The Netherlands has launched a pilot program for startups with fewer than 15 employees. Thanks to it, startups can sponsor non-EU foreign citizens as part of a new residence permit for startup employees (Essential Start-Up Personnel Residence Permit).
Highlights:
- Start-up companies providing services to the Netherlands using new technologies and innovative working methods can sponsor foreign employees from non-EU countries under the new residence permit.
- A company can have a maximum of 15 employees and cannot employ more than five non-EU nationals with an Essential Start-Up Personnel permit.
- The foreign national must have a local employment contract and be paid by the local company, meet the mandatory wage requirements, and receive 1% of the shares or interests in the company.
- The permit will be valid for the first three years.
What are other Residence Programs? Find out here
The Netherlands has chosen the direction of attracting new highly-skilled foreign citizens to become more competitive and strengthen the workforce by attracting the best migrants as employees for startups.
The residency program should increase interest among foreign nationals wishing to work in innovative start-ups in the Netherlands.
