The Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (also known as DAFT or Dutch American Residency Treaty) is an agreement between the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

signed into law at

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital o ...

on March 27, 1956. The treaty is a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation with protocols. The treaty allows US Entrepreneurs to acquire Dutch residency for the purpose of starting a business. The treaty also allows Dutch traders and investors to enter the US and engage in business in the US.

Implications for US Entrepreneurs

The treaty makes it easier for US Entrepreneurs to open businesses in The Netherlands. It lowers the amount of needed investment capital from €27,000 to €4,500, frees US Entrepreneurs from the points-based test, and removes the benefit to Dutch national interests requirement. The residency permit is good for two years, after which it can be renewed for five years. The treaty is valid for all US citizens who are opening a business in the Netherlands or its territories.

Implications for Dutch Traders and Investors

The treaty allows Dutch traders, executives and specialized employees to enter the US with the E1 or E2 visa. The E1 visa is for traders whereas the E2 visa is for investors.{{cite web, title=Treaty Traders and Treaty Investors-E VISAS, url=http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/e_visas.html, publisher=US Embassy in Amsterdam, accessdate=13 July 2016, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815021337/http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/e_visas.html, archive-date=15 August 2016, url-status=dead

References

External links

Immigration and Naturalisation Service webpage about the self-employment visa

US Customs and Immigration Services webpage about E1 visas for Treaty Traders

US Customs and Immigration Services webpage about E2 visas for Treaty Investors
Treaties of the United States Treaties concluded in 1956 Treaties of the Netherlands Netherlands–United States relations 1956 in the Netherlands