What your permit says
The IND describes the permit’s work rights in one line: “work allowed on a self-employed basis, work as an employee only allowed with a work permit (TWV).” In other words:
- Your own business: you can work for it without any extra permit.
- A job with a Dutch employer: that employer has to get a work permit (TWV) for you from the UWV, the Dutch employee insurance agency. The UWV only issues one under strict conditions, for example when no suitable candidate is available in the EU.
After 5 years
Once you’ve worked in the Netherlands for 5 years, you can apply for the status “free to work,” which removes the work-permit requirement. That’s separate from permanent residence, which you can also apply for after 5 years on a residence permit.
Your family can work freely
Your partner and children on a family permit don’t need a work permit. ind.nl says your family members “are allowed to work in the Netherlands without a work permit (TWV).” One law firm dates this to January 1, 2021.
A short history
The rules for Japanese nationals have changed before. In 2016, Japanese media reported that the Dutch government would again require work permits for Japanese employees from October 1, 2016, after a period in which they had been exempt. That change concerned employees, not entrepreneurs on the treaty route. We mention it because older guides online still reflect the pre-2016 situation.
Next steps
See Partner and family for how your family applies, and Extension and renewal for what keeps your own permit valid.