The core requirements
- Japanese nationality. The treaty route is tied to your nationality. Family members apply through their own family route. See Partner and family.
- A registered Dutch business. You register with the KVK (Dutch Chamber of Commerce), usually as a sole proprietorship or a BV. See Business structure.
- A minimum capital investment. The IND sets it at €4,500 for a sole proprietorship, a general partnership (VOF), a limited partnership (CV) or a BV, and €11,250 for a public limited company (NV).
- The general conditions that apply to every Dutch residence permit, such as a valid passport.
The 6-month window
Since April 2024 the IND doesn’t check the business conditions before it grants the first permit. Instead, 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 miss it, “the IND may revoke your permit.”
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. Plan as if the IND can check at any time after those 6 months.
The capital has to stay in the business
The €4,500 isn’t a one-time deposit. At every renewal the IND checks “whether the invested capital remained in the business.” Law firms describe this as the business’s equity never dropping below the minimum during the permit period.
It’s about equity, not your bank balance. If the business has debts, they’re subtracted from what it owns. A loan you took out to fund the €4,500 is a debt, so it doesn’t count as your own capital. See Opening balance sheet.
What isn’t required
You don’t need a job offer, a Dutch degree, or a score under the points-based test that other self-employed applicants go through. Japanese nationals also don’t need an entry visa (MVV), because Japan is on the IND’s list of exempt nationalities.
Next steps
Read How to apply for the procedure, or Costs and timeline for the fee and decision period.