Until 2024, Japanese and American treaty applicants ran into a chicken-and-egg problem. The IND wanted proof of a registered business and a funded business account before it granted the permit. But opening a Dutch bank account and registering at the KVK is hard without a citizen service number (BSN), and you only get a BSN once you live here.
What changed
Since April 2024 the IND grants the first permit without checking those business conditions first. In return, ind.nl says: “Then you must register with the Chamber of Commerce and make the investment within 6 months.” The 6 months start on the date at the top of your decision letter. “If you do not do this, the IND may revoke your permit.”
One firm describes what the IND no longer asks for up front: proof of KVK registration, a balance sheet, and a business bank statement. After the 6 months, the IND may check the KVK registration and whether the €4,500 went into a business account.
What hasn’t changed
The conditions themselves are the same. You still need to invest at least €4,500, and at every extension the IND still checks your annual accounts and whether the capital stayed in the business.
What’s still unclear
One law firm, Everaert Advocaten, wrote in October 2025 that this “temporary procedure will remain in effect until April 1, 2026,” after which the IND would evaluate it. As of October 2026, ind.nl still describes the same procedure without an end date, so it appears to still apply. Treat the 6-month deadline as firm, and keep your opening balance sheet ready in case the IND asks for it.
See How to apply for the full procedure.