Answers for non-EU founders forming a Dutch BV.

Founders and companies outside the EU, mainly in the UK, China, Hong Kong and Turkey, who are forming a Dutch BV to sell into or import goods through the EU. Most are solo e-commerce founders; some are co-founders, and some use a parent company as the shareholder.

Not currently. BVform is built around non-EU founders and the coordination that involves, such as QES signing for the power of attorney. We don't offer a separate path for EU-resident founders.

No. An independent Dutch civil-law notary drafts and executes the deed of incorporation, the articles of association and the power of attorney, and is legally responsible for that work. We coordinate everything around it.

It tracks your incorporation, gives you a secure document vault, and shows the status of your VAT registration and, if you've taken the add-on, your Article 23 application. Once the BV is trading, it keeps books and files annual accounts, which an accountant typically handles.

Yes. A single founder holding all the shares and acting as sole director is covered by the Individual shareholder package.

Your passport, proof of address, a description of your business activity, and share details showing who holds what. Plain scans are accepted.

A registry extract or certificate of incorporation, the company's articles of association, its register of shareholders, a structure chart down to the individuals behind it, confirmation that the signatory is authorised (for example a board resolution), and identity documents for every beneficial owner.

Usually not; plain scans are accepted for most documents. A local-notary certification with an apostille is only needed as a fallback, or for corporate documents where the shareholder's jurisdiction requires it, for example in China and Turkey.

Yes. Two to 4 individual shareholders use our Multiple shareholders package; 5 or more, contact us for a fixed quote. Each shareholder completes their own identity checks and obtains their own QES, and more people going through that in parallel can add a little time.

With a QES (qualified electronic signature), plus a video call with the notary to explain what you're signing. That's the standard route for every founder, individual or corporate. A local-notary certification and apostille is used only as a fallback, or where a jurisdiction requires it for corporate documents.

A qualified electronic signature under the EU's eIDAS rules, issued by a qualified trust service provider after verifying your identity. We guide you through the signing flow but don't sell or recommend a specific provider.

If you're not fluent in English, the notary may require an interpreter for the call. We schedule one; it can add a few days.

In the best case, about six working days (an estimate, not a guarantee). A UK solo founder with an individual shareholding and documents already in English submits everything on day one, when we complete our due diligence and the name check; the notary runs its own checks and books the signing call, and you obtain a QES, on day two; the notary drafts the deed, articles and power of attorney on day three; you sign the power of attorney by QES on a video call with the notary on day four; the notary executes the deed and files the registration on day five; and the BV is registered, with the KVK extract issued, on day six. The KVK typically processes a notary's filing within about one to three working days.

Roughly two to three weeks, including collecting your documents and arranging translations. All timelines are estimates, not guarantees, and depend on your circumstances, the notary's availability and KVK processing.

Documents not in English or Dutch, such as a Chinese or Turkish proof of address, which need a few extra working days to translate; needing an interpreter if you're not fluent in English; notary availability and public holidays; extra questions from the notary's own checks, for example about source of funds; multiple shareholders, since each person completes identity checks and a QES; a corporate shareholder, which can mean company documents, confirmation of signatory authority, identification of every beneficial owner and, in some jurisdictions, a local-notary certification with an apostille; KVK processing time; Belastingdienst questions on your VAT registration; and postal delivery, since the KVK and Belastingdienst send letters by post to your BV's Dutch business address.

€1,295 ex VAT for an individual shareholder, €1,495 ex VAT for multiple shareholders (2 to 4; 5 or more by fixed quote), or €2,495 ex VAT where a company holds the shares. All three include the notary's fees and the KVK registration fee. Article 23 support is a €995 ex VAT add-on to any package.

One individual shareholder needs our Individual shareholder package. Two to 4 individual shareholders need Multiple shareholders (5 or more: contact us for a fixed quote). If a company will hold the shares, that's our Corporate shareholder package.

Yes. We pay the notary directly, and the KVK registration fee is included in your package price; there's nothing extra to arrange for either.

