Naturalization in Curaçao (declaration after the royal decree)

Who does this apply to?

• Anyone who was naturalized as a Dutch national in Curaçao and already has the royal decree: they must apply for the Van Rechtswege declaration for naturalization. The official page does not cover the option for nationality (optie).

Costs

• First application: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Other costs: Payment at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB) or Banco di Caribe, under the same fee as the Van Rechtswege Declaration.

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

Decision time

4 months.

Requirements

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

• Proof of payment of fees and charges
• Copy of valid Dutch passport
• Copy of the royal naturalization decree

Steps to apply

1. Obtain the royal naturalization decree.
   How to get this done

   That decree is not issued by the Toelatingsorganisatie: it is the end of the naturalization procedure, which comes first and separately. Ask a lawyer specializing in Dutch nationality about that procedure and its timelines.

2. Scan all requirements as PDF.
   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.
3. Submit the application online as a Van Rechtswege Declaration for naturalization purposes.
   How to get this done

   How to submit your application online

   The vast majority of Toelatingsorganisatie procedures are submitted by EMAIL to intake@immigrationcur.org (some objection/appeal procedures go to info@immigrationcur.org; check which applies to your case on the relevant page). Attach ALL 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; keep it as proof. Rib'e Lugá is the EXCEPTION: that procedure goes through the www.ribeluga.cw portal, not by email.

   • Write a clear email subject (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 for the decision (4 months).
   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. If negative, 6 weeks to object.
   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 24 November 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 from notification of the decision to file your objection (bezwaar) by email to info@immigrationcur.org. 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 · 853 KB · Official English version DOCX · 519 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Betalingsopdracht / Orden de pago: they are not the same. The Spanish one published by the Toelatingsorganisatie dates from June 2021 (only the MCB account, 1-year rows and the investor inside the XCG 635 row); the new Dutch one, which the Toelatingsorganisatie sent on 30-9-2026, also has Banco di Caribe, 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; 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. The amounts are already set per category; only if you apply for 2 or 3 years do you add up the years (see the tips).

  Proof of return	XCG 225
  Niet-van-Toepassing declaration	XCG 225
  Van Rechtswege declaration	XCG 615
  First application (study)	XCG 625
  First application (rentier/own business/pensioner)	XCG 635
  First application (work/family reunification)	XCG 655
  Renewal (work/study/rentier/investor/pensioner/own business)	XCG 615
  Renewal (family reunification)	XCG 625
  Change of permit	XCG 615
  Internship stay	XCG 525
  Short stay	XCG 535
  Tourist stay	XCG 525
  Final departure	XCG 145
  Duplicate	XCG 195

  Tips

  • ⚠️ Remember: since 1 April 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 (Toelatingsorganisatie payment order, 30-9-2026).
  • In the payment reference of the bank deposit, write your full name, which is mandatory, and your date of birth if there is room (Toelatingsorganisatie, in writing, 9-10-2026).
  • Keep the paper or scanned receipt — you must show the original for inspection when you hand in your application.

Important notes

• For the 'optieverklaring' (option for nationality, distinct from post-naturalization registration), the 'danger to public order' criterion must NOT be applied automatically to minor, isolated infractions — a case was won overturning its mechanical application to a single settlement paid to the Public Prosecutor (transactie) for violating the COVID curfew (ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2022:294).
• For nationality based on 'uninterrupted primary residence since birth,' studying full-time abroad for more than 2 years (returning only for vacations) DOES break that continuity, even if it is for legitimate academic reasons (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2022:124 · Aruba).

Related real case law (2)

Frequently asked questions