Do EU citizens need a residency visa for Netherlands?

No. EU free movement already gives EU citizens the right to live in Netherlands; local registration rules still apply.

Can EU citizens get residency in Netherlands by buying property?

Not through property alone. The nearest route is Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person: Work of essential interest to the Dutch economy, scored by RVO on personal experience, business plan and added value (30+ points in each, or 45 each on experience and plan); Chamber of Commerce registration; income requirement shown in the business plan

How long does it take?

Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person: IND decides within 90 days; can be extended by up to 6 months. The permit runs 2 years, renewable.

Does it lead to citizenship?

Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

Netherlands Residency for EU citizens: Routes, Costs and Rules

For EU citizens

What is different for EU citizens.

EU citizens can stay in another EU country for up to 3 months without registering, and can move there to live, work or retire, registering residence for longer stays.
European Union, Your Europe: Residence rights
After five years of lawful, unbroken residence in another EU country, an EU citizen automatically gains the right to live there permanently.
European Union, Your Europe: Residence rights

2 open routes

The routes to living in Netherlands.

Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person

Open39

IND page updated 13 Oct 2026

Minimum: No minimum
What counts: Work of essential interest to the Dutch economy, scored by RVO on personal experience, business plan and added value (30+ points in each, or 45 each on experience and plan); Chamber of Commerce registration; income requirement shown in the business plan
Processing: IND decides within 90 days; can be extended by up to 6 months
Permit: 2 years, renewable
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.
Family: family members can join; their permits are marked 'free to work'
Tax: Dutch tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income, subject to tax treaties

Official source · checked 2026-10-20

Nearest open route: start-up residence permit

Open39

Minimum: No minimum
What counts: Innovative start-up with a contract with an RVO-listed facilitator; sufficient funds for 1 year via a Dutch bank account or facilitator financing; positive RVO advice
Processing: IND decides within 90 days (extendable)
Permit: 1 year, not renewable (switch to the self-employed permit after 1 year with a facilitator declaration of 3+ months' successful mentoring)
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
Family: Not published
Tax: Dutch tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income, subject to tax treaties

Official source · checked 2026-10-20

Foreign investor scheme (Regeling buitenlandse investeerders, 'Dutch golden visa') - CLOSED

Closed

closed 2024-04-17 (no new applications accepted since 17 April 2024)

Minimum: €1,250,000 · about $1.4m
What counts: EUR 1.25m in an innovative Dutch company or a qualifying (SEED) fund, held at a DNB-supervised bank and assessed by RVO for added value; real estate for private occupation excluded
Processing: Not published
Permit: 3 years, renewable (extensions up to 5 years; existing holders may still extend under the pre-abolition rules)
Time you must spend there: No rule published
Path to a passport: No set path to permanent residence or citizenship through this route.
Family: Not published
Tax: Dutch tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income, subject to tax treaties

Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20

Residency rules, thresholds and fees change often, sometimes without notice. Everything here is general information, checked on the date shown, not legal, tax or immigration advice: confirm with the official source and a licensed adviser before you act. Continental sells property; we don’t arrange visas or residency.

Short answers

What people ask.

Do EU citizens need a residency visa for Netherlands?: No. EU free movement already gives EU citizens the right to live in Netherlands; local registration rules still apply.
Can EU citizens get residency in Netherlands by buying property?: Not through property alone. The nearest route is Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person: Work of essential interest to the Dutch economy, scored by RVO on personal experience, business plan and added value (30+ points in each, or 45 each on experience and plan); Chamber of Commerce registration; income requirement shown in the business plan
Is the Netherlands golden visa still available?: Foreign investor scheme (Regeling buitenlandse investeerders, 'Dutch golden visa') - CLOSED is closed (closed 2024-04-17 (no new applications accepted since 17 April 2024)). Open today: Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person; Nearest open route: start-up residence permit.
How long does it take?: Nearest open route: residence permit for self-employed person: IND decides within 90 days; can be extended by up to 6 months. The permit runs 2 years, renewable.
Does it lead to citizenship?: Permanent residence after 5 years; the route itself sets no timetable for citizenship.

The Wealth Atlas

What living well in Netherlands costs.

AmsterdamA well-provided year, sourced line by line£120k

Read it for your passport

Netherlands residency, passport by passport.

Visa-free stays: Wikipedia visa-requirement tables for each passport, read 20 October 2026. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Where we can help

Our markets, where a home can count.

We don’t sell homes in Netherlands. These are the countries where we do, and where buying one can count towards residency.

The homes: Homes in Thailand · Homes in Malaysia · Homes in the United Arab Emirates · Homes in Saudi Arabia · Homes in Oman · Homes in Spain.

Netherlands residency for EU citizens.