Short Stay (Kort Verblijf)

Who does this apply to?

• Capital investor (at least XCG 650,000 in a company, in shares or in real estate, with a bank guarantee from a bank in Curaçao) or hibernator (at least XCG 36,000 in resources, or owner of a house or apartment in Curaçao, or of a yacht of at least 10 m moored in Curaçao)
• Remote worker / digital nomad for a foreign employer
• Local worker within the meaning of Art. 5 LAV whose employer already holds a work permit for him/her
• Ship's crew (maritime personnel)
• Legalization: someone who already held a temporary permit, did not renew it on time, has been without a valid permit for no more than 12 months, and did not leave Curaçao because of serious reasons (does not apply to anyone who never held a valid permit)

Costs

• First application: XCG 535 ≈ US$ 299
• Other costs: Same amount (XCG 535) for all 5 variants: legalization, hibernator/investor, remote worker, Art. 5 LAV worker, and ship's crew. Payment at Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe.

Dollar amounts are approximate, at the fixed rate of US$ 1 = XCG 1.79. You pay in XCG.

Work out your total (one-off payment, no deposit): open the cost calculator →

Decision time

4 months. You wait for the decision on a first application outside Curaçao; you can wait for a renewal here (official page in Dutch).

Requirements

Gathering your papers? Tick them off in your checklist, remove what does not apply and print it: open my document checklist →

• All variants: proof of payment of fees and charges and a clear copy of the passport photo page (and of the signature page, if it is on another page), valid for at least 6 months after you apply; crew, a copy of all their valid passports (there the page does not ask for the 6 months)
• Hibernator or capital investor: proof of solvency with one of these: at least XCG 36,000 at your disposal, a house or apartment in Curaçao (proof from the Curaçao Land Registry), a pleasure yacht of at least 10 m at the waterline moored in Curaçao, or a guarantee from a local bank (no more than 3 months old) of at least XCG 650,000
• Remote worker: proof of means with one of these: a recent statement of assignment if you have your own company in your home country, a recent statement from your employer in your home country, or a recent certified copy of your employment contract
• Art. 5 LAV worker: original certificate of conduct from your last place of residence (no more than 3 months old), copy of the valid work permit, original guarantee statement signed by the employer with an XCG 10 stamp (if the guarantor is a private person or sole proprietor and is married, their spouse also signs and attaches their ID) and original employer's declaration with a copy of the employer's ID and another XCG 10 stamp; if the employer is not one of the people the LTU excludes under Art. 1(a), also a copy of their NVT or Van Rechtswege declaration or residence permit, and of their passport
• Ship's crew: copy of a valid, internationally recognized seaman's book; original guarantee statement signed by the ship's agent and the captain, with an XCG 10 stamp; statement from the captain that the crew member's conduct is irreproachable; copy of the ship's agent's contract showing the captain appointed them; and copy of the muster list or the joining letter
• Legalization: original certificate of conduct from your last place of residence (no more than 3 months old; the Spanish page asks for it, the Dutch one does not: submit it), copy of the valid work permit or of the proof of its application and payment, original employer's declaration with a copy of the employer's ID, and original guarantee statement signed by the employer with an XCG 10 stamp
• Family members of the hibernator, investor or remote worker: each one files their own short-stay application, with a copy of the proof of the family relationship and, if under 18, proof that their legal representative agrees to the stay
• If someone else files for you (hibernator, investor, remote worker or Art. 5 LAV worker): an original letter of authorization signed by you, no more than 6 months old, and a copy of that person's valid ID

Steps to apply

1. Gather all the requirements for the applicable variant and scan them as PDF (right-side up, in color, no staples, ~2cm margin).
   How to get this done

   How to scan your documents correctly

   The scan (or photo) of each document must meet all these criteria, or the system may reject your application: (1) it must be a scan of an original document, not a copy of a copy; (2) scanned as straight as possible, not tilted; (3) no staples, paper clips or fingers visible in the image; (4) not edited or retouched; (5) avoid folds and creases; (6) all data must be sharp, legible and not blurry; (7) no crossed-out, covered or overwritten data; (8) for identity documents the image must show the whole document in colour (passport: top and bottom page; cédula: front and back); (9) leave about 2 cm of margin around the image; (10) the document must not have a translucent/transparent background.

