Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the DNB decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a payment license in the Netherlands.
The euro area's most cashless country licenses its payment firms through De Nederlandsche Bank: a payment-institution or e-money licence under the Wft, PSD2 capital from €20,000, a three-month statutory decision clock, a €10,400 application fee printed in the fee regulation - and an EU passport from the market that produced iDEAL, Adyen and Mollie.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
The Netherlands in brief
A published fee, a statutory clock, a market that stopped using cash.
The Dutch licence is written in the Financial Supervision Act, the Wft: Article 2:3a for payment institutions, Article 2:10a for e-money institutions, both granted by De Nederlandsche Bank with the AFM watching conduct. The numbers are PSD2's and sit in Article 48 of the Prudential Rules Decree - €20,000 for money remittance, €50,000 for payment initiation, €125,000 for the account, transfer, card and acquiring services, €350,000 for an e-money institution. Customer funds are protected under Article 3:29a Wft and Article 40a of the Decree: either kept apart from the institution's own assets, in practice through a client-money foundation, or covered by insurance or a guarantee from an insurer or bank outside the group. The statutory decision period is three months from a complete application, paused while DNB waits for answers. The application fee is set by regulation and charged whether or not the licence is granted: €10,400 for a payment institution, €10,400 for an e-money institution, €7,300 for each declaration of no objection on a qualifying holder.
What the licence opens is the country that built iDEAL and produced Adyen, Mollie and bunq - eighteen million people who pay by debit card and bank transfer and use cash less than almost anyone in the euro area, plus the EU passport under the Wft's notification rules. Below the licence there is a registered exemption for firms handling no more than €3 million a month on services 1 to 5 inside the Netherlands, and an e-money exemption below €5 million outstanding - useful as a start, useless for a passport. Tax runs 19% on the first €200,000 of profit and 25.8% above, with 21% VAT and exemption for most payment services. DNB is exacting: it tests every policymaker, expects two of them running the business day to day, and reads the business plan as a supervisor rather than an investor. We build the file to that reading, from our EU licensing desk.
DNB licenses payment institutions (Wft 2:3a) and e-money institutions (2:10a). Capital per Bpr Art. 48: €20k / €50k / €125k, EMI €350k. Safeguarding by client-money foundation or insurance (3:29a). Decision three months from a complete file; fee €10,400, vvgb €7,300.
iDEAL country: 18 million near-cashless people, Adyen and Mollie's home, an EU passport. Exemption below €3M a month, NL only. 19% / 25.8% tax, 21% VAT. We file from our EU desk.
The two routes
Payment institution - or e-money institution.
One Act, two licences from the same regulator: the payment institution for moving money, the e-money institution for also issuing it. Both passport across the EU; both carry the same €10,400 fee and the same three-month clock. We fix the route first, then build once.
PI for moving money - EMI for also issuing it.
01 - PAYMENT INSTITUTION
PI licence · Article 2:3a Wft
The licence for acquiring, transfers, remittance, payment initiation and account information without issuing e-money - capital from €20,000 to €125,000 by service, safeguarding under Article 3:29a, a €10,400 fee and the EU passport.
The licence for acquiring, transfers, remittance, payment initiation and account information without issuing e-money - capital from €20,000 to €125,000 by service, safeguarding under Article 3:29a, a €10,400 fee and the EU passport.
- ✓Services 1-5: €125,000 initial capital
- ✓Money remittance: €20,000
- ✓Payment initiation: €50,000
- ✓Account information: registration, no capital
- ✓Application fee €10,400
- ✓Decision within three months of a complete file
02 - E-MONEY INSTITUTION
Wallets and issuance - DNBEMI licence · Article 2:10a Wft
Everything the payment institution does plus e-money issuance - €350,000 initial capital, the same safeguarding rules, the same fee and clock, and the licence behind Dutch wallet and card programmes.
EMI: issuance plus the full service list; €350,000 capital; same fee and clock; EU passport.
- ✓E-money issuance and redemption
- ✓The full payment-service list
- ✓Initial capital €350,000
- ✓Own funds at 2% of outstanding e-money
- ✓Application fee €10,400
- ✓EU passport by notification
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. Capital sits in Article 48 of the Prudential Rules Decree and the fees in the one-off supervision fee regulation; the file cost, the client-money foundation and substance are itemised in your quote.
