DAFT Application Step-by-Step: DIY Start to Finish (No Guessing, No Chaos)

DAFT is not hard. It is structured. People get stressed when they treat it like a mystery instead of a project with forms, deadlines, and a clean evidence pack.

This guide is anchored to the IND’s official self-employed residence permit page and the current IND PDF forms. If you follow the right track and build your file to match the form, most of the uncertainty disappears.

Most U.S. DAFT applicants: The IND’s self-employed form 7524 explicitly includes “the United States of America” in the list of nationalities that can submit the regular residence permit application while staying in the Netherlands. If you are applying from abroad, you are usually dealing with the MVV process and the separate form 9531.

Scope note: Educational information only. Expat Advisory provides planning, education, and coordination. We do not provide legal services, file applications on your behalf, file taxes, or execute investment transactions. Always confirm details against the official IND pages and the current PDF forms before you submit, because procedures and forms can change.

Fast path (for many Americans)

Download form 7524 from the IND. Read the enclosure list like it is a checklist, because it is. Build your evidence pack in the same order as the form. Start any translation or legalisation early. Then handle the treaty finance proof properly, because the DAFT section of the form is specific about what your bank statement and financial documents must show.

Mail a complete pack with proof of sending. Watch for the IND receipt letter and the payment letter. Pay on time. Only after you receive the receipt letter, make your biometrics appointment. Track status in My IND.

The two questions that decide everything: (1) Which IND track are you using (apply from inside the Netherlands, or MVV process from abroad)? (2) Which IND form matches your situation? Answer those correctly, then execute the paperwork cleanly.

In this article

Start here (the official baseline)

If you want DAFT to feel simple, you start with the IND. Not with a consultant checklist. Not with a forum summary. Not with a blog post that skips the hard parts. The IND self-employed residence permit page is the baseline source for requirements, process steps, and the current official PDF forms.

This matters because the most common DAFT mistake is a blended process. People mix advice for different tracks, use an outdated form, or follow someone else’s timing that was true in a different year or a different route. The fix is not more Googling. The fix is anchoring your plan to the IND, then executing cleanly.

A practical way to do this at your desk is simple. Keep three tabs open the entire time: the IND self-employed page, your active application form PDF, and the IND page on translation and legalisation. Everything else is secondary.

Start with the IND page here: Residence permit self-employed person (IND). If you want a DAFT home base on our site that points to official sources plus our DIY materials, use the DAFT Resources Hub.

What DAFT actually is (and what it is not)

DAFT is a treaty-based path inside the IND’s self-employed residence permit framework. The IND lists treaty requirements under the self-employed residence permit page. That section is your anchor point for what DAFT is and what the IND expects.

At a high level, the IND describes that DAFT applicants must meet general requirements, hold U.S. nationality, and fall into a treaty situation (for example, developing and leading business operations or investing substantial capital). The IND states that for most business forms it requires a minimum investment of €4,500, and it publishes policy references on Wetten.nl (Dutch).

Official baseline: IND self-employed residence permit page. Policy reference (Dutch): Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000 (Wetten.nl).

DAFT vs the points-based self-employed route

The same IND page also covers the standard self-employed route where “essential interest to the Dutch economy” and RVO advice can matter. DAFT is different. If you are applying under DAFT, do not accidentally build a file for the wrong route. Use the treaty requirements section and your form enclosure list as your checklist.

DAFT is also not a regular employment route. Your residence permit is “work allowed on a self-employed basis.” If you plan to take employment as an employee, treat that as a separate compliance question and confirm what is allowed for your exact permit status.

Reality check: the IND states the self-employed residence permit is valid for a maximum of 2 years. DAFT is not a one-time event. It is a multi-year compliance project that starts with a clean first application and continues with clean admin for renewal.

Step 1: choose the correct track (in-country vs MVV)

The IND describes two process tracks on the self-employed permit page. One track is for applicants who apply via a Dutch embassy or consulate abroad (MVV track). The other track is for applicants who submit the written application while staying in the Netherlands (common for U.S. citizens). Your first job is picking the right track, because the deadlines and logistics are different.

Track What the IND describes Your practical takeaway
MVV track (apply from abroad) You apply at the Dutch embassy or consulate. The embassy registers your application and writes the application date on your form. You then send the full application and documents to the IND within 3 weeks of that date, and you must also pay within 3 weeks of that date. That embassy date is Day 0. Treat the next 21 days like a hard deadline window. Do not schedule the appointment until your evidence pack is basically ready.
In-country track (submit while staying in the Netherlands) The IND describes submitting the written application by post within 3 months after you have travelled to the Netherlands. Three months disappears fast when you are moving and settling. Build the pack early and mail one clean submission. The goal is one strong send, not repeated “fix it later” attempts.