   • Use a real scanner if you have access to one (office, library, copy shop): it gives better results than a phone photo.
   • If you use your phone, do it in good daylight, without direct flash, with the document on a flat, dark surface so the edges are clearly visible.
   • Save each document as a PDF (not a loose JPG) when the procedure explicitly asks for PDF format.
2. Pay the fees (XCG 535) at Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe using the payment order with your full name as the reference (and your date of birth, if there is room).
   How to get this done

   Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB): to pay immigration fees (account 31967908, in the name of the Toelatingsorganisatie)

   Photo: Kattiel, CC BY-SA 4.0

   Plasa Jojo Correa 2-4, Punda, Willemstad, Curaçao (Punda Head Office) — Google Maps

   Monday to Friday 08:00–14:00 (main branch; other branches may differ)

   No appointment is needed for a deposit or a transfer. The Toelatingsorganisatie confirmed in writing on October 9, 2026 that you can pay by bank transfer, as the payment order says; the reference must include your full name; your date of birth can be added if there is room.

   How to pay the fee for your procedure

   Payment is made by deposit or transfer in the name of the Toelatingsorganisatie, at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB), account 31967908, or at Banco di Caribe, account 36286001 (both accounts are on the payment order the Toelatingsorganisatie sent us on September 30, 2026). In the payment reference, put your full name, which is mandatory, and your date of birth if there is room (Toelatingsorganisatie, in writing, October 9, 2026). You must pay before submitting your application and show the original proof of payment if asked. Use the 'Payment order' form (on the procedure page) to find the exact amount for your case.

   • Since April 1, 2026, if you apply for a permit for more than 1 year, you pay for all the years in advance: in a first application, the first year at the first-application fee and the others at the renewal fee; if you renew, all of them at the renewal fee (Toelatingsorganisatie payment order, September 30, 2026); see the policy notice on the home page.
   • Keep the paper receipt AND a photo/scan: you need it for the application AND as a back-up if there is a dispute.
3. Submit the application via the portal (permit.immigrationcur.org) or by email to intake@immigrationcur.org if the purpose is not available online.
   How to get this done

   How to submit your application online

   First, the Toelatingsorganisatie's portal, permit.immigrationcur.org: that is where you apply for the Van Rechtswege and Niet van Toepassing declarations (since September 1, 2016 they are only accepted online, not at the counter), the extension of a tourist stay and some residence permits, and people with US nationality have to use it too. Each person opens their own account, which also covers their spouse and children. If your procedure is not in the portal, scan the form and the other documents as PDF and send them by email to intake@immigrationcur.org (objections go to info@immigrationcur.org; check which applies on your procedure's page). Attach all the documents, scanned according to the official criteria, plus the proof of payment. If an authorised representative submits the application (not you), a signed authorisation and a copy of their ID must also be attached. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email (the portal's comes from no-reply@immigrationcur.org; if you do not see it, check your spam folder): keep it as proof. Rib'e Lugá was separate, with its own application on that same portal, until registration closed on October 31, 2026.

   • If you send it by email, write a clear subject line (e.g. 'Application VTTV - [your full name]') so it is processed faster.
   • Attach files with descriptive names (e.g. 'passport.pdf', 'birth-certificate.pdf') instead of generic names like 'scan001.pdf'.
   • Keep a copy of everything you send: you will need it if you later have to object to a negative decision.
4. Wait up to 4 months for the decision (first application: wait outside Curaçao).
   How to get this done

   What to do while you wait for the decision

   The standard term is 4 months from the moment you submit the complete application (the clock does not run while something is missing). If this is your first application for most procedures, you must wait for the decision outside Curaçao (except renewals/changes, which may be awaited in the country). The decision is sent by email to the address you gave on the form; check your spam folder too. You can check the status of your application at any time (see the 'Check the status of an application' page).

