Do you ever find yourself wondering what life could be like if you lived somewhere else in the world?
Well, today we’ll endeavour to explore the two established routes to Dutch residency and eventual citizenship on the market, hopefully helping you make a decision on which country you’ll soon be calling home.
To make the most of this opportunity, there are two principal choices in terms of the countries you have to decide between. Let's see what they are all about in some more depth.
Netherlands
As we’re looking at Dutch citizenship today, it only seems right to start with the Netherlands’ own citizenship by investment scheme. You could say this is the most direct route to Dutch citizenship, and it is also pretty pricey because of this.
But don’t let this put you off, here are the requirements:
1. Invest €1,250,000 (one point two five million) into either a: company based in the Netherlands, a fund that is within SEED guidelines, a contractual partnership investing in a Dutch company (cannot be real estate)
2. Your investment must permit innovation, create 10 jobs within 5 years, and bring a personal network or wealth of knowledge to improve the industry being invested in
There are three conditions in the second part of the application, of which you, as the investor, need to make sure you comply with just two of them. It’s also worth at this point noting that for each additional applicant, and also for the main applicant, there is a €2,300 processing fee.
In terms of your actual route to citizenship, by spending two thirds of the year, for five years, in the Netherlands, as well as taking Dutch lessons, you will become eligible for the passport. Some of the other benefits of this investment program include visa-free access to 187 nations including the entire EU and US, something to consider for those of you who have businesses in multiple countries, or families who like to travel!
Curaçao
Curaçao is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and so finds itself the second country we’ll be looking at today. It remains an autonomous nation within the Caribbean, though its ties to the Netherlands means all citizens of the nation are also Dutch citizens, making their Golden Visa Program an intriguing case.
If you are interested by this citizenship by investment program, the requirements are:
1. Invest US$280,000 for a 3-year renewable residency permit
2. Invest US$425,000 for a 5-year renewable residency permit
3. Invest US$850,000 for an indefinite residency permit
You are able to invest in real estate, local business or in securities traded on the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange.
Interestingly, to remain a resident, you only have to spend one day per year in the nation, though if you are looking to eventually obtain Dutch citizenship this should be 4 months per year, which is still a lot less than in the more direct route to citizenship in the Netherlands.
Which scheme is the better option for you?
Both of these programs have their own exciting benefits and enticing elements for investors from across the globe. However, as with all programs of this kind, they cater themselves more towards different groups, whether due to the location or the investment pathway.
The Netherlands has a very short processing time 1-2 months, and also offers security, business opportunities and high-level education, but it is expensive. On the other hand, Curaçao has a longer processing time of 3-6 months, but offers something different, a consistently warm climate, a lower cost of living, and as a bonus, English is the official language despite Dutch links. Not only this, but it’s cheaper.
The time to citizenship for both is 5 years, meaning the real decision you need to make is where you’d like to spend this time before becoming a Dutch national.
So, if you are interested in finding out more about obtaining Dutch citizenship through either of the nations' pathways we've outlined above, as well as other opportunities to develop your business, contact us today! Below this article, you will find a link to set up a free fifteen-minute consultation with us to discuss your options further.
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