No. Prices are shown ex VAT. UK VAT applies to customers in the UK and to individuals who aren't acting through a business. Businesses outside the UK are generally outside the scope of UK VAT.

Your BV needs a Dutch business address. We'd love to handle this for you, but Dutch law doesn't allow the firm that helps with your VAT and Article 23 applications to also be involved in your business address. So you arrange it yourself before we begin; it isn't part of our service. You'll also need a business bank account. If your company documents need a local-notary certification or apostille, that's included in the Corporate shareholder package.

No. Your BV needs a Dutch business address. We'd love to handle this for you, but Dutch law doesn't allow the firm that helps with your VAT and Article 23 applications to also be involved in your business address. So you arrange it yourself before we begin; it isn't part of our service.

No. A VAT number is not guaranteed; the Belastingdienst may ask questions, take longer, or decline where there's no evidence of real business activity. We assess your proposed activity before you commit and give you an honest view of how it looks.

Assessing your proposed business activity description before incorporation; an honest view of how likely VAT registration is on that basis; help documenting real economic activity; and preparing your responses if the Belastingdienst sends questions, which is a common source of delay. We can't control the Belastingdienst's decision.

Selling goods to customers, including e-commerce, importing and distributing products, and providing services for payment, when you can evidence it with things like supplier agreements, customer contracts or orders, fulfilment or logistics agreements, or a live website. Vague or generic activity descriptions, no evidence of intended activity, and purely passive holding activity tend to draw questions or refusal; a pure holding company is generally not a VAT entrepreneur.

It lets you defer import VAT to your periodic VAT return instead of paying it at the border when your goods clear customs. The VAT is still due; it's declared and deducted on the same return rather than paid upfront and reclaimed later, so it's a genuine cashflow benefit, not a VAT saving.

As soon as your VAT number and turnover-tax number have been issued, never during formation itself. The BV must be established in the Netherlands, import goods from outside the EU regularly, keep separate records of import VAT, and file monthly or quarterly VAT returns; businesses on the small business scheme (KOR) aren't eligible. We prepare the application and the evidence pack; you sign it yourself as the entrepreneur. If you already have signed supplier orders, you can apply before your first import, which the Belastingdienst recommends.

No. The Belastingdienst decides within eight weeks, and approval isn't guaranteed. Evidence of regular importing, such as order confirmations, purchase invoices or import documents, supports the application.

Your customs identity, issued by Dutch Customs (Douane), separate from your VAT number. It's free and based on your BV's RSIN, issued at KVK registration. Where a freight forwarder or customs agent will make declarations for you, which is typical for importers, you apply through Douane's EORI application form; this can run right after incorporation, in parallel with VAT registration. We don't quote a processing time, because it depends on Dutch Customs. EORI application help is included in our Article 23 support add-on.

While your own Article 23 application is with the Belastingdienst, some freight forwarders and customs agents can act as a limited fiscal representative under their own Article 23 licence, so import VAT may be deferred rather than paid at the border in the meantime. We don't recommend or name a specific provider; ask your freight forwarder whether they offer this.

Not necessarily. A BV incorporated under Dutch law is treated as resident in the Netherlands for Dutch corporate income tax, because of its incorporation. But if it is effectively managed from another country, that country may also treat it as resident, and tax treaties may assign residence to where the company is effectively managed. That can mean double taxation or the loss of benefits you expected. Where the directors actually make decisions matters, so get tax advice on your own situation.

Traditional Dutch banks often decline foreign-founded BVs without local substance. Non-resident founders commonly use fintech or EMI business accounts instead. We don't make bank introductions.

If you cancel before we instruct the notary, you get a full refund minus a €145 administration fee. If the notary declines you after its own due diligence, you get a full refund minus the €145 administration fee and any third-party costs you'd approved in advance, such as translations or a QES certificate. Once the deed is executed, there's no refund.

We collect what's needed to complete your incorporation and share it with people such as the notary, translators, interpreters, and the QES and identity-verification providers involved, plus authorities where legally required. We keep client due-diligence records for as long as anti-money-laundering rules require. Full detail, including retention periods and international transfers, is in our privacy policy.