Study · Business · Relocation
Move your business to Europe
Permit files for founders. Study packages for students. For people from the Gulf, Africa and the US who want to build a life in Europe.
Live routesOrigin → Europe
Joshua FidelisYour consultant, in NL since 202190 days
IND legal decision term
IND legal decision term
DXB → AMSSelf-employed permitNL
JFK → AMSDAFT treaty routeNL
DOH → AMSStart-up visaNL
AUH → LHRInnovator FounderUK
DXB → LHRGlobal Talent visaUK
RUH → LISD2 entrepreneur visaPT
DOH → BERSelf-employment permitDE
AUH → DUBStart-up programmeIE
JED → MADSelf-employed visaES
JED → CDGEntrepreneur cardFR
DXB → PRGTrade licence visaCZ
11Business visa routes compared, across 8 countries
6Clear steps from first call to arrival
2021The year Joshua moved to the Netherlands
2Independent experts: an accountant and a Dutch lawyer
We work with independent accountants and independent lawyers.
Business routes
Pick a country. See the route.
Every route below needs a strong business plan. That is what we write.
All business routes at a glance
8 countries. 11 routes.
United Kingdom
Details below ↓Germany
Details below ↓Portugal
Details below ↓Spain
Details below ↓Ireland
Details below ↓France
Details below ↓Czech Republic
Details below ↓Netherlands
Self-employed residence permit · most non-EU nationalitiesThe test
RVO points: 30+ in each of 3 areas, or 45+ for experience and plan
Capital
No fixed amount. Your plan must show enough income
First permit
Up to 2 years
Decision
90 days by law, can be extended
Not sure which route fits? A clarity session maps your route, costs and timeline. The fee is deducted from your service fee when you become a client.
How long is the first permit?
Years granted on the first approval
0123 yrs
Money you must show upfront
Minimum business capital set by the rules
€50,000Minimum
Ireland
€4,500Minimum
NL for Americans
None setFit to plan
NLUKDEPTESFR
"None set" still means you must prove you can live and run the business. Your plan carries that proof.
The Netherlands
Where our team lives and works. A small country with big doors: open to talent, built for business, and a gateway to the rest of Europe.
English widely spoken
Gateway to Europe
Home of innovation
Safe, green, built for bikes
Everything we do in the Netherlands
Study
Bachelor's, Master's and MBA. We handle the applications.
Self-employed permit
Business plan and full file, accountant included.
Start-up visa
For innovative founders working with a facilitator.
DAFT for Americans
US citizens skip the points test.
Register your business
KVK registration, trade name and VAT number.
Business plans
For banks, grants and investors.
Jobs and CV
A CV and a job radar for Dutch and remote roles.
Start here
A 30 or 60 minute clarity session.
Moving to the Netherlands from
Dubai · Abu DhabiSelf-employed or Start-up
Riyadh · JeddahSelf-employed permit
DohaStudy or Start-up
United StatesDAFT treaty route
How the Dutch permits work
The points test
The RVO scores three areas. Clear either bar to pass.
Experience = your background. Plan = your business plan. Value = what your business adds to the Netherlands. The plan is the part we control most.
The process
What the journey looks like
Netherlands example. Other countries follow the same shape with their own authority.
1You + Ascend
Clarity session
A straight yes or no before you spend more.
2Ascend
Business plan
Built around the points the RVO scores.
3Accountant
Forecast
Three years of numbers, checked by an expert.
4Ascend + lawyer
Complete file
Every document checked. Legal review if you want it.
5You → IND
Submit
We answer any follow-up questions with you.
6You
Arrive
Register your address, your business and your bank.
Who does what, week by week
Typical timing. Your documents set the pace.
W1W2W3W4W5W6
IND decision · up to 90 days by law (about 13 weeks)
You
Gather documents
Submit
Ascend
Call
Business plan
File
Accountant
Forecast
Lawyeroptional
Legal review
RVO and IND
Points assessment and decision
Ascend
Call
Business plan
File
Accountant
Forecast
Lawyeroptional
Legal review
RVO and IND
Points assessment and decision
The IND can extend its 90 days by up to 6 months when it asks the RVO for advice.
Services
Four ways we help
Relocation
Business permits
Plan and full file for the Dutch self-employed and DAFT routes. Plans for the other eight.
Business
Business plans
For KVK, banks, grants and investors. Real research, three years of numbers.
