What the company needs versus what you need

The BV needs a Dutch registered office. This is a real address where the company receives mail and has its legal seat. See the rules for a registered office. You, as owner or director, can live where you want. The notary sets up the company remotely (the remote process), and you open the bank account online (the banking steps). With eHerkenning, you can log in to every government portal from any time zone.

See the Dutch holding structure for what you save with a holding above the operating company, and what it involves each year. To keep both companies in good standing, see corporate secretarial services in the Netherlands.

Where the company is managed

The tax authorities look at where the real management takes place to decide in which country the company is resident for tax. If you manage a BV day to day from abroad, the tax authority in that country can ask whether the company is resident there. The company needs enough substance for the tax position it claims: real decision-making, board meetings on paper and an address that matches the facts. See the substance standard. If you relocate to the Netherlands, the BV can sponsor your residence permit as a recognised sponsor, and your family can come too. See the country guide for every country.