No dedicated digital nomad visa
Business.gov.nl, the Dutch government information site for entrepreneurs, states that the Netherlands does not have a digital nomad visa. The statement appears in guidance for people who plan to come to the Netherlands as a digital nomad and as an entrepreneur, and the page says it assumes the reader is already an entrepreneur registered with the Chamber of Commerce. It is therefore not a source on employees who work remotely for an employer abroad, a situation that should be checked with the IND.
Short stays: the 90-day Schengen limit
For a stay of less than four months, Business.gov.nl says an entrepreneur whose business is based in another country can usually continue to work remotely, provided the entry requirements are met. Non-EU visitors must follow the Schengen rules, a maximum of 90 days per 180 days, even if no visa is needed before travelling. The same page says a visa is not a work permit and that visitors cannot work for Dutch clients or look for work in the Netherlands. The Dutch foreign ministry describes the same 90-day limit in any 180-day period.
Business.gov.nl (published by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK): Step-by-step plan: Become a digital nomad NetherlandsWorldwide (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): What kind of visas are there for the Netherlands?
Staying longer than four months
For a stay longer than 4 months, Business.gov.nl says a person from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland needs a residence permit, such as the residence permit for a self-employed person, even when the company is registered in the home country and the work is only for clients abroad. Netherlands Worldwide lists the MVV, used to travel to the Netherlands to collect a residence permit, under long-stay visas for more than 90 days. A stay of more than 4 months also means registering with the municipality to receive a citizen service number, and a foreign digital nomad registered as a resident and entrepreneur in the Netherlands may be liable for tax there.
Business.gov.nl (published by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK): Step-by-step plan: Become a digital nomad NetherlandsWorldwide (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): What kind of visas are there for the Netherlands?
What the self-employed permit application asks for
The IND application form for a self-employed residence permit asks applicants to show that their company is of essential interest to the Dutch economy, using a scoring system with three parts: personal experience, a business plan, and the added value of the economic activities for the Dutch economy. Freelancers must enclose copies of the agreements for the assignments they will carry out, and the financial supporting documents must be checked by an authorised independent external expert. The IND fee for a first self-employed application is €423.00.
IND form 7524: Application for the purpose of residence of "to work on a self-employed basis" (foreign national) IND: Fees: costs of an application
The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty route
The IND form lists a self-employed category based on the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty, with a parallel category under the Dutch-Japanese Trade Agreement, for applicants with USA or Japanese nationality. The IND policy rules require substantial capital invested in the company: for a sole proprietorship an amount assessed case by case with a minimum of €4,500; for a general partnership or private limited company at least 25% of the capital, with a minimum of €4,500; and for a public limited company at least €11,250, which is 25% of its minimum paid-up capital. Borrowed capital does not count. The application form adds that the business bank account statement must show the company name and the capital invested.
IND form 7524: Application for the purpose of residence of "to work on a self-employed basis" (foreign national) Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000 (B) (Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines), wetten.overheid.nl
Questions before acting
Does the Netherlands have a digital nomad visa?
No. Business.gov.nl states that the Netherlands does not have a digital nomad visa. For stays longer than 4 months the same page points to a residence permit such as the self-employed permit, even when the company is registered abroad and the clients are abroad.
Can I work remotely during a short Schengen stay?
Business.gov.nl says an entrepreneur whose business is based abroad can usually continue to work remotely for a stay of less than 4 months if the entry requirements are met, with a maximum stay of 90 days per 180 days for non-EU visitors. A visa is not a work permit, and visitors cannot work for Dutch clients or look for work in the Netherlands. The page says it assumes the reader is an entrepreneur, so it is not a source on employees of foreign employers.
What is the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty route?
It is a self-employed category on the IND application form for applicants with USA nationality, with a parallel Dutch-Japanese category for Japanese nationals. The IND policy rules require substantial capital invested in the company: a minimum of €4,500 for a sole proprietorship, at least 25% of the capital with a minimum of €4,500 for a general partnership or private limited company, and at least €11,250 for a public limited company. Borrowed capital does not count.
Corrections in this revision
The previous version included statements without sufficient direct support. This revision removes or corrects:
- Statements without direct official support: removed, or replaced with the official rule. Removed figures are not repeated on this page.
Review scope: legal and financial statements in this revised article. Recheck on a provider, professional, immigration or tax-rule change; reuse of dated figures requires a new check.
See recorded sources
- Business.gov.nl (published by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK): Step-by-step plan: Become a digital nomad — Netherlands, national; government information for entrepreneurs, published by KVK. Undated page (9 min read); read on 6 Oct 2026
- IND form 7524: Application for the purpose of residence of "to work on a self-employed basis" (foreign national) — Netherlands, national; immigration authority (IND) official application form (version 7524-2026/2). Form version marked 7524-2026/2; read on 6 Oct 2026
- IND: Fees: costs of an application — Netherlands, national; immigration authority (IND) official fee schedule. Fee amounts valid from 1 January to 31 December (2026 schedule); read on 6 Oct 2026
- NetherlandsWorldwide (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): What kind of visas are there for the Netherlands? — Netherlands, national; Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information. Undated page; read on 6 Oct 2026
- Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000 (B) (Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines), wetten.overheid.nl — Netherlands, national; ministerial policy rules applied by the IND (consolidated official text), Dutch-language original. Consolidated version "Geldend van 11-09-2026 t/m heden"; text introduced by WBV 2024/26 (Staatscourant 2024, 19096); read on 6 Oct 2026
These primary references have the jurisdiction, product and scope stated above. A source link is not proof of personalised eligibility.
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About the author
António Mira is the founder of whereTOemigrate. For over a decade he has worked at the intersection of Portuguese real estate and overseas business, helping international clients navigate the cross-border decisions that come with relocating. He sits on the board of CCIAP (Portuguese-Arab Chamber of Commerce), the Portuguese-Saudi Business Council, and the Portugal-Hong Kong Business Association — always with one focus: enabling overseas business and human mobility into and out of Portugal.
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