The Netherlands is a country of stunning natural beauty, modern infrastructure, exceptional welfare systems, and personal freedom. Its stable and robust economy is consistently ranked among the world’s most advanced. The Netherlands offers a wide range of opportunities for self-employed individuals and startup founders.
With its flexible and accessible business regulations, in contrast to the more rigid systems in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands has become a European leader in innovation, artificial intelligence, and startup development.
Through the self-employment and startup residence permit schemes, eligible applicants can obtain legal residence for themselves and their family members—without the need to submit a language proficiency certificate or make large capital investments. These residence permits also provide employment authorization for the spouse, free public education for children under 18, and free health insurance coverage for minor children.
According to official reports by UNICEF, the Netherlands has ranked consistently as the top country for child well-being from 2009 to 2025 (Report Card 11).
Furthermore, your spouse will be eligible to pursue higher education at Dutch universities at the same low tuition fees paid by Dutch citizens. In contrast, international students without a Dutch residence permit may pay more than €22,000 per year for a Master’s degree programme.
After only five years of continuous legal residence, you and your family members become eligible to apply for Dutch and European Union citizenship, granting full civil rights, including a Dutch passport.
If you are seeking to develop your independent professional career within a stable and open economy, and connect to European and global markets without restrictions, the self-employment or startup permit is a strong and suitable option.
Mr. Mohammad Khademi, attorney-at-law, member of the International Bar Association (IBA), and director of the legal institute AdvoLinK in the Netherlands, brings over 20 years of legal experience. Together with a team of Dutch legal professionals, he provides full legal support for your residence application process, as well as post-arrival legal and business consultation, including expertise in Iran-related sanctions exemptions and compliance.
Do not miss the opportunity to schedule an online legal consultation via this website and begin your journey toward a secure and independent life in the Netherlands.