Read three guides to the Dutch residence permit for Japanese entrepreneurs and you’ll find three slightly different versions. Here are the five differences we found, and what the official sources say.
1. The IND fee: €380 or €423?
One firm lists €380. The IND’s own page says “The application costs € 423,00.” IND fees change every year, so €380 is almost certainly an older figure. Use €423, and check ind.nl shortly before you apply.
2. The decision period: 90 days or three months?
Both are right. The IND has to decide within 90 days, which some firms round to three months. The IND can extend it by up to 6 months. The “1 to 2 months” some firms mention is their experience, not an official period.
3. The treaty: 1912 or 1913?
Also both right. The treaty was signed in The Hague on July 6, 1912, and the Dutch treaty database lists it as in force from October 9, 1913. Our partner and one law firm call it the 1913 treaty.
4. Is there a 25% rule for a BV?
The IND lists a minimum of €4,500 for a BV and €11,250 for an NV. One law firm adds that for a VOF or BV you must invest 25% of the paid-in capital, another that you must own at least 25% of the shares. Neither rule appears on ind.nl. If you’re founding a BV with others, get advice on how the IND will assess your share.
5. Is the extension for 5 years?
Most guides say yes. The IND’s pages and 2026 extension forms don’t give a fixed length for an extension. It may well be the usual outcome, but we haven’t found it as an official rule. Your decision letter states the end date.
Why this happens
Rules change, firms update their pages at different times, and an article that was right when it was written quietly goes out of date. That’s why every guide on this site shows when we last checked it, and against which source.
Start with the DJFT guide for the full route.