If you are not sure which track applies, do not guess. Open the IND page, read the “Process and costs” steps, and match your situation to the described track. Then lock it in and build everything around that track.

Step 2: set up your timeline and “DAFT binder”

DAFT is easy when your admin is tight. Tight means one place where everything lives, one naming system, and proof filed for every action you take. If your documents are scattered across inboxes and screenshots, you will miss something. You do not need more effort. You need a system.

Your binder has two parts: a timeline, and a document system. The timeline tracks dates that matter. The document system keeps proof in one place. Every action should produce proof, and that proof should be filed immediately.

Your timeline should include: date you entered the Netherlands (if applying in-country), date you mailed the application, date the IND receipt letter arrives, date the payment letter arrives, date you paid, biometrics appointment date (if needed), any IND request-for-documents date, and the decision period start date shown in the receipt letter and My IND.

Your document system should include: the exact PDF form you used, every enclosure you submitted, every IND letter, proof of payment, and a copy of anything you send later. If you send something, you keep a copy. Every time.

If you want a structured platform to track steps, upload documents for review, and ask questions while you stay in control of your own application, that is exactly why we built the DAFT DIY Companion. It is not “someone doing it for you.” It is a second set of eyes and a calmer process.

Step 3: download the correct IND form and read it properly

The IND form is your checklist. It tells you what the IND expects, how you should submit it, and which enclosures you must include. If your pack mirrors the enclosure list, you stop guessing what “should be enough” and you reduce follow-up letters.

Non-negotiable rule: download the form from the IND website on the day you build your pack. Do not rely on a PDF you saved months ago. The form itself shows its version near the top (for example, a code like 7524-2025/4). Save the exact PDF you submitted in your binder.

The IND lists these written application forms for self-employed residence applications:

Form 7524 (PDF): “Application for the purpose of residence ‘to work on a self-employed basis’ (foreign national).” Common for MVV-exempt applicants staying in the Netherlands, including U.S. citizens. Official link: ind.nl/en/forms/7524.pdf

Form 9531 (PDF): “Application for admission and residence ‘to work on a self-employed basis’ (foreign national).” Used for the MVV track from abroad. Official link: ind.nl/en/forms/9531.pdf

Read the form twice. First pass: understand what it is asking and which track it assumes. Second pass: build your folders and filenames to match the enclosure list. That is how your file becomes structured by default.

Also, follow the address and submission instructions in the form itself. Do not use a random mailing address from the internet. If the IND changes the address in the current form, your process should change too.

Step 3B: DAFT treaty enclosures the form expects

This is where DAFT becomes “easy, but specific.” In form 7524, the treaty section for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty lays out treaty finance requirements that many people miss on their first read. If you are applying under DAFT, treat this treaty section like it is the whole game, because for eligibility it basically is.

What the form is clearly signaling: (1) your financial supporting documents must be checked by an authorized independent external expert (examples listed in the form include a chartered accountant, bookkeeper, or financial advisor), and (2) your business bank statement must show both the company name and the invested capital.

Practically, this pushes you toward clean documentation early. An opening balance sheet that is prepared or checked by a qualified professional is not overkill. It is aligned to what the form asks for. If you want to stay DIY and still meet the standard, you handle this like a normal business setup step, not like an immigration trick.

The treaty section also describes different supporting documents depending on your business form. The names below are simplified. Always match your situation to the exact wording in the current form you downloaded.

Business form What the treaty section expects (high level)
Sole trader (often “eenmanszaak”) A business bank statement from the enterprise showing the invested amount, plus an opening balance sheet. Your financial supporting documents must be checked by an authorized independent expert as described in the form.
Commercial partnership A deed of formation or partnership contract showing each partner’s financial participation, plus the opening balance, plus a business bank statement from the enterprise.
Private limited company (BV) or public limited company (NV) The deed of incorporation, plus the opening balance, plus a business bank statement from the enterprise showing the capital invested.

The treaty section also sits alongside other requirements in the form that people skip because they are focused on the money. For many applicants this includes completing and submitting the Antecedents certificate appendix. Do not improvise. Follow the form.