   • If you move or change your email address while waiting, report it immediately to info@immigrationcur.org: if they cannot reach you, they may refuse your application for 'failure to cooperate'.
   • Do not buy final return tickets until you have the decision in hand if your plan depends on approval.
5. If positive: schedule an appointment to receive the permit. If negative: 6 weeks to file an objection by email to info@immigrationcur.org.
   How to get this done

   Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao (Admission Office)

   Prinsenstraat 90, Punda, Willemstad, Curaçao — Google Maps

   Monday to Thursday 08:00–15:00, Friday 08:00–12:00

   +5999 733-2000

   info@immigrationcur.org

   Since Monday, November 24, 2025 the office has been back in its renovated building at Prinsenstraat 90, Punda: the information desk and the issuing of residence titles (passport stamps) are there. The temporary location at Saliña 127 (Eurobuilding), used since September 2024, is no longer the Toelatingsorganisatie's address. The phone number is 733-2000; the old numbers 733-2080, 733-2081 and 733-2083 are no longer in use. Appointments to collect a passport stamp, proof of return, refund or final departure are booked through www.immigrationcur.org. For questions, email info@immigrationcur.org or message 'Admission Office Curaçao' on Facebook/Instagram.

   How to object to a negative decision

   You have 6 weeks to file your objection (bezwaar) by email to info@immigrationcur.org. The period starts on the day after the date on which the Toelatingsorganisatie sent you the decision, not the day you receive or read it (LAR, Art. 56; official objection and appeal page): if the letter is slow to arrive or lands in your spam folder, the clock is already running. Your objection must include: your full name and address, a clear description of the decision you are challenging, why you disagree, what outcome you want, your signature, and an address in Curaçao if you live abroad. Attach a copy of the decision and any new evidence. If your objection is rejected (or you prefer to skip this step), you can appeal directly to the Court of First Instance of Curaçao; see the 'Objection and appeal' page for full details, including the legal strategy of asking for a 'provisional measure' (voorlopige voorziening) if you do not want to wait outside the country.

   • Do not let the 6 weeks pass: after that deadline you lose the right to object this way.
   • If your objection is against the refusal of a renewal, by default you still have to wait outside the country, as with a first application, unless you explicitly ask the court for a provisional measure.

Downloadable forms

• Payment order DOCX · 95 KB · in Spanish · Official English version DOCX · 84 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Betalingsopdracht / Orden de pago: the Toelatingsorganisatie publishes the same order in Spanish, English and Dutch, with the Maduro & Curiel's Bank and Banco di Caribe accounts, 1-, 2- and 3-year rows and its own investor row (XCG 1,865 / 3,095 / 6,170).

  Form 910. This is the payment order you use to pay the procedure fees, at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB) or Banco di Caribe, BEFORE you submit your application. You tick the line for your procedure and, for a permit by the year, the duration; each line's amount is already fixed.

  Section single — Select your product/service: Mark (with an X or a circle) the line that matches your procedure EXACTLY. For a permit by the year, tick the purpose and, below it, the duration: 1, 2 or 3 years for a first application or a change of purpose; if you renew, the duration under “Renewal”. Each duration already carries the total for all the years, so do not add anything up; the table below gives the amount for 1 year. For example, a first application for work is XCG 655 for 1 year, 1,270 for 2 and 1,885 for 3, and renewing a work-based permit costs XCG 615 for 1 year, 1,230 for 2 and 1,845 for 3.

  Proof of return	XCG 225
  Niet van Toepassing declaration	XCG 225
  Van Rechtswege declaration	XCG 615
  Internship stay	XCG 525
  Short stay	XCG 535
  Tourist stay extension	XCG 525
  Duplicate	XCG 195
  Final departure	XCG 145
  Investor, 3 years	XCG 1,865
  Investor, 5 years	XCG 3,095
  Investor, indefinite	XCG 6,170
  First application (work)	XCG 655
  First application (family reunification)	XCG 655
  First application (study)	XCG 625
  First application (rentier/own business/pensioner)	XCG 635
  Renewal (work/study/rentier/pensioner/own business)	XCG 615
  Renewal (family reunification)	XCG 625
  Change of purpose	XCG 615

