Dutch Japanese Trade agreement 

Based on a bilateral trade agreement between the Netherlands and Japan (dating all the way back to the early 1900’s), there are more lenient admission requirements for Japanese entrepreneurs. The conditions for obtaining a residence permit as an entrepreneur are similar to the admission requirements for American entrepreneurs.

For immigration purposes, the bilateral trade agreement between the Netherlands and Japan makes it relatively easy for Japanese entrepreneurs to obtain a residence permit as an entrepreneur. Due to the bilateral trade agreement, Japanese nationals find it significantly easier to acquire a residence permit as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs from countries other than Japan must demonstrate, through a point-based system, that their presence serves a significant Dutch economic interest. In practice, this has proven to be a very challenging task for many entrepreneurs and entails extensive documentation (and therefore extra costs) for these applicants. Furthermore, these application procedures generally take a lot of time. Contrary to entrepreneurs from other countries, Japanese entrepreneurs face only limited conditions for obtaining a residence permit.

What are the requirements?

The main conditions are:

  • Registration with the Chamber of Commerce (KvK) trade register.
  • An investment of considerable capital, amounting to €4,500, into their own business.
  • An opening balance sheet prepared by a certified accountant or a recognized financial advisor.

Despite the relatively limited number of admission requirements, in practice, many Japanese entrepreneurs have found it difficult, based on the trade agreement between the Netherlands and Japan, to meet all prerequisites for approval within a short period (such as registration in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and registration with the Chamber of Commerce). For a quick and efficient handling of the application, professional guidance is highly recommended.

An additional advantage is that family members of Japanese entrepreneurs have unrestricted access to the labor market. Unlike their sponsor, they are free to take up employment in any sector without limitations.

Pilot

In April 2024, the IND implemented a pilot program that streamlines the application process for DAFT applicants. For the time being (according to the IND, at least until April 1, 2026), if you apply via DAFT (or under the Netherlands-Japan Friendship Treaty), you receive approval very quickly. However, you must ensure that you register your business, open a bank account, and deposit €4,500 into it within six months of approval. It’s important not to slack off on meeting the requirements after the permit is granted, as this might result in the permit being revoked at some point in the future.

We welcome this development because, in recent years, we have seen our American and Japanese clients struggle to obtain a BSN (social security number) through municipal registration. It has become nearly impossible to secure a rental contract without a residence permit, and without a BSN, opening a bank account is equally difficult. We hope that this pilot can break this negative spiral.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office. You can reach us by phone at +31(0)20 223 2466 or email at info@arslanlitadvocaten.nl. We’re happy to help! You can also reach us via our social media channels, which can be found at the bottom of this page.