Netherlands to discontinue its Golden Visa programme from January 2024

Starting from January 2024, the Netherlands will put an end to its 'Golden Visa' program, which offered residence permits to affluent foreign investors. The decision to discontinue this program was officially announced by the country's Immigration and Naturalization Service (NLS).

"The residence permit for foreign investors will no longer be available from 1 January 2024," the Dutch governement said on its website.

Introduced in 2013, the Dutch golden visa initiative aimed to boost the nation's economic growth, a goal shared by several countries offering similar investment schemes. To qualify for the program, investors were required to make a significant contribution of at least €1,250,000, along with meeting stringent criteria. Notably, this visa was intended for business development and did not permit investment in real estate for personal use.


Basic prerequisites included possessing a valid passport or travel document, demonstrating no threat to public order or national security, and undergoing a tuberculosis test upon entering the Netherlands. Investors were also required to channel their funds into an international company based in the Netherlands, a fund approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, a venture company, or a contractual joint venture that invested in a Dutch company, as reported by Schengenvisa news.

This decision marks the conclusion of a prominent avenue for foreign investors to obtain Dutch residence permits, and it will have significant implications for those who had been looking to utilize this scheme. The termination of the 'Golden Visa' program reflects a shift in Dutch immigration policies and priorities, aligning with broader global trends regarding investment-based residence permits.