Careers
CV and job search
Recruiter-ready CVs and a monthly radar of remote roles you can legally take.
Ascend Study
Study in Europe, with a team behind you
Pick your level and country. We handle the rest.
3 · Your study route package
€1,500One package, from shortlist to arrival
- Course and school shortlist
- Entry requirements check
- Applications handled by Ascend
- Motivation letter and CV review
- Student visa file and funds checklist
- Housing tips and pre-departure briefing
Schools decide admission and embassies decide visas. We never guarantee either.
I definitely recommend Ascend Consultants.
Reviews
Real people. Real routes.
Published with permission. We check every review before it goes on the site.
"When I decided I wanted to study in the Netherlands, the entire process became so much easier… I definitely recommend Ascend Consultants."
DamolaStudent in the Netherlands · watch his video
Refused→Appealed→Approved→Extended
"My own self-employed permit was not easy. I waited about a year, was refused, and won on appeal. It was approved and later extended. Since then our team has handled client files with refusals and with approvals. We know what the IND and RVO look for, so you don't have to learn it the hard way."
Joshua Nwachukwu FidelisFounder, Ascend Consultants
Careers
Get seen by the right employers
CV and LinkedIn rewrite
Written the way recruiters read.
Job search audit
A short call and a list of roles you match.
Monthly job radar
New matched roles every day, a check-in every week.
Cloud Security EngineerGood fitRemote, Netherlands · matches your AWS experience
Junior HPC Systems EngineerStretchRemote, US · gap: Slurm, free course linked
Cybersecurity EngineerNot eligibleRemote, US · needs US citizenship, filtered out
Example rows. We don't apply for you and we don't promise jobs or interviews.
About us
A team that knows the move from the inside
Ascend is a team of advisers led by founder Joshua Nwachukwu Fidelis, with about 7 years of experience in study abroad, business relocation and immigration support. We work from Almere, the Netherlands.
About 7 years in relocation and study abroad
UK National Code for Education Agents, 2025
Registered Dutch business · KVK 84001313
Master's degree in Business Management, the Netherlands
2014BSc Banking and Finance
2020Talent acquisition and recruitment
2021Moves to the Netherlands, starts advising with Ascend
2023Master's degree in Business Management, the Netherlands
2025Trainer for international business programmes
Our team
4 core team members · 2 independent partnersJoshua Nwachukwu FidelisFounder and lead consultantAdmissions and applicationsShortlists, applications and offer letters
Documents and visa filesChecklists, translations and visa files
Client careYour contact from first email to arrival
Independent accountantThree-year forecasts for permit plansPartner
Independent Dutch lawyerLegal review, objections and appealsPartner
How we work
Clear terms. No empty promises.
Fixed scope
You see what is included before you pay.
No guarantees
Authorities decide. We promise careful work.
Independent experts
An accountant and a Dutch lawyer where needed.
Private
Your documents stay with us unless you say so.
Prices
In euros · VAT added where it appliesClear, fixed prices
Clarity session, 30 minutesDeducted when you become a client€100
Clarity session, 60 minutesDeducted when you become a client€199
Business relocation packagesTap to see every country · lawyer's fee not includedfrom €5,000
Netherlands · self-employed, start-up or DAFT Accountant included€5,000
United Kingdom · Innovator Founder€5,000
United Kingdom · Global Talent€7,000
Germany, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, France, Czech Republic€5,000
Legal review by an independent lawyerOptional · billed by the lawyer directlyLawyer's fee
Business planKVK, banks, grants or other countries' permitsfrom €400
CV and LinkedIn rewritefrom €149
Job search auditfrom €39
Monthly job radar€129 / month
Study route packageShortlist, applications, visa file and pre-departure€1,500
Talk to us
Book a clarity session
30 minutes or one hour with Joshua on video. You leave knowing which route fits, what it costs and what to do next. The fee is deducted when you become a client.
Video call with Joshua
- Your route: permit, study or business
- Honest yes or no on your chances
- Fee deducted from your service fee when you become a client
How booking works
Pick a timeSee open slots in your own time zone
Pay onlineCard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, secured by Stripe
Get your linkConfirmation and video link by email
Have these ready for your session
1Your nationality and where you live now
2Your business idea, or the course you want
3The country you want to move to, and when
Quick question first?Email or WhatsApp us. We reply within two working days with the next step. Advice on your case happens in the clarity session.
Office: Mickey Mousestraat 57, 1336 ZG Almere, the Netherlands