If you want help tightening this part of your file, this is exactly where a DIY approach benefits from a second set of eyes. Many delays come from “the money exists, but the evidence is messy.” The DAFT DIY Companion is built to prevent that.

Step 4: documents, translation, legalisation

You do not collect documents at the end. Documents drive your timeline. If a document needs legalisation or translation, start immediately. The IND explicitly explains translation and legalisation requirements and notes that legalisation can take a lot of time. That is the IND telling you to start early.

The IND also states that official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German. That means you should not assume “any English summary” is enough. Use proper translations when required and keep them in your binder alongside the originals.

Official IND guidance: Translation and legalisation of documents (IND).

Desk rule: export official PDFs whenever possible. Bank statements, registry extracts, invoices, and confirmations should be PDFs, not phone screenshots. Screenshots are for emergencies, not for building an evidence pack.

Step 5: the capital requirement, done cleanly

DAFT requires a substantial capital investment. The IND states that for most business forms it requires a minimum investment of €4,500. Your goal is not to look clever. Your goal is simple documentation that is easy to verify.

Think like a reviewer. Your evidence should make three things obvious without interpretation: the company identity, the invested amount, and the fact that the evidence matches the treaty enclosure requirements in your form.

Also plan for renewal now. The IND states that for extensions of a treaty-based residence permit, they require annual accounts and a balance sheet or income statement to check whether the company has been active and whether the invested capital remained in the business. If you keep clean records from Day 1, renewal becomes administrative instead of stressful.

Official baseline: IND self-employed residence permit page (DAFT section). Policy reference (Dutch): Wetten.nl.

Step 6: build a desk-ready submission pack

A desk-ready pack is not “a lot of paperwork.” It is a small set of correct documents, labeled clearly, in the same order as the IND enclosure list, with an index at the front so a reviewer can verify your file quickly.

If you include one optional item, make it a one-page cover sheet. Keep it boring. Your name, your V-number if you have it, which track you are using, and a numbered list of enclosures that matches the form’s enclosure list. This reduces confusion and it signals organization.

The 10-second test

If someone asked you “Where is the treaty finance check?” you should be able to answer in 10 seconds without searching email. If you cannot, your pack is not ready.

Pack component What “good” looks like
One-page index (first page) A numbered list that mirrors the form’s enclosure list, with a clear filename for each item. This is how you remove “search time” for the reviewer.
Evidence in exact form order One file per evidence item. No mixing. No dumping a folder and hoping someone sorts it out.
Readable PDFs Statements, confirmations, extracts, and official documents exported as PDFs. Screenshots only when there is genuinely no other option.
Consistent naming Date-first naming so files sort automatically. Example: 2026-01-22_BankStatement_BusinessAccount.pdf.
Proof archive A folder called IND Letters with every IND letter saved, plus a folder called Payments with the payment letter and payment confirmation together.

This is the part people skip because it feels extra. It is not extra. It is the mechanism that keeps you out of trouble, and it makes extension easier later.

Step 7A: apply from inside the Netherlands

If you are applying while staying in the Netherlands using the written-by-post process, the IND describes submitting the application in writing by post within 3 months after you have travelled to the Netherlands. Treat that like a real deadline, because it is one.

Mailing discipline matters. Build the pack. Do a final audit against the enclosure list. Mail it with proof of sending. File that proof. Then follow the IND post-submission steps instead of improvising your own process.

What the IND says happens next: written applications are registered within 2 weeks at most, and you receive a confirmation of receipt letter. If you used the written application form, you also receive a separate payment letter and the IND states you must pay within 2 weeks.

Official post-submission overview: Applied for a residence permit: what happens next? (IND).

Step 7B: apply from abroad (MVV track)

If your situation requires the MVV track, the IND describes applying at a Dutch embassy or consulate abroad. You bring the completed application form, your passport photo, and your valid passport. The embassy registers the application and writes the application date on your form. That date is the anchor for your deadlines.

The IND describes sending your full application and documents to the IND in the Netherlands within 3 weeks of that date, and paying within 3 weeks of that date. This is why building your documents after the appointment is a weak plan. You want your pack ready before Day 0.

Strong move: schedule your embassy appointment only after your evidence pack is basically complete. Your goal is to walk out with a date on the form and ship a clean pack immediately.

Appointment routing outside the Netherlands: NetherlandsWorldwide making an appointment. IND MVV track overview: Apply for MVV and residence permit from abroad (IND).

