KVK Registration Documents for Non-EU Residents

In this guide, non-EU means a national of a country outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Nationals of EU, EEA and Swiss countries have different work and residence rights, so the residence-status questions below usually do not apply to them in the same way.

If you are still deciding what to set up, read our overview of starting a business in the Netherlands as an expat.

Registering in the Dutch Business Register records your business. It does not grant a right of residence and it does not by itself allow you to work in the Netherlands. Your immigration position is a separate matter decided by the IND, based on your nationality, your current status and the activity you plan.

We do not assess immigration eligibility and nothing here is personalised legal advice. Check your own situation in the IND guidance on residence for self-employed people or with a qualified immigration advisor before you commit to costs.

Not sure which structure you need? Compare the options in our overview of choose between a BV and sole trader/ZZP, or read about Netherlands company formation.

Treat the list below as preparation, not as a substitute for your appointment confirmation. Items marked “where applicable” depend on your route and situation.

• A valid passport, or another form of identification that KVK accepts for your case.
• Your BSN, where you are registered in the Netherlands through the BRP or the RNI.
• DigiD, where the online preparation or appointment step in your route requires it.
• A valid residence permit or another lawful basis for the intended work or business activity, where applicable.
• Proof that you may use the Dutch business or visiting address: a signed lease, purchase or usage agreement, or a declaration of consent from the person entitled to the property, where applicable.
• Evidence of your residential address abroad, where you do not live in the Netherlands.
• Your trade name, a clear description of your business activities, contact details, the intended start date and your chosen legal structure.
• The completed registration form plus every document named in your KVK appointment confirmation.
• A means of paying the current one-time registration fee, in the way KVK specifies.

We deliberately do not print a fee amount, because it changes. Check the amount and the accepted payment method on KVK's help with registration page shortly before your appointment.

Foreign documents do not always need a translation or legalisation. Whether they do depends on the registration route, the type of document and the country that issued it. KVK and Business.gov.nl describe the requirements, and an exceptional route such as registering without a personal visit is more likely to involve legalised or apostilled documents.

Practical order of steps: read KVK's guidance for founders living abroad, then follow your appointment confirmation, and only arrange translation or legalisation once you know it is required. Ask KVK if the confirmation is unclear rather than guessing.

• Identification that has expired, is damaged, or is not accepted for the chosen route.
• Address evidence that does not show a right to use the address, for example a mail-only arrangement.
• A missing BSN or a mismatch between your municipal or RNI details and the registration form.
• A vague activity description, which makes it impossible to assign the business activity correctly.
• Documents in another language without the translation the confirmation requested.
• Bringing fewer documents than the confirmation listed, or none of the originals.
• Choosing a structure that requires a notary, such as a BV, and going straight to KVK instead.

Our step-by-step KVK registration checklist covers the before, during and after sequence in more detail.

Once your registration is accepted you receive a KVK number, and you can request an extract (uittreksel) as proof of registration. KVK passes registration details to the Belastingdienst where that applies, and the Belastingdienst decides your tax position. If you are treated as a VAT entrepreneur, VAT identifiers follow separately, usually by post.

To prepare the administrative side, see the Dutch VAT and bookkeeping guide for startups, and for the full registration sequence read how to register a company with KVK.

• Confirm with the IND that your status allows the activity you plan.
• Decide the legal structure, and involve a notary first if the structure requires one.
• Secure a Dutch business address and the document that proves you may use it.
• Arrange your BSN through the municipality or the RNI, where that applies to you.
• Write your activity description and check your intended trade name.
• Re-read the appointment confirmation and gather every listed document, including originals.
• Check the current fee and payment method on the KVK website.

If your documents are unusual or your situation is mixed, tell us the details through the free intake form and we will point you to the right official route.