Scams in Rib'e Lugá: how to recognize a fake intermediary
The Rib'e Lugá registration is designed so that no one has to pay an intermediary: it is submitted online, each person can submit it themselves and official help is free. That is why anyone who charges you to «get you onto the list» is lying to you about how it works. We have not found documented cases in public sources; what we can give you is each typical promise from a fake agent alongside what the official rule says.
Eight things a fake intermediary says, and what the official source says
| What they tell you | What the Toelatingsorganisatie says |
|---|---|
| «You cannot register without me.» | Each person can submit their own application. A third party is not needed. |
| «I know someone inside, I can get you onto the list.» | Only applications submitted through the Rib'e Lugá digital portal, with the fees paid, are processed. There is no other list. |
| «I guarantee your approval.» | The Toelatingsorganisatie reviews each application and approves or rejects it. No one can guarantee the outcome. |
| «Send me the money and I will pay the fees.» | The fees are paid with the official payment order (Betalingsopdracht). In a transfer, the first field must contain only the name and date of birth of the applicant. A payment to an individual's account is not that payment. |
| «Pay the deposit now to secure your spot.» | The security deposit is paid after your permit is approved, never before. |
| «I can make you a letter saying that you were here before November 13, 2025.» | Statements from private individuals and rental contracts are not valid on their own as proof. Valid proof includes the entry stamp, money transfers in your name (Western Union, Pagadero, MoneyGram) or a statement from a trusted organization on the official list. |
| «You cannot apply with an expired passport, a deportation order or if you arrived by boat; I can fix it for you.» | All three situations can be registered. Your passport only needs to be valid on the day your permit is issued. |
| «There is late registration after October 31.» | Registration closes on October 31, 2026. Only the Government can extend it, and there is currently no announced extension. |
The trusted organizations that can declare that you were in Curaçao are currently: UNHCR (UNHCR), PADF, the Council of Churches (Raad van Kerken), IOM, Salú pa Tur, consulates and a public or educational institution in Curaçao. None of them charges for that statement as part of Rib'e Lugá.
Real help is free
- IOM, the organization the Toelatingsorganisatie itself refers you to: it explains the process, helps you gather documents and complete and submit the application. Hoogstraat 18-22 (Triangle), Willemstad. Phone and WhatsApp +5999 665-8644, ribaelugasupport@gmail.com. Request an appointment on the appointment page.
- The Rib'e Lugá team, for questions about your application: phone +5999 511-9984, text-only WhatsApp at the same number and info@ribeluga.cw.
- The portal: ribeluga.cw takes you to permit.immigrationcur.org, the Toelatingsorganisatie portal. Any other address asking you for data or money is not official.
No rule we have found prohibits paying someone you trust to help you with the computer. What is not true is that you cannot do it without that person, or that they have a special route.
A false document can cost you your permit
The Rib'e Lugá policy says that information can be checked at any time, including after your permit is issued, and that if it is discovered that you provided incorrect information, the permit can be withdrawn. An «agent» who makes up a letter or a stamp does not just take your money: they put your permit at risk. What the law says about false information is in how to recognize an immigration procedure scam.
If you have already paid someone
- Keep the evidence: screenshots of the conversation, the number, payment receipts and the name they gave you.
- Check your application with the Rib'e Lugá team. If it was not submitted and October 31 has not passed yet, submit it yourself or with IOM.
- Report it, including anonymously: phone numbers and police stations are listed in how to recognize an immigration procedure scam.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know I am on the official website?
The application is submitted at ribeluga.cw, which takes you to the permit.immigrationcur.org portal. It is not submitted on paper or by mail, or through a Facebook page or WhatsApp account belonging to an individual.
Someone I know says their cousin works for the government and can speed it up. Is that true?
The decision period is up to 6 months from when you submit the application and is set by the Toelatingsorganisatie. There is no fast track that you can pay for.
What happens after October 31?
No one else can register unless an extension is announced. What changes for each person is explained in Rib'e Lugá after October 31.
Sources: Toelatingsorganisatie, Rib'e Lugá frequently asked questions, Rib'e Lugá policy, work purpose, help with registration and contact; the Rib'e Lugá payment order. Consulted on September 27, 2026. General information, not legal advice.