Moving to the Netherlands Under DAFT: My Practical Relocation Blueprint
What Is DAFT?
The Dutch American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa is a work and residence permit available exclusively to American citizens who want to start a business in the Netherlands. It's remarkably straightforward compared to other visa options:
- Who's eligible: Any U.S. citizen who wants to be self-employed and live in the Netherlands
- Main requirement: Deposit €4,500 in a Dutch business bank account (this must stay there for the duration of your visa)
- No business plan required (unlike other entrepreneur visas)
- No minimum revenue requirements for the initial application
- Partner/spouse can work: They get full work rights once your visa is approved
My Budget Reality (What I Actually Spent)
Note: My initial budget estimate was around $35,000, but reality was a bit more harsh, especially with paying a full year's rent upfront and last-minute decisions. Your costs will vary based on your choices.
My Timeline: The Long View
Make sure everyone in your household is on board with this move before you begin. This is a massive life change, and having everyone aligned from the start will make the entire process smoother.
6+ months before: Started researching cities, passport renewal, birth certificate apostille process
3-4 months before: Scouting trip to Netherlands, serious decluttering begins
2 months before: Final shipping decisions, selling belongings intensifies
Final month: Intense countdown of tasks (see detailed breakdown below)
After arrival: IND appointments, city hall registration, setting up life
Pre-Move Preparation (6+ Months Out)
The Passport Situation
You need at least 3 months validity remaining on your passport to visit other countries. However, if you're planning to stay long-term (like my plan for 5+ years), you should renew your passport well before it expires. Your passport needs to be valid throughout the residence permit application process and beyond. You can renew while living overseas, but doing it before you move is one less thing to worry about.
Birth Certificate Apostille (Start Early!)
This was one of my biggest mistakes. I thought I could get it done same-day in NYC, but that only works if you were born in New York State. Since I was born in a different state, I had to mail my original birth certificate to my birth state.
Critical Apostille Info
Start 2-3 months before your move. I sent mine way too late and it was stressful. Check your birth state's processing times because some states take forever!
If you or your partner is a U.S. citizen born outside the United States: They'll have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) instead of a regular birth certificate. This needs to be apostilled by the U.S. State Department, not by a state. The process normally takes 3-6 MONTHS, but we got caught in a government shutdown and are STILL waiting months later.
Pro tip: Request a new certified copy instead of sending your original baby birth certificate like I did!
Scouting Trip (Consider Your Needs)
In March 2025, I took a train trip through the Netherlands from Groningen to Maastricht (the top of the country to the bottom). This helped me narrow down where to live. I decided Groningen, Zwolle, Den Bosh, Maastricht, etc. all felt too small. I narrowed it to Utrecht and The Hague, both great size with lots of amenities and charm.
Should you do a scouting trip? It depends on whether you're the kind of person who needs to see and feel a place in person, or if you can do enough research online (reading forums, watching videos, studying neighborhoods on Google Maps). A scouting trip is expensive, so weigh whether it's worth the cost for your decision-making process.
U.S. Banking & Residency Strategy
This is complicated but important. Many U.S. banks require account holders to maintain a U.S. address, though this isn't a legal requirement, it's a bank policy. Some banks will close accounts if they discover you're living abroad permanently, while others are more flexible. I wanted to keep my US credit union accounts, so here's what I did:
- Chose to establish residency in Washington State (no state income tax, I was a previous resident, and had a friend willing to help)
- Set up a mailbox with TravelingMailbox.com (a virtual mailbox service)
- Got a Washington driver's license
- Maintained my Chase and Capital One accounts with my U.S. address
- Opened a Charles Schwab account (they're known to be expat-friendly and don't require a physical U.S. address)
Understanding U.S. Banking for Expats
While there's no law requiring U.S. citizens abroad to have U.S. bank accounts, many banks have internal policies requiring a U.S. residential address. Some banks will close accounts if they detect you're living abroad permanently, particularly if you switch to a foreign address. I'm keeping my U.S. based banks and credit cards to continue earning credit card points.
