is via MVV at the Dutch mission in Islamabad.
- Programme
- Start-up residence
- Path
- Startup
- Capital / threshold
- Recognised facilitator plus RVO assessment. IND fee about €423. Sufficient living funds.
- Relocate / visit
- Yes — MVV via the Dutch mission in Islamabad
This overview is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees, and eligibility criteria change. We verify current requirements with licensed counsel before any engagement. Residence and visa decisions are made by host-country authorities and are never guaranteed.
Country overview
About Netherlands
For clients in Pakistan, the Netherlands is a start-up corridor. The programme we brief is start-up residence. A recognised facilitator must take the founder, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) must assess the venture as innovative. A Dutch BV filing is company formation; it is not a residence permit.
DAFT is a US/Japan treaty product. It is not available to Pakistani nationals. The applicable Dutch route is start-up residence. The IND fee is about €423, plus sufficient living funds under the live rules.
Relocate is yes, via an MVV processed with the Dutch representation in Islamabad as practice then stands. Biometrics, tuberculosis screening where required, and a facilitator agreement form part of a complete file. We coordinate the venture narrative with licensed Dutch counsel.
Formation of a Dutch company remains a corporate act; immigration is a separate IND decision. Requirements are set by the host government and are verified with licensed counsel before engagement. Outcomes are decided by Dutch authorities and are not guaranteed.
Who this is for
Designed for founders with an innovative start-up that a recognised Dutch facilitator will host, who can show living funds, and who will complete MVV from Islamabad. A poor fit if the plan is DAFT (not available to Pakistani nationals) or a shelf BV presented as a start-up.
Timeline
Facilitator, RVO, and MVV together typically take several months after a complete file. Dates are not guaranteed.
Programme rules, fees, and capital thresholds are set by the host government and change. Figures on this page reflect our latest review and are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
Residence programmes
What we brief for Pakistani founders
Programme rules, fees, and capital thresholds are set by the host government and change. Figures on this page reflect our latest review and are verified with licensed counsel before engagement.
Start-up residence
Startup
Requirements
Recognised facilitator plus RVO assessment. IND fee about €423. Sufficient living funds.
Relocate / visit
Yes — MVV via the Dutch mission in Islamabad
How we work
From briefing to a filed application
Briefing
We map facilitator availability, RVO’s innovation test, living funds, and the Islamabad MVV path. DAFT is closed to Pakistani nationals and is not on the menu.
File preparation
The facilitator agreement, venture assessment materials, and living-funds evidence are assembled. The IND fee of about €423 is a government charge, not a capital threshold.
Counsel filing
Licensed counsel supports the MVV through the Dutch mission in Islamabad and the subsequent IND steps. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
After grant
Residence, if granted, still requires the founder to work the start-up plan with the facilitator. A BV is not the permit.
Key considerations
What this corridor is not
- DAFT is limited to US and Japanese nationals; it is not available to Pakistani nationals.
- A Dutch BV is not a residence permit.
- A recognised facilitator and RVO assessment are mandatory gates.
- Outcomes are decided by Dutch authorities and are not guaranteed.
Also available
Company formation
Forming a Netherlands company is a separate mandate from residence. If the immigration plan requires a local entity, we coordinate that workstream on its own terms. Formation does not grant the right to live in Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use DAFT as a Pakistani?
No. DAFT is limited to US and Japanese nationals. It is not available to Pakistani nationals. The Dutch route we advise on is start-up residence with a recognised facilitator and RVO assessment.
Is the IND fee the price of residence?
No. About €423 is a government fee. It is not a capital threshold and not a grant of residence.
Do I apply from Pakistan?
Yes. We plan MVV via the Dutch mission in Islamabad unless live consular instructions change.
Other corridors
We also advise on
Consultation
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