DAFT vs. Dutch Partner Visa: Choosing the Best Fit
If you're a US citizen with a Dutch partner (or a partner who already lives in the Netherlands), you might be wondering whether to apply for the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) or a partner visa. They're completely different permits, and the right choice depends on your relationship status, work plans, and long-term goals.
We used DAFT and brought a partner along through a separate process. Here's what we learned about both routes.
What Each Visa Does
DAFT is a self-employment residence permit. It's based on your plan to run a business in the Netherlands. Your relationship status doesn't factor into the application at all.
A partner visa (verblijfsvergunning voor verblijf bij partner) is a residence permit based on your relationship with someone who already has legal residence in the Netherlands. It's about your relationship, not your work.
These visas serve fundamentally different purposes. One is about business. The other is about love.
Requirements Comparison
| Requirement | DAFT | Partner Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Self-employment | Relationship with Dutch resident |
| Nationality | US citizens only | Any nationality |
| Capital | 4,500 euros | None |
| Sponsor income | N/A | Partner must earn ~1,850 euros/month net |
| Relationship proof | N/A | Must prove genuine relationship |
| Cohabitation | Not required | Required (must live together) |
| Age requirement | None | Both must be 21+ |
| Background check | FBI check + apostille | Criminal background check |
| Work rights | Self-employment only | Unrestricted (can work any job) |
The Sponsor Income Requirement
For a partner visa, your Dutch-resident partner must demonstrate sufficient income — roughly 1,850 euros net per month (100% of minimum wage). This income must be "durable," meaning your partner has a permanent contract or has had income at this level for at least a year.
If your partner is a student, recently started a new job, or is self-employed without established income, meeting this requirement can be tricky.
DAFT doesn't care about your partner's income. It's entirely about your own business plan and the 4,500-euro deposit.
Proving Your Relationship
The partner visa requires evidence that your relationship is genuine and durable. This typically includes:
- Proof of shared housing or previous cohabitation
- Communication history (messages, call logs, photos together)
- Evidence of visits to each other
- Joint financial commitments
The IND takes this seriously. They're looking for signs that this is a real, committed relationship — not just a visa arrangement.
Reality Check: If you've been in a long-distance relationship and haven't lived together yet, the partner visa can be more challenging to obtain. The IND wants evidence of a durable relationship, and distance makes that harder to prove.
Work Rights: The Big Difference
This is where the two visas differ most in daily life.
DAFT: You can only work for your own business. No employment by Dutch companies. No side jobs. If you want to take a part-time job at a cafe while building your business — you can't. You're restricted to self-employment.
Partner visa: You have unrestricted work rights. You can be employed, self-employed, or both. You can work for any Dutch company, freelance on the side, or start a business. Complete flexibility.
This is a major advantage of the partner visa. If you're not sure about self-employment, or if you want the option to take a regular job, the partner visa gives you that freedom.
What We Wish We Knew: The unrestricted work rights on a partner visa are genuinely valuable. If your partner qualifies as a sponsor, the partner visa might actually give you more flexibility than DAFT — even if you plan to be self-employed.
Independence and Dependency
Here's the flip side of the partner visa advantage.
DAFT: Your permit is entirely your own. It doesn't depend on anyone else. If your relationship ends, your visa status doesn't change. Your business is your business.
Partner visa: Your permit is tied to your relationship. If the relationship ends within the first five years, your residence permit may be revoked. You'd need to find another basis for staying (like switching to a work visa or DAFT).
This dependency makes some people uncomfortable, and understandably so. Being in a relationship where one person's legal status depends on the other creates an inherent power imbalance.
Can You Have Both?
Not simultaneously — you hold one residence permit at a time. But you can switch between them.
Common scenarios:
- You arrive on a partner visa, then later switch to DAFT if you want independence and are a US citizen
- You arrive on DAFT, then later switch to a partner visa if you meet a Dutch partner and want unrestricted work rights
- You use DAFT and bring your partner along on a dependent permit
That last option is worth highlighting. If you're the US citizen and your partner is coming with you, DAFT lets you bring partners and dependents. Your partner would get their own residence permit tied to yours, with work rights.
Timeline Comparison
DAFT: 4-7 months from document preparation to living in the Netherlands. The process is well-documented and predictable.
Partner visa: 3-6 months typically, but it can vary significantly. If the IND requests additional relationship evidence, processing can extend.
Both are roughly similar in timeline. Neither is dramatically faster.
Who Each Option Is Best For
Choose DAFT If:
- You're a US citizen who wants independence from any partner's status
- You're committed to self-employment
- You don't have a Dutch-resident partner, or your partner can't meet the sponsor income requirement
- You want your residence permit to be entirely in your own control
Choose a Partner Visa If:
- You have a Dutch-resident partner who meets the income requirement
- You want unrestricted work rights (employment + self-employment)
- You're not sure about self-employment and want flexibility
- Your partner can prove durable, sufficient income
Honest Downsides of DAFT
DAFT locks you into self-employment. If business is slow and you want to take a regular job to pay the bills, you can't. Your entire income must come from your own business. Read about what happens during the first month to understand the transition period.
Our Take
If you have a qualifying Dutch partner, the partner visa is worth serious consideration — especially if you're not 100% committed to self-employment. The unrestricted work rights alone are a significant advantage.
But if independence matters to you, or if your partner can't meet the income requirement, DAFT is the way to go. Your permit stands on its own, regardless of what happens in your personal life.
Many people in our situation use DAFT as the primary permit and bring their partner as a dependent. That way, the US citizen holds the DAFT permit, and the partner gets a dependent permit with work rights. It's the best of both worlds for many couples.
Check the full DAFT requirements to see if this route works for your situation.
FAQ
Q: Can my partner work if they come to the Netherlands on my DAFT permit? A: Yes. Partners who receive a dependent residence permit through your DAFT application typically have unrestricted work rights. They can be employed or self-employed.
Q: What if my Dutch partner is self-employed — do they meet the income requirement? A: It's possible but harder to prove. Self-employed income must be demonstrated over a longer period (typically at least a year) and must be stable. The IND scrutinizes self-employed sponsor income more carefully than employment income.
Q: Can unmarried partners use the partner visa? A: Yes. The Netherlands recognizes unmarried partnerships for immigration purposes. You'll need to prove a durable, exclusive relationship — typically by showing you've lived together or maintained a committed relationship for a significant period.
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We're not immigration lawyers — just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.