Expat-friendly options include: Charles Schwab, State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU), and some credit unions like USAA or Navy Federal. Traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America may close accounts if they discover foreign residency.
Virtual mailbox services: Many expats use these, but be aware that banks can detect Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) addresses and may not accept them as your physical address. An actual residential address (like a friend's or family member's) is preferred.
Why I Waited to Change Residency
I didn't change my driver's license and addresses until RIGHT before the move (late September) because I didn't want to mess up tax implications with my NYC job. Once I quit, I took a quick trip to Washington to handle everything.
Other expat-friendly states to consider: Florida, South Dakota, Texas, Nevada. These states have no income tax and are often chosen by expats. Research what works for your situation because establishing residency in a state with income tax could create ongoing tax obligations even while living abroad.
Medical/Dental Appointments
Schedule these throughout the year before you leave. Get everything checked while you still have easy access to your U.S. providers and insurance. I'm a fairly healthy person with no pre-existing conditions, but if you have any medical conditions or ongoing treatments, make sure to get relevant documentation, medical records, and prescriptions that you can share with your new Dutch doctors.
The Great Purge: Downsizing Everything
This was the hardest part for me. Start as early as you can, seriously, the minute you know you're moving.
Shipping: Air vs. Sea Freight
I chose air freight and paid $4,000 for two pallets (under max height/weight limits). It arrived in days instead of 6-8 weeks. Worth it for me as a procrastinator who was revising my shipment up until the day before pickup! Which, I also don't advise, but the shipper was very accommodating in spite of my last minute changes.
I worked with Mark at ExpatShipping.com. He was great, though I wish he'd given me all the info upfront instead of doling it out as it became relevant. I'm a planner and want to know EVERYTHING at the beginning. Another popular option I researched was UPakWeShip, which seems to be highly recommended in expat communities as well.
My Shipping Reality
Air freight: $3,500-4,000, arrives in days, more flexible timeline
Sea freight: Slightly cheaper, 6-8 weeks transit time
My advice: Start with things that have been in closets forever. Make your inventory list first, THEN get quotes. Consider whether you need professional movers to help pack or if you can handle it yourself.
Selling Your Stuff
- Facebook Marketplace: Great for furniture and my car
- Poshmark: Nothing sold until I posted "FINAL WEEK - MOVING SALE" then suddenly people bought things
- Buy Nothing groups (NYC): AMAZING. Posted a time window for people to pick up free stuff. Had a steady stream of grateful neighbors
- Final day: Put remaining items outside my building with a "curb alert" notice on the Buy Nothing Group page
Luggage Scale Pro Tip
BUY A LUGGAGE SCALE. I paid $500+ in overage fees because I frantically packed without weighing anything. Don't be me.
My Final Month: The Countdown
The last month is intense. Here's what I focused on:
Early in Final Month
- Terminated lease (gave proper notice in August)
- Booked temporary housing on Booking.com for 2 months (€2,700/month because it was somewhat last-minute)
- Finalized shipping arrangements
- Sourced a free pallet from grocery stores
- Started assembling and packing the pallet
My Mid-Month Tasks
- Continued aggressive decluttering and packing
- Decided what goes in suitcases vs. shipping (remember: you can't ship food, so pack spices!)
- Got various forms notarized
- Multiple library trips to print documents (we didn't own a printer)
- Got quotes from cleaners
- Finalized storage facility in Netherlands (Shurgard Storage was great)
- Listed my car for sale on Facebook Marketplace
USPS Forwarding - Do This Earlier!
Set up mail forwarding to your new mailbox service SOONER than I did. They send confirmation letters to your OLD address, which meant we had to have them opened/scanned at our TravelingMailbox. Do this 2-3 weeks before you leave, not days before.
My Final Week
- Finalized what stays, what ships, what gets donated
- Cleaned apartment
- Final neighborhood walk for coffee and bagels (take time to say goodbye!)
- Called car insurance company, canceled policy as soon as the car sold
- Transferred rental insurance to Netherlands coverage (same company operated there!)