Why the Netherlands
The euro area's most cashless market, on a printed budget.
A regulator that publishes its fee and keeps its clock, a market that pays by bank rail, and a passport that reaches 450 million people.
✓
A statutory three-month clock
DNB must decide within three months of a complete application - the law's deadline, paused only while your answers are outstanding. Completeness on day one is the lever, and our job.In the Wft, paused only for your answers.
✓
A fee you can read
€10,400 for the licence application and €7,300 per declaration of no objection, in the fee regulation for anyone to check - no quote, no negotiation, no surprise.€10,400 · vvgb €7,300.
✓
iDEAL country
The Netherlands built iDEAL, moved retail payments to debit and account-to-account rails a decade before the rest of Europe, and uses cash less than almost any euro member - a payment licence here sits on live demand.Near-cashless, bank-rail payments.
✓
Adyen, Mollie, bunq
The market that produced Europe's largest listed acquirer and two of its best-known fintechs has the banks, the auditors and the engineers a licensed institution needs on day one.Banks, auditors, engineers on day one.
✓
An EU passport
A DNB licence notifies into every EU and EEA state under the Wft - one authorisation, twenty-nine markets, with the Netherlands as a credible home-state address.Twenty-nine markets by notification.
✓
Predictable tax
19% on the first €200,000 and 25.8% above, a treaty network of 90-plus agreements and a participation exemption that makes Dutch holding structures the default for European groups.19% / 25.8%, participation exemption.
How it compares
How the Netherlands differs from other EU routes.
The Netherlands trades a demanding regulator for the most credible address in the euro area. The honest comparison is below.
Netherlands vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Netherlands | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Decision clock | 3 months - in the Wft | Longer or unpublished |
| Application fee | €10,400 - in regulation | Variable or uncharged |
| Market | 18M, near-cashless | Larger but cash-heavier |
| Regulator | DNB - exacting, predictable | Faster desks, thinner reputations |
Decision clock
Netherlands3 months - in the Wft
Other jurisdictionsLonger or unpublished
Application fee
Netherlands€10,400 - in regulation
Other jurisdictionsVariable or uncharged
Market
Netherlands18M, near-cashless
Other jurisdictionsLarger but cash-heavier
Regulator
NetherlandsDNB - exacting, predictable
Other jurisdictionsFaster desks, thinner reputations
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | PI / EMI (DNB) | 19% / 25.8% | €125k PI · €350k EMI · fee €10,400 |
 Lithuania | PI / EMI (Bank of Lithuania) | 17% CIT | €125k PI · €350k EMI |
 France | PI / EMI (ACPR) | 25% · SME 15% | €125k PI · €350k EMI · simplified €40k |
 Sweden | PI / EMI (FI) | 20.6% CIT | €125k PI · €350k EMI · fee SEK 405,000 |
NetherlandsLicense typePI / EMI (DNB)
Taxation19% / 25.8%
Requirements€125k PI · €350k EMI · fee €10,400
LithuaniaLicense typePI / EMI (Bank of Lithuania)
Taxation17% CIT
Requirements€125k PI · €350k EMI
FranceLicense typePI / EMI (ACPR)
Taxation25% · SME 15%
Requirements€125k PI · €350k EMI · simplified €40k
SwedenLicense typePI / EMI (FI)
Taxation20.6% CIT
Requirements€125k PI · €350k EMI · fee SEK 405,000
Before you apply
Requirements for the DNB licence.Requirements for the licence.
DNB publishes its application form and a revised explanatory note; the craft is a file that answers them as a supervisor reads them. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
A Dutch legal entity, normally a BV, with its head office in the Netherlands - filing through DNB's digital supervision portal.
02
Initial capital under Article 48 of the Prudential Rules Decree: €20,000, €50,000 or €125,000 by service, €350,000 for an e-money institution - paid in and evidenced.
03
At least two day-to-day policymakers, each tested by DNB for fitness and propriety, plus supervisory-board or comparable oversight matched to the size of the business.
04
A declaration of no objection for every qualifying holder of 10% or more - €7,300 each, with source of wealth and funds documented to the ultimate beneficial owner.
