A founder outside the EU, for example in the UK, China, Hong Kong or Turkey, can complete a remote Dutch BV incorporation (besloten vennootschap) from start to finish. An independent Dutch civil-law notary drafts and executes the deed; we coordinate everything around it, from document collection to your VAT registration support. In the best case that's about six working days from a complete application; a typical estimate is two to three weeks. Packages start at €1,295 ex VAT, with the notary's fees and the KVK registration fee already included. We'll tell you up front if we don't think your setup will work.
What is a Dutch BV?
A Dutch BV is a private limited liability company under Dutch law, roughly the equivalent of a UK Ltd. Shareholders' personal assets are protected; the BV itself is a separate legal person. Minimum share capital is €0.01, so there's no real-world capital floor. It can be owned by any natural person or legal entity, of any nationality, and it gives you an EU base to trade from.
This guide is written for founders based outside the EU, mainly e-commerce sellers and importers in the UK, China, Hong Kong and Turkey, who are forming a BV to trade into the EU. Our service is built for founders outside the EU; it isn't designed for EU residents, and some of the specifics below, such as signing by QES rather than in person, assume you're outside the EU too.
Who does what
We're an incorporation coordinator, not the notary. Three parties, three jobs:
The notary
- Runs its own due diligence on you
- Drafts the deed, articles and power of attorney
- Holds a video call to explain the power of attorney
- Executes the deed, registers the BV with the KVK and files the UBO details
BVform
- Intake, company-name check and our own due diligence
- Collects your documents in the notary's format, with translations and an interpreter where needed
- Runs the QES signing flow and pays the notary's and KVK fees
- Tracks every step in your client portal, and supports your VAT (and optional Article 23) application
You
- Provide accurate information and documents
- Arrange the BV's Dutch business address before we begin
- Obtain a QES and join the video call with the notary
- Get your own tax advice on your situation
We don't draft or execute the deed ourselves, provide a business address, or introduce banks or directors. See before you start for the full list of what's outside our service.
The Dutch business address
One requirement sits entirely with you:
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.
Documents: individual vs corporate shareholders
What we ask for depends on whether an individual or a company holds the shares.
Individual shareholder(s)
- Passport
- Proof of address
- A description of your business activity
- Share details (who holds what)
Corporate shareholder
- Registry extract or certificate of incorporation
- Articles of association
- Register of shareholders
- A structure chart, down to the individuals
- Confirmation that the signatory is authorised (for example a board resolution)
- Identity documents for every beneficial owner
Plain scans are accepted. A local-notary certification with an apostille is only needed as a fallback, or for corporate documents where the shareholder's jurisdiction requires it, which can be the case for, among others, China and Turkey.
Signing: QES and a video call with the notary
Every founder signs the power of attorney with a qualified electronic signature (QES), a signature standard under the EU's eIDAS rules, issued by a qualified trust service provider after your identity is verified. You then join a short video call with the notary, who explains the power of attorney before executing the deed. Our power of attorney guide covers the signing flow in more detail.
The local-notary-plus-apostille route, covered in our apostille guide, is a fallback only, or for corporate documents where a jurisdiction requires it.
How long does it take?
In the best case, a UK solo founder with an individual shareholding and documents already in English can be registered in about six working days. A typical estimate is roughly two to three weeks, including collecting your documents and arranging translations, depending on your circumstances, the notary's availability and KVK processing. All timelines are estimates, not guarantees.
The KVK typically processes a notary's filing within about one to three working days, so Day 6 is a best case, not a guarantee.
What can add time:
- Documents not in English or Dutch, for example a Chinese or Turkish proof of address: allow a few extra working days for translation.
- Founders not fluent in English: the notary may require an interpreter for the call. We schedule one; it can add a few days.
- Notary availability and public holidays.
- Extra questions from the notary's own checks, for example about source of funds.
- Multiple shareholders: each person completes identity checks and a QES.
- A corporate shareholder: company documents, confirmation that the signatory is authorised, identifying every beneficial owner, and in some jurisdictions a local-notary certification with an apostille. This can add days to weeks.
- KVK processing time, and Belastingdienst questions on your VAT registration.
- Postal delivery: the KVK and Belastingdienst send letters by post to the BV's Dutch business address.
See how it works for the full day-by-day breakdown.
After incorporation: VAT, EORI, Article 23 and eHerkenning
Once your BV is registered, a few things run on their own timelines:
- VAT number. The KVK passes your registration to the Belastingdienst automatically, and it decides whether your BV is an entrepreneur for VAT. It normally sends the VAT ID and turnover-tax number by post within two weeks of KVK registration, longer if it sends questions. A VAT number is not guaranteed; the Belastingdienst may ask questions, take longer, or decline where there's no evidence of real business activity. Our VAT registration support, included in every package, assesses your proposed activity before incorporation, gives you an honest view of how it looks, helps you document real economic activity, and helps prepare responses if questions come in.
- EORI number. Free, and based on your BV's RSIN, issued at KVK registration. Where a freight forwarder or customs agent will make declarations for you, typical for importers, the BV applies through Dutch Customs' (Douane) EORI application form. This can run right after incorporation, in parallel with your VAT registration rather than after it. We don't publish a processing time, since it depends on Dutch Customs. Our EORI guide covers this in full.
- Article 23. Applied for as soon as your VAT number and turnover-tax number are issued. It defers import VAT to your VAT return instead of paying it at the border; a genuine cashflow benefit for regular importers, not an exemption. The Belastingdienst decides within eight weeks, and approval is not guaranteed. It's a €995 ex VAT add-on to any package, and includes EORI application help. See how Article 23 works.
- eHerkenning. The director will also need eHerkenning at level EH3, the business login used to access the Belastingdienst's business portal. It's a founder step; we don't sell it and don't recommend a specific provider.
Banking, honestly
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.
Our business bank account guide covers what banks typically ask for and roughly how long it takes, without naming or ranking providers.
Dutch BV tax residence
Some founders assume a Dutch BV is only ever taxed in the Netherlands. That's not quite right:
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.
Our substance guide goes into where directors actually make decisions in more depth.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a business address is part of our service. It isn't: you arrange it yourself before we begin; Dutch law doesn't allow us to be involved in it.
- A vague business-activity description. It's a common reason the Belastingdienst asks questions or delays your VAT registration.
- Leaving corporate document certification to the last minute. A local-notary certification with an apostille can take weeks for a company shareholder.
- Applying for Article 23 before your VAT number is issued. The application needs both your VAT ID and turnover-tax number.
- Assuming a Dutch BV is only ever taxed in the Netherlands. See tax residence above.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules and rates change; check the current position and get advice on your own situation before acting.
FAQ
Not really. Our service is built for founders outside the EU, mainly in the UK, China, Hong Kong and Turkey; it isn't designed for EU residents. This guide follows that scope too, including details such as signing by QES rather than in person.
Yes. You sign the power of attorney with a qualified electronic signature (QES) and join a short video call with the notary, who explains it before executing the deed under your power of attorney. A local-notary certification with an apostille is only used as a fallback, or for corporate documents where your jurisdiction requires it.
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.
In the best case, a UK solo founder with an individual shareholding and documents already in English can be registered in about six working days. A typical estimate is roughly two to three weeks, including collecting your documents and arranging translations. All timelines are estimates, not guarantees.
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.
No. Article 23 can only be applied for once your VAT number and turnover-tax number have been issued, and you need evidence of regular importing. The Belastingdienst decides within eight weeks, and approval is not guaranteed.
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.