Creators

The DAFT permit for American creators: what it takes

Updated: 6 October 2026 Holdwise editorial team

American citizens can live in the Netherlands under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty of 1956. In return for a modest investment in your own business, you get a residence permit. For a creator with platform income, this is the cheapest serious way to relocate to Europe. The capital requirement is modest and the process is fast. One mistake at renewal can undo the whole application. At Holdwise, we keep this answer up to date and change it when the rules change.

What DAFT is

Under DAFT (the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty of 1956), American citizens can live in the Netherlands as entrepreneurs. They must invest capital in their own Dutch business and keep it there. The minimum is €4,500. This amount stays in the business as capital, visible on the balance sheet, for as long as you have the permit.

The numbers

Capital: €4,500, which you keep in the business.
Fee to the IND (the Dutch immigration service): €423.
Decision: commonly four to six weeks.
First permit: two years, renewable.
Family: a partner and children come along on the same application.

The common mistake

The capital must stay in the business as capital. Some creators lend it to themselves or take it out of the business in another way in the week after they arrive. This breaks the rule, and the IND sees this at renewal. Put the €4,500 in as capital, keep the bank statement and leave the money in the account.

Which structure works

A sole trader qualifies, and so does a BV (besloten vennootschap, a Dutch private limited company). For a creator with real income the BV usually works better, because it separates the channel from your private assets and prepares the holding structure above it. This is set out in start here, and the numbers are in how creators pay less tax.

After the permit

Registration with the municipality, the BSN (the Dutch citizen service number), a bank account and health cover follow in that order, set out in relocating to Amsterdam. Once you are on your own payroll, residence and tax planning overlap. Take a multi-year lower customary salary, agreed with the tax authority. Add borrowing up to €500,000 from your own BV. With both, you save roughly €18,000 to €20,000 a year in the growth phase.

American income is treated separately. Dutch residents pay zero in place of 30% withholding tax on American royalties. You can read more in US withholding.

Your DAFT permit, arranged with us

We arrange your DAFT application. An immigration lawyer from our network prepares it and files it with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). We set up your company and business bank account and provide the company documents your application needs. The IND decides on your permit.

Free advice

Want our team to have a look?

We help you set up your business in the Netherlands: your company, your tax and your residence permit. Tell us where you stand or what you are planning. You get free advice on your next step.

Part of Doing Business in the Netherlands, the complete 2026 guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need for DAFT? +

€4,500 kept as capital in your own Dutch business, plus an IND fee of €423. The capital stays on the balance sheet for as long as you have the permit.

How long does a decision take? +

Commonly four to six weeks. The first permit lasts two years and is renewable, and a partner and children join the same application.

Can I use a BV for DAFT? +

Yes. A sole trader qualifies too, but for a creator with real income the BV usually works better, since it separates the channel from private assets.