05
Safeguarding under Article 3:29a Wft and Article 40a of the Decree: a client-money foundation or segregated arrangement, or insurance or a guarantee from an unrelated insurer or bank.
06
A business plan with three years of projections that a supervisor can stress - volumes, own funds under method A, B or C, liquidity and the capital plan behind them.
07
Governance and risk management to DNB's standard: internal control, compliance, risk and audit functions, outsourcing register and ICT risk management under DORA.
08
AML/CFT framework under the Wwft: customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, reporting to FIU-Nederland and a compliance officer resident in the Netherlands.
09
Professional indemnity insurance where payment initiation or account information services are offered.
10
Security incident, business continuity and data-protection procedures, and the €10,400 application fee, paid whatever the outcome.
01
Dutch BV, head office in NL.
02
Capital per Bpr Art. 48 - €125k PI, €350k EMI.
03
Two tested day-to-day policymakers.
04
vvgb per holder ≥ 10% - €7,300 each.
05
Safeguarding: foundation or insurance (3:29a).
06
Three-year plan a supervisor can stress.
07
Governance, outsourcing, DORA ICT risk.
08
Wwft AML with resident officer (FIU-NL).
09
PII for PIS/AIS.
10
Fee €10,400 paid whatever the outcome.
Reflects the Wft (Articles 2:3a, 2:10a, 3:29a), Article 48 and 40a of the Besluit prudentiële regels Wft, Article 1a of the Vrijstellingsregeling Wft and the Regeling bekostiging financieel toezicht eenmalige handelingen as in force from 16 June 2026.Wft 2:3a/2:10a/3:29a, Bpr 48/40a, Vrijstellingsregeling 1a, fee regulation from 16.06.2026.
How it works
From first call to the DNB register.
01
Route and strategy
PI or EMI, service list, safeguarding method, exemption or full licence - the route and budget fixed in writing.PI, EMI or exemption - in writing.
02
Dutch company and people
BV incorporation, capital evidence and the policymakers and holders DNB will test.BV, capital, tested policymakers.
03
The application file
Every section of DNB's form answered before filing, because the three-month clock starts at completeness.Complete starts the three-month clock.
04
DNB review
Three months by statute from a complete file, paused for questions - plan on six to nine months end to end including preparation.Three months statutory; 6-9 months end to end.
05
Licence and launch
Register entry, safeguarding live, passport notifications filed - and the reporting calendar running.Registered, safeguarded, passported.
Quick facts
RegulatorDe Nederlandsche Bank
LawWft · Bpr Art. 48
Capital PI€20k · €50k · €125k
Capital EMI€350,000
Application fee€10,400
Decision clock3 months statutory
Exemption≤ €3M/month · NL only
Corporate tax19% / 25.8% · VAT 21%
Everything that costs money here is published - capital, fee, clock. The file that matches DNB's form line by line is the entire game, and our job.
Your Netherlands desk
Run from our EU licensing desk.
Prifinance - EU licensing desk
Tallinn (HQ) · coordinating Dutch mandates
Roseni 13, Tallinn
01
Dutch company formation
BV incorporation, capital to the Article 48 figure and the corporate layer DNB expects - structured for the licence from day one.BV, capital, corporate layer.
02
The DNB file
Business plan, own-funds calculation, safeguarding design, governance and Wwft policies to DNB's explanatory note - drafted by us and defended through the question rounds.Form answered line by line.
03
Policymaker testing
Fitness and propriety files for every board member and qualifying holder, prepared for DNB's assessment so the people pass with the paper.People pass with the paper.
04
Substance in the Netherlands
Resident management, a compliance officer and real premises - the head office the Wft requires, staffed from Europe's deepest payments talent pool.Resident management, real premises.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of payment companies in the Netherlands.
A two-band corporate rate, VAT exemption for most payment services, a participation exemption and one of the widest treaty networks in Europe.
Corporate tax 19% / 25.8%
19% on the first €200,000 of taxable profit and 25.8% above - a payment institution's fee and margin income taxed on a scale that favours the early years.Two bands, €200k threshold.
VAT 21%
The standard rate, with payment and e-money services largely exempt under the financial-services exemption - the fee mix is mapped before launch to protect input VAT where it matters.Payments largely exempt.