Step 8: after you submit (receipt, payment, biometrics, My IND)

After you submit, your job is to run a clean waiting process. The IND registers your application and sends a confirmation of receipt letter. If you applied in writing, the IND also sends a separate letter to pay the costs of the application, and the IND states you must pay within 2 weeks. The IND also states it starts assessing your application after you have paid. So yes, payment timing matters.

The IND explains how to follow your application in My IND (with DigiD). If you do not see your application in My IND after a few days, or you have not received a letter after 14 days, the IND instructs you to contact them. That is not being difficult. That is being responsible.

Official guidance: What happens next (IND) and My IND (IND).

Biometrics: the IND states you can only make a biometrics appointment after you have received the IND letter that allows it. The IND also warns that if you make an appointment before you receive a letter, the appointment will be cancelled.

Biometrics page (IND): Biometrics appointment: photo, signature and fingerprints.

If the IND needs more information, you will receive a letter stating what is missing and the deadline. Send exactly what is requested, clearly labeled, and keep a copy of what you send. The IND also publishes how to submit documents, including uploading online (when possible), secure email, and postal options.

Submitting documents (IND): Submitting your documents.

Troubleshooting: common friction points

Most DAFT stress is not legal complexity. It is operational friction. Letters take time. Status updates lag. People book biometrics too early. Documents are good, but they are not packaged in a way the form expects. Use this table to stay calm and do the next right thing.

Symptom What it usually means What to do (clean, practical)
No receipt letter yet Written applications can take up to 2 weeks to be registered. Wait for the full window. If you do not see the application in My IND after a few days or you have no letter after 14 days, the IND says to contact them.
Payment feels unclear The payment letter is separate for written applications and tells you how to pay. Use the payment letter instructions and pay within the IND stated deadline. Save proof of payment in your binder immediately.
Biometrics booking issues You are too early, or you have not received the letter that allows booking. Do not book before the IND letter. The IND warns early appointments will be cancelled. Once eligible, book promptly and save the confirmation.
IND asks for more documents Something was missing, unclear, or not in the expected format. Send exactly what is requested by the stated deadline, clearly labeled. Keep copies of what you send. Use IND’s document submission methods (upload, secure email, or post).
You are DIY but unsure about treaty finance evidence Your investment exists, but the evidence is not “reviewer-easy.” Rebuild your pack around the treaty enclosure requirements in form 7524. If you want a second set of eyes without giving up control, use the DAFT DIY Companion.

Step 9: approval, pickup steps, and the six-month clock

When the IND makes a decision, you receive a letter with the outcome. File it immediately and update your timeline. If your route included an MVV stage, you follow the MVV collection steps described by the IND. If you applied while staying in the Netherlands as an MVV-exempt applicant, those MVV collection steps do not apply. Do not borrow someone else’s checklist.

When the residence permit is ready, the IND explains you will receive a letter and you must make an appointment to collect it at an IND desk. Again, file the letter. Book the appointment. Keep proof.

Collecting your residence permit: Appointment to collect document (IND). After a positive decision: Positive decision on residence permit (IND).

The six-month clock (do not ignore this): the IND states that if you do not yet have a residence permit in the Netherlands and you are making a first-time application based on a treaty, you must register with the Chamber of Commerce within 6 months after you received your residence permit. If you do not, the IND may revoke your permit. Put this on your calendar the moment you get approval.

Two additional timing items are easy to miss. First, if you indicated you will take a TB test, the IND states you must make an appointment with the public health service (GGD) within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Second, the IND states you have an obligation to inform them of changes in your situation. Treat address changes and major status changes like real compliance events and keep proof.

Finally, renewal is not a surprise. The IND states that for extensions of a treaty-based residence permit, they require annual accounts and a balance sheet or income statement to check whether the company has been active and whether the invested capital remained in the business. If you want a calm renewal later, act like a real business now.

Fee amounts can change, so confirm current fees here: Fees: costs of an application (IND). Decision periods overview: Decision periods (IND).

Resources and next steps

DAFT stays easy when you keep it structured. Use the IND as your source of truth, build a clean submission pack, keep every letter, and treat every deadline like it matters. That is how you avoid chaos.

DAFT Resources Hub: /portal/daft/

DAFT DIY guide: /portal/daft/diy-guide/

DAFT DIY Companion: /daft-diy-companion/

Financial planning support for DAFT moves: /financial-advisory/

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Author: lloydnapier

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