- Final laundry runs
- Final luggage packing
- Put anything that didn't fit downstairs for neighbors to take (one reason to love NYC!)
- Deposited cash from Facebook Marketplace sales
- Posted curb alert on Facebook with photos of remaining items
- Turned in keys to building super
- Ubered to airport
Arrival in the Netherlands
First Few Days
Give yourself grace. We were exhausted. Schedule a recovery day if you need it, especially with the time change if you're coming from the West Coast.
We took the train from the airport to our temporary housing, though there are other options like taxis, Uber, or expat pickup services. We chose the train because we could manage it (and my mom surprised us by meeting us at the airport, so we had extra help with luggage!). Choose whatever transportation method works best for your situation and amount of luggage.
The Banking & Phone Sequence That Worked For Me
This is SO important and I didn't fully understand it until I was here:
The Sequence That Worked For Me
1. Opened Wise.com account (mid-September in NYC). Wise is a financial technology company (not a bank) that provides multi-currency accounts with European IBANs. Key benefits: transparent fees (no hidden markups like traditional banks), transfers often arrive instantly or within 24 hours, you can hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for multiple countries. This gave me a way to pay for things in Europe before having a Dutch bank account.
2. Opened Bunq account (in NL). You can open this Dutch bank with just your American passport, then submit your BSN within 60 days. This gives you a Dutch IBAN. Note: I know there are several other Dutch banks that allow you to open without a BSN, so do your own research to find which bank works best for you. I chose Bunq for convenience but plan to switch to a different bank later.
3. Got Dutch phone number. Went to Odido and got a phone number (eSIM on my cell phone) AND home internet. You need a Dutch IBAN for this, as well as a physical card or ApplePay using your new Dutch card. Thankfully Bunq's card and ApplePay integrated seamlessly while standing in line at the store!
4. Registered at city hall (gemeente). This gets you your BSN number (arrives in mail in about 2 weeks), which is roughly the equivalent of your Social Security Number.
5. Applied for DigiD. After BSN arrives, apply online. Takes 3-5 days to be finalized. This is your digital ID for conducting official business online in the Netherlands.
The Dutch Phone Number Problem
SO MANY THINGS require a Dutch phone number: ordering online, setting up utilities, opening better bank accounts. You can't do much without one! Get that phone number ASAP after you have a Dutch bank account.
The IND Process
When we went through customs, the immigration officer asked us, "Do you have an IND appointment?" We didn't yet because we couldn't schedule it until we had an address for mail. It wasn't a problem, he just reminded that the IND appointment stops the clock on your time in the Schengen Zone.
How to book: Call the number on IND.nl. The woman who helped me was lovely and suggested the closest location to our temporary housing. You can book appointments at various IND offices around the country.
What you need:
- Your passport
- Completed forms (7524 for sponsor (you!), 7518 for your partner or children)
- Money for fees (check the exact amount the day before, it changes! Verify current fees at IND.nl) I had read that you needed to have cash or a Dutch bank account, but they seemed to be set up for VISA/Mastercard. Another thing to verify if you call!
- An address where mail can be sent (we waited until we had a signed lease)
Additional forms if unmarried: We're unmarried, which is why we received a follow-up request for Form 7625 (questionnaire about our relationship). If you're married, you'll need to provide an apostilled marriage certificate as part of your initial application.
What happened for me: In ONE appointment (if you book it right by calling), you can submit the application, do biometrics (photo/fingerprints), and get your residence sticker in your passport. Most people have to do this through multiple mail appointments, but calling and booking in-person saved so much time. However, the only reason I applied this way was because I didn't have a way to get mail yet. If you have housing and a mailing address, the standard way to apply is to send your application via mail after you arrive.
Google Translate Is Essential
All IND letters come in Dutch. Have Google Translate on your phone ready to scan documents.
Finding Permanent Housing
The rental market is BRUTAL. I spent 1.5 years not-so-casually watching Funda.nl and Pararius.com, so I knew the market.
