Country guide

Set up a company in the Netherlands from Italy

You do not have to come to the Netherlands. You sign one form in front of a notary in Italy, the Dutch notary signs the deed for you, and your Dutch limited company (a BV) is registered. This page tells you what the Dutch notary needs from Italy and how to get it.

The stamp you need

After the notary has stamped it, the document gets an official sticker (an apostille) so a Dutch notary can trust it without further checks. For Italy: Notarial deeds and court documents: the Procura della Repubblica at the court of the district where the notary sits. Chamber of Commerce documents and other administrative documents: the Prefettura. A €16 revenue stamp per apostille.

Your documents will be in Italian. Add a sworn translation (a translation by a court-registered translator) into English or Dutch for every document you send.

Italy is in the European Union. This makes the tax side simpler later on; it does not change the stamps above.

If you live in Italy

  1. A stamped copy of your passport

    Take your passport (Italy) to a notary in Italy. The notary makes a copy and stamps it to confirm it is real. After the notary has stamped it, the document gets an official sticker (an apostille) so a Dutch notary can trust it without further checks. For Italy: Notarial deeds and court documents: the Procura della Repubblica at the court of the district where the notary sits. Chamber of Commerce documents and other administrative documents: the Prefettura. A €16 revenue stamp per apostille.

    For advisers

    Certified true copy of a valid passport, apostilled in the country of residence.

  2. Proof of where you live

    A recent bank statement, utility bill or official letter with your name and home address in Italy, not older than three months. No stamps needed.

    For advisers

    Proof of residential address, dated within three months.

  3. The signing form (power of attorney)

    We send you a short form that lets the Dutch notary sign the incorporation deed on your behalf, so you do not have to travel. Sign it in front of a notary in Italy. Sign the power of attorney before an Italian notaio. Then it needs the same official stamp as your passport copy: an official sticker (an apostille).

    For advisers

    Notarial power of attorney on the Dutch notary's model, signature certified and apostilled.

  4. A short ownership statement

    A one-page form from us where you confirm who owns and controls the new company and whether you hold a public position. Sign, scan, send. No stamps needed.

    For advisers

    Declaration of ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) and politically exposed persons (PEP) on the notary's model.

If a company from Italy becomes a shareholder

  1. A fresh extract from the company register

    An official printout that shows the company exists, who the directors are and who may sign. It must be less than three months old. Where to get it: Registro delle Imprese (Chambers of Commerce). Order a visura camerale or certificato camerale online. Have a local notary certify the printout. After the notary has stamped it, the document gets an official sticker (an apostille) so a Dutch notary can trust it without further checks. For Italy: Notarial deeds and court documents: the Procura della Repubblica at the court of the district where the notary sits. Chamber of Commerce documents and other administrative documents: the Prefettura. A €16 revenue stamp per apostille.

    For advisers

    Certified extract from the commercial register (max. three months), apostilled.

  2. The company's founding documents

    The articles of association (the rules of the company) and the certificate of incorporation. A copy certified by the notary in Italy is enough.

    For advisers

    Articles of association and certificate of incorporation, certified copies.

  3. Proof of who may sign for the company

    If the register extract already shows who may sign, this is done. If not, a short board decision (resolution) that names the person who signs the Dutch documents, signed by the directors.

    For advisers

    Evidence of signing authority: register entry or board resolution.

  4. A drawing of who owns the company

    A simple chart from the company down to the people who ultimately own it, with percentages. One page. We give you a template.

    For advisers

    Ownership structure chart down to the natural persons who ultimately own the company (UBO chain).

The person who signs for the company and every owner with 25% or more also sends a stamped passport copy and proof of address, following the route of the country where they live.

Good to know: The certificato (certified) is what the Dutch notary needs, not the visura (informational). Each office only apostilles documents from its own province; larger cities work by appointment and can take one to two weeks.

Your own list in two minutes

Different nationality than where you live? A company owned by people in several countries? The check combines every country involved into one list, and sends it to your email.

See the documents you need

For advisers

Italy: contracting party to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force 11 February 1978).

Apostille or legalisation authority: Notarial deeds and court documents: the Procura della Repubblica at the court of the district where the notary sits. Chamber of Commerce documents and other administrative documents: the Prefettura. A €16 revenue stamp per apostille.

Company register: Registro delle Imprese (Chambers of Commerce). Order a visura camerale or certificato camerale online. (https://www.registroimprese.it)

You may use this page with your clients with a link to the source. Copying or republishing the underlying database is not permitted.

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Knowledge on doing business in the Netherlands · on the 2026 figures