  Tips

  • ⚠️ Remember: since April 1, 2026, if your permit is for more than 1 year (up to 3 years), you pay for all the years in advance: in a first application, the first year at the first-application amount and each extra year at the renewal amount; if you renew, all of them at the renewal amount. The order's 2- and 3-year rows already carry that sum (Toelatingsorganisatie payment order, September 30, 2026).
  • The order has no row for a change to study: the Toelatingsorganisatie confirmed in writing on October 12, 2026 that it costs XCG 615, like the other changes. Ask them how to mark it before paying.
  • In the payment reference of the bank deposit, write your full name, which is mandatory. The order asks for “only the full name”, but the Toelatingsorganisatie clarified in writing on October 9, 2026 that your date of birth can also go in if there is room.
  • Keep the paper or scanned receipt — you must show the original for inspection when you hand in your application.
• Guarantee declaration DOCX · 5.6 MB · in Spanish · Official English version DOCX · 7.5 MB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Garantieverklaring (Dutch)

  Signed by the guarantor (employer, family member or any person/company vouching for the foreign national), who commits to the State to cover the costs of the foreign national's stay in Curaçao. At the top there is a box marked “Sello/Zegel XCG 10” for the XCG 10 adhesive stamp.

  Section 1 — Guarantor's details: Surname, first names, sex, address (if the guarantor is a company, its business address), ID number, date and place of birth, nationality and phone. If the guarantor is the employer (a company), give the company name; the personal details and signature must be those of the director or an authorised representative.

  Section 2 — Guarantee obligation: Fixed text (do not fill in): the guarantor declares they will cover the costs to the State and other public bodies arising from the foreign national's LEGAL OR ILLEGAL stay, including the cost of any removal/departure journey to a country that will admit them. The guarantee only ends when the foreign national leaves Curaçao for good or obtains a change of permit.

  Section 3 — Foreign national's details: Surname, first names, sex, date and place of birth, country of birth, address, marital status, nationality, phone: the details of the person being guaranteed.

  Section 4 — Guarantor's signature: Date and place (Willemstad). Signature of the guarantor and, in a separate box, signature of the guarantor's spouse.

  Tips

  • If the guarantor is a private individual or the owner of a sole proprietorship and is married, their spouse also signs the declaration and attaches a copy of a valid ID (the annex to the application form requires it); without that signature the guarantee is incomplete.
  • The commitment covers 'legal or illegal' stay: the guarantor is financially responsible even if the foreign national ends up without legal status, including the cost of the journey out of Curaçao, also in case of removal.
  • At the top, the form has a box marked “Sello XCG 10”: that is where the XCG 10 adhesive stamp required by the procedure page goes. Buy it before signing; without it the declaration is incomplete.
• Employer's declaration DOCX · 5.6 MB · in Spanish · Official English version DOCX · 7.5 MB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Werkgeversverklaring (Dutch) / Work declaration (English)

  Signed by the employer to confirm the foreign national's actual employment terms: type of contract, hours and salary. It is the proof that the job is real and verifiable, not just declared. At the top there is a box marked “Sello/Zegel XCG 10” for the XCG 10 adhesive stamp.

  Section 1 — Employee's details: Surname, first names, sex, address, ID number, date and country of birth, nationality: the foreign worker's details.

  Section 2 — Employer's details: Company name, address, phone and the company's CRIB number.

  Section 3 — Employment details: The employee's position, start date, whether the job is permanent or temporary (with end date if applicable), whether there is a probation period (and until when), CONTRACTUAL weekly hours and ACTUAL weekly hours (asked separately; they must match reality), gross and net salary (excluding holiday pay) per month or per week, and whether there is holiday pay (with percentage, or 'No').

  Section 4 — Employer's signature: The employer declares that the employee works (or will work) at the named company from the date given. Name and position of the signatory, date, signature and, if the employer is a company or institution, its stamp: the form has a 'company/institution stamp' field next to the signature.