Participation exemption
Dividends and gains on qualifying shareholdings are exempt - the reason Dutch holding companies sit above so many European fintech groups.Dividends and gains.
Treaties and no withholding on interest
More than ninety tax treaties and no withholding on interest or royalties in the ordinary case; dividend withholding at 15% with treaty and directive relief.Qualifying software profits.
Innovation box
Profits from self-developed software and other qualifying IP taxed at 9% - relevant to the platform side of a payments group.Treaty and directive relief.
Expat ruling
A partial tax-free allowance for qualifying employees recruited from abroad - useful when the compliance and engineering team relocates with the licence.Relocating teams.
Tax summary
Corporate tax19% to €200k · 25.8% above
VAT21% · payments exempt
Participation exemptionDividends and gains
Innovation box9% on qualifying IP
Dividend withholding15% · treaty-relieved
Tax treaties90+
*Figures as of 2026 per the Belastingdienst. Innovation-box and expat-ruling eligibility are assessed per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Dutch BV, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed institution.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Netherlands · DNB
Launch your payment project in the Netherlands with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from BV incorporation to the DNB licence, safeguarding design, passporting and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is the Netherlands the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Dutch payment licence, answered.
What licence does a payment business need in the Netherlands?+
A licence from De Nederlandsche Bank under the Wft - as a payment institution under Article 2:3a for moving money, or an e-money institution under Article 2:10a for also issuing it. Account information providers register rather than license.
How much capital is required?+
Article 48 of the Prudential Rules Decree carries PSD2's figures: €20,000 for money remittance only, €50,000 for payment initiation only, €125,000 for services 1 to 5, and €350,000 for an e-money institution. Ongoing own funds are calculated under method A, B or C, or at 2% of outstanding e-money.
What does the application cost?+
€10,400 for a payment-institution or e-money licence and €7,300 for each declaration of no objection on a qualifying holder - set in the one-off supervision fee regulation and payable whether or not the licence is granted. Annual supervision levies follow once licensed.
How long does DNB take?+
The statutory decision period is three months from a complete application. The clock pauses while DNB waits for your answers, so completeness on filing is what keeps three months at three months. With preparation, plan on six to nine months end to end.
How are customer funds protected?+
Under Article 3:29a Wft and Article 40a of the Decree: kept separate from the institution's own assets - in Dutch practice through a client-money foundation or a dedicated account - or covered by insurance or a guarantee from an insurer or bank outside your group.
Is there a lighter regime?+
Two: a registered exemption for firms whose payment transactions average no more than €3 million a month over twelve months, on services 1 to 5 only and inside the Netherlands only; and an e-money exemption below €5 million outstanding, €150 per instrument, without agents. Neither passports.
Can I passport across the EU?+
Yes - a full DNB licence notifies into every EU and EEA member state under the Wft's outbound passport provisions, for branches, agents and cross-border services.
How are payment companies taxed?+
Corporate tax at 19% on the first €200,000 of profit and 25.8% above; 21% VAT with exemption for most payment services; a participation exemption for holdings and a 9% innovation box for qualifying software profits.
What substance does DNB expect?+
A Dutch head office in fact as well as on paper: at least two day-to-day policymakers who pass DNB's assessment, a resident compliance officer, real premises and the functions the licence describes performed in the Netherlands.
Why the Netherlands rather than Lithuania?+
Lithuania is the faster, cheaper desk; the Netherlands is the more credible home state for a business whose banks, investors and enterprise clients read the regulator's name. Groups often hold one licence and open the other market by passport - we sequence them.
Which licence?+
DNB: PI (2:3a) or EMI (2:10a).
Capital?+
€20k / €50k / €125k; EMI €350k.
Fee?+
€10,400 · vvgb €7,300, paid regardless.
How long?+
3 months statutory from complete; 6-9 months total.
Safeguarding?+
Client-money foundation or insurance.
Lighter regime?+
≤ €3M/month registered; e-money ≤ €5M. No passport.
Passport?+
Yes - EU/EEA by notification.
Taxes?+
19% / 25.8%, VAT 21%, innovation box 9%.
Substance?+
Two policymakers, resident compliance, premises.
vs Lithuania?+
Slower, pricier, more credible home state.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Dutch licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Dutch route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of De Nederlandsche Bank or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.