What we did:
- Found a listing ourselves on Funda right after it was posted
- Sent it to our makelaar (real estate agent) IMMEDIATELY
- She had a relationship with the listing agent and got us a viewing (they usually only do 5-10 viewings total)
- We sent a letter introducing ourselves: responsible, no pets/smoking/former homeowners, willing to pay 12 months rent upfront
- Included redacted bank statements showing we could afford it
Start This Process BEFORE You Arrive
I reached out to real estate agents in March but didn't follow up well enough. They got booked or we lost touch. Start 3-4 months before arrival and STAY on top of it. Know what you want from browsing listings obsessively. The competitive market means having an agent can make the difference in securing housing.
Registering at City Hall (Gemeente)
Book an appointment at your city's gemeente. Check with your specific city about whether you need your IND sticker first (I'm not 100% certain this is required, and each city can be different, but we had ours when we went).
What we brought:
- Passport (with IND sticker)
- Printed copy of our lease
What we didn't have yet: Our original apostilled birth certificates (they were understanding and we submitted them later).
Your BSN number arrives in the mail in about 2 weeks. This unlocks SO MUCH: better bank accounts, registering your business at the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), official business, and more.
Setting Up Your Business
I haven't completed this yet, but here's what's next for me:
- Open Dutch business bank account (need KVK number)
- Deposit €4,500 (this must stay in the account)
- Register with KVK (Chamber of Commerce) (costs €51, you get a VAT number)
- Get company extract (€15, needed for business bank account)
- Get health insurance (required in Netherlands)
- Get ZZP insurance (for self-employed individuals)
I'm registering a copywriting business with some side projects, including digital marketing and travel planning services.
Note From the Future (March 2026)
I've just completed setting up my business, and will be writing up a more thorough and up to date account of that. In the meantime, I've learned that the €4,500+ that needs to be invested in your Dutch business doesn't have to be placed in a Dutch bank. In practice, most DAFT applicants deposit this into a Dutch business bank account, though the IND primarily requires proof of the investment in a business account rather than specifying the bank location. The IND has a link on their site to the "rules on substantial capital investment" if you too feel like some quality time reading legalese!
What I Didn't Expect
- Sometimes it feels like everything requires a BSN or Dutch phone number. Can't order from some websites, can't set up utilities. You're locked out of so much until you have these.
- The stress of purging belongings. Start this process the MOMENT you know you're moving.
- How much easier air freight made things. Being able to revise my shipment until the day before pickup was a lifesaver, but also stressful.
- Family visits right after moving. My family visited a week after I arrived, and I had a pre-planned trip to France during our first week in our new house. Both were wonderful, but not ideal timing for settling in and handling immigration tasks.
My Biggest Mistakes
- Birth certificate apostille timing (should have started months earlier)
- Not securing a real estate agent before arrival (scrambled to find housing)
- USPS forwarding too late (cost us extra money in Traveling Mailbox scanning fees)
- Not weighing luggage ($500 in overage fees)
- Underestimating the emotional toll (the purging and goodbyes were harder than expected)
Resources & Links That I Used
- IND.nl/en (official immigration site, forms are here)
- kvk.nl/en/ (Kamer van Koophandel, aka Chamber of Commerce, where you register your business)
- Funda.nl (main housing listing site)
- Pararius.com (another housing site)
- Wise.com (international money transfers with transparent fees)
- Bunq.com (Dutch bank you can open with just US passport)
- TravelingMailbox.com (mail forwarding service)
- ExpatShipping.com (air freight shipping)
- UPakWeShip (another popular expat shipping option)
- Shurgard Storage (Netherlands storage facility)
Final Thoughts
Moving to another country is intense, chaotic, and exhausting. But it's also incredible. Take time to enjoy the journey, get those final bagels in your neighborhood, sit in a cafe in your new Dutch city, and give yourself permission to feel overwhelmed.
This guide is based on my experience moving from Queens to Utrecht in late 2025/2026. Your journey will be different. Laws change, processes evolve, cities have different procedures.
Have questions, want some feedback on your plans, want to learn more, or want to grab a coffee? Let's talk - send me a message via the contact form (see button just below!).