One of the requirements for the residence permit is working together with a facilitator. This cooperation must be set down in a (signed) agreement between the startup entrepreneur and the facilitator. The facilitator must have experience in guiding startups. The facilitator provides the startup entrepreneur with a tailor-made package depending on the guidance the startup entrepreneur needs. The facilitator can, for example, help with operational management, marketing, research, and seeking investors for setting up the innovative company. The facilitator does not have a majority interest in the startup company. The facilitator has a deputy within the organization. The facilitator must also be financially sound. The facilitator may on no account be in receivership or bankrupt, and may not have any negative equity. The facilitator may not be related to the startup entrepreneur (up to 3 times removed; child, parent, grandparent, uncle/aunt, cousins, nephews, and nieces).

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency will assess if your product or service is 'innovative'. The product or service is innovative if at least 1 of the 3 conditions is met: The product or service is new to the Netherlands. A new technology for production, distribution or marketing is involved. There is a new innovative organizational and process approach.

As a startup entrepreneur, certain activities have to be undertaken to advance from an idea to a business. The government wants to know what activities these are. The startup entrepreneur describes this in a step-by-step plan, which contains information relating to the organization. The startup entrepreneur must have an active role. This means they are not simply a shareholder or financier. The step-by-step plan must at least contain: The structure of the organization. The roles and tasks. The legal form. The personnel. The purpose of the enterprise. A description of the idea for the product or service and why it is innovative (see condition 2). The expected activities in the first year. A description of the planning and activities for the business. The steps to be taken to set up the company.

The startup entrepreneur must register in the Business Register of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK). This entry must show that the startup entrepreneur has a say in the startup. This is important to be able to take decisions regarding the future enterprise.

The startup entrepreneur must have sufficient money (income) to be able to reside, live, and set up a business in the Netherlands. Startup entrepreneurs may not rely on public funds, such as welfare benefits.