Two treaties, one route
The Netherlands offers the same treaty route for self-employed founders to two nationalities: US citizens, under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT), and Japanese nationals, under the 1912 Dutch-Japanese treaty (often called DJFT, or DJTT). The IND lists one set of conditions for applicants with “the nationality of United States of America (US) or Japan,” so on the Dutch side the two routes work the same way.
What differs is the treaty behind each route and the paperwork you leave behind at home.
Side by side
| DAFT (US citizens) | DJFT (Japanese nationals) | |
|---|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, signed March 27, 1956, in force December 5, 1957 | Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, signed July 6, 1912, in force October 9, 1913 |
| Where the investor route comes from | Article II(1) of the treaty mentions investing a substantial amount of capital | The treaty has no capital clause; Dutch policy applies the same route, usually explained through the most-favoured-nation clause (Article 17) |
| IND purpose on the application form | 453 | 510 |
| Minimum capital | €4,500 of equity (€11,250 for an NV) | Same |
| IND fee | €423 | Same |
| Entry visa (MVV) | Not needed | Not needed |
| KVK registration and investment | Within 6 months of the decision | Same |
| First permit | Up to 2 years, then renewal with your annual figures | Same |
| Partner and children | Can join you and may work without a work permit | Same |
| Paperwork at home | US tax filing continues after you move | Overseas residence registration, a tax representative, pension choices |
The MVV exemption for both nationalities is on the IND’s list of MVV exemptions. The treaty texts are on wetten.overheid.nl: the US treaty and the Japanese treaty.
The same document for both
On either route, the €4,500 has to be equity, not just a bank balance, and you prove it with an opening balance sheet. The calculation is the same, and so are the common mistakes: a loan doesn’t count, and equipment bought right after the deposit can push you under the line. Try the capital calculator to check your own figures.
Where to read more
- US citizens: start with What is DAFT? and US taxes and DAFT.
- Japanese nationals: our sister site DJFT Guide covers the Japanese route in English and in Japanese, including the paperwork in Japan.