  Tips

  • Make sure the 'contractual' and 'actual' weekly hours reflect reality: the form asks for them separately on purpose, to catch contracts that do not match the real job.
  • If the employer is a company or institution, put its stamp in the 'company/institution stamp' field next to the signature: without it the declaration may be considered incomplete. A private employer (for example, someone who hires a domestic worker) has no company stamp.
  • Attach a copy of the employer's passport or other valid ID (if the employer is a company, of the person signing for it).
  • At the top, the form has a box marked “Sello XCG 10” for the XCG 10 adhesive stamp, which the regular procedures require (as Rib'e Lugá also did while registration was open), together with a copy of the employer's ID. The company stamp (at the bottom, next to the signature) and the adhesive stamp are two different things: if the employer is a company, you need both.
• Guarantee declaration for ship's crew DOCX · 517 KB · in Spanish Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Declaración de garantía marítimo: signed by the shipping agent, not by a private person or the employer.

  Signed by the shipping agent (the company that represents the ship in Curaçao) to answer for the costs of a foreign crew member's stay. It is different from the general guarantee declaration.

  Section 1 — Guarantor's details (the shipping agent): Name of the shipping agent; 'On behalf of' (the ship or shipping line it represents); position of the signatory; address; phone; and Chamber of Commerce (KVK) registration number.

  Section 2 — Guarantee obligation: Fixed text (do not fill in): the agent covers the costs that the crew member's legal or illegal stay causes the State, including the journey to a country that will admit them. The guarantee ends when the crew member leaves Curaçao for good.

  Section 3 — Foreign national's details (the crew member): Surname, first name, sex, date and place of birth, country of birth and nationality.

  Section 4 — Signature: Date and place (Willemstad), signature and stamp of the shipping agent. It also needs the XCG 10 adhesive stamp marked by the 'Sello XCG 10,-' box.

  Tips

  • Only for ship crew: for any other stay, the general guarantee declaration is used.

Important notes

• Legalization does not apply to someone who never held a valid residence permit — it is only for regularizing a recent, brief lapse.
• This is a permit of a maximum of 6 months, not a pathway to permanent residence on its own.
• Important: as a tourist, Dutch and US nationals can stay up to 6 months a year; nationals of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, 90 days a year; and all other nationalities, with or without a visa, 30 days (Toelatingsorganisatie, “Tourist” page). If you are not from one of those countries, do not count on 90 days. The Toelatingsorganisatie confirmed it in writing on October 12, 2026: those other nationalities get 30 days, and to reach 90 you must apply for the tourist stay extension (XCG 525). The 3 months in the Toelatingsbesluit (Art. 2(2)) are the maximum, not what you get on entry.
• The short stay lasts up to 180 days. There is a 'capital investor' category separate from the normal investor route (residence permit): here the threshold is XCG 650,000 and a bank guarantee is required (not a simple reference) from a bank established in Curaçao, no older than 3 months, certifying the intent and the means to make the investment.
• Renewal rules are very different depending on your category: the 'overwinteraar' (owner of a house/apartment or a yacht of 10+ meters, or solvent with XCG 36,000) cannot renew under any circumstances. The short-stay 'capital investor' can renew, but only 'in highly exceptional cases'. Neither category accrues a right of residence — it is explicitly temporary. Family members receive a permit equal to that of the main applicant.
• Remote worker: the Toelatingsorganisatie confirmed to us in writing on October 9, 2026 that the remote worker permit can be extended by another 6 months. It is a new remote worker application, with the same fee (XCG 535) and the same requirements as the first.
• Overwinterer and capital investor (short-stay policy): you must sign a declaration acknowledging that you may stay only up to 180 days per calendar year under this purpose, and that you are prohibited from working (Landsverordening Arbeid Vreemdelingen).

• Clarification: the maximum duration of a tourist stay by nationality category is:

  1. Dutch and US nationals up to 6 months/year
  2. EU/Canada/Australia/New Zealand/Japan up to 90 days/year
  3. all other nationalities 30 days — see the “Tourist - Extension of Tourist Stay” procedure for the full detail.

Frequently asked questions