If you’re calling the IND, always budget at least an hour for your phone call to be safe. Depending on the time of the year, wait times when you call the IND can be very long. Throughout the process you’ll probably need to talk to the IND dozens of times.Ĭontact the IND if you have any questions about the DAFT application process. Of this, it took me about 2 months between the time I initiated my application and submitted the complete application, and then another 1.5 months approximately to wait to hear back. Timelineįor me, the Dutch American Friendship Treaty process took a little more than 3 months, which is not bad at all as far as resident application processes go. Technically, no one client can contribute to more than 70% of your income. Most companies are OK with that (actually many even prefer that due to tax and health insurance implications). That means you work for yourself and you take on clients. It’s important to note that under the DAFT permit, you’re actually a freelancer. How to Qualify with Dutch American Friendship Treaty

If you are thinking about moving to the Netherlands and are American, it’s definitely the best option and totally worth doing. The process for obtaining a self-employment permit may seem long and daunting, but it’s totally manageable to do on your own (you really don’t need a lawyer!). So, I’m hoping that my experiences in mid 2016 will help future residents from the USA in the Netherlands! Other blogs online helped me a lot as I went through the process, though I found that there is a lack of updated information about the process online. I’m writing this with the desire that my experiences with obtaining the residence permit for self-employment under the Dutch American friendship treaty (DAFT) will also help other Americans who wish to also move to the Netherlands. Thankfully, if you wish to immigrate to the Netherlands, there’s something called the Dutch American Friendship Treaty which makes it relatively easy for you to obtain a self employment work permit.

When I decided that I wanted to move to the Netherlands long-term, I got to understand first hand the frustrations of being on the other side. As an American, I didn’t really pay attention to my international friends’ struggles of applying for permanent visas in the United States.

Netherlands am license