Residence Permit for Family Members (spouse, children or parents) of someone already residing in Curaçao

Who does this apply to?

• Spouse, or partner with a notarial cohabitation agreement made in the Netherlands or the BES islands, of a resident/guarantor in Curaçao
• Minor children (or dependent adult children in specific cases) of a resident/guarantor in Curaçao
• Parents of a resident/guarantor in Curaçao (via 'extended family reunification')

Costs

• First application: XCG 655 ≈ US$ 366
• Renewal: XCG 625 ≈ US$ 349
• Other costs: Change of situation (e.g. the guarantor stops working, etc.): XCG 615. If your situation changes, you have 6 weeks to apply for the change (official page).
• Fee for one year. Since April 1, 2026 you can request the permit for 1, 2 or 3 years and pay for all of them up front: in a first application, the first year at that fee and each extra year at the renewal fee; when renewing, all of them at the renewal fee (for example, a first application for 3 years = XCG 1,905). See what changed on April 1, 2026 (Spanish) →

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

Work out your total for 1, 2 or 3 years, including stamps and the deposit for your nationality: open the cost calculator →

Decision time

4 months. For the first application, the decision must be awaited outside Curaçao ('afwachten in het buitenland'). For renewals, it can be awaited within the island.

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
• Original, fully completed and signed application form
• Copy of valid passport (all nationalities)
• Copy of birth certificate (no more than 1 year old; apostilled/legalized according to country of origin, except EU)
• Certificate of good conduct from the last place of residence (no more than 3 months old) for each family member over 18 years old
• If applicable, marriage: marriage certificate (or its registration in Curaçao if married abroad)
• If cohabiting without marriage: notarial cohabitation agreement concluded in the Netherlands/BES + proof of being single/divorced/widowed
• Original Guarantee Declaration signed by the guarantor (with an XCG 10 adhesive stamp)
• Copy of the current permit, Van Rechtswege declaration or Niet van Toepassing declaration of the person bringing you (the guarantor), unless they are a Dutch national born in Curaçao (Art. 1, letter a LTU)
• Original, signed Employer Declaration of the guarantor (with an XCG 10 adhesive stamp) and copy of the employer's ID
• Guarantor's CRIB number (and the company's, if applicable)
• If the guarantor owns their own business or is a director of an NV/BV: copy of the establishment permit and Chamber of Commerce extract (no more than 6 months old). If a director, also a copy of the director's permit (directievergunning): the Toelatingsorganisatie's page still asks for it, but since August 15, 2023 the Vergunningenloket no longer requires it to be applied for; ask the Toelatingsorganisatie what to submit instead
• Original Tax Inspectorate declaration of the assessed taxable income from 2 years ago of the person bringing you: at least XCG 36,000 in that year (not the total of two years). The page asks for it even when the monthly minimum is XCG 1,500 (Dutch guarantor); if the person bringing you arrived less than 2 years ago and has no assessed income for that year, what is accepted instead is pending confirmation
• Guarantor's minimum income: XCG 1,500/month gross if of Dutch nationality, XCG 3,000/month if foreign; plus XCG 250-500/month per child depending on age. If you apply only for children, the first child counts as the spouse (XCG 1,500 or 3,000) and each additional child adds 250, 350 or 500 (note 5 of the official page)
• For a child's application: current-year school enrollment declaration
• If one of the child's parents is not coming to Curaçao: copy of the valid passport of the parent who stays behind, with their notarial declaration of no objection; or, if one parent has sole parental authority or guardianship, a copy of the court ruling (legalized or apostilled depending on the country)
• Minimum salary requirement: if a Dutch national marries a foreigner, the Dutch national must have a minimum salary of XCG 1,500/month; if both spouses are foreigners, the main applicant must have at least XCG 3,000/month. For each foreign or Dutch child (not born in Curaçao) included in the application, the following is added as an additional financial guarantee: XCG 250/month (up to 5 years old), XCG 350/month (up to 11 years old), XCG 500/month (12 years or older). If the application is only for children, the first child counts as the spouse (XCG 1,500 or 3,000) and each additional child adds the amount for their age (note 5 of the official page).

Steps to apply

1. Identify which of the 3 sub-procedures applies: spouse/partner, children, or parents
   How to get this done

   Review which of the 3 sub-procedures describes your situation: spouse/cohabiting partner, minor children (or dependent adult children in specific cases), or parents of a resident (via 'extended reunification'). Each has its own document list — see the 'Requirements' section above.

2. Gather the specific requirements for a first application, renewal, or change according to your situation
   How to get this done

   Use the 'Requirements' list on this same page, filtering by your exact situation (first application, renewal, or change) — not all documents apply equally to all 3 cases.

3. Scan everything as PDF meeting the official scanning criteria
   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.
4. Pay the corresponding amount (655 / 625 / 615 XCG) at Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe
   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.
5. Submit the application 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.
6. If it is a first application: wait for the decision outside Curaçao (up to 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.
7. If positive: schedule an appointment to receive the permit
   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.

8. If negative: objection by email to info@immigrationcur.org within 6 weeks
   How to get this done

   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.
• Application form DOCX · 2.6 MB · in Spanish · Official English version DOCX · 96 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Aanvraagformulier VTTV / Application Form VTTV: the same form in different languages, checked field by field.

  This is the main form: it is used for the first application, renewal or change of almost every residence permit (work, family, study, rentier, own business; the investor has a separate form). It has 14 sections, numbered 1 to 13 and then 15 (there is no section 14). Only fill in the sections that apply to your case; leave the rest blank or write 'n/a'.

  Section 1 — Reason for the application: Tick ONE box: first application, renewal or change (change only if you already had a valid permit).

  Section 2 — Purpose of your stay: Tick the MAIN reason for your application (Employee, Director of a legal entity, Family reunification, Internship, Study, Own business, Pensionado arrangement, Rentier/Pensioner, or 'Other reason', where you write which). If you have more than one reason, choose the main one: the other requirements of your specific procedure depend on this box.

  Section 3 — Payment details: Date you paid and the exact amount in XCG. You must have PAID before submitting this form; attach the proof.

  Section 4 — Personal details of the foreign national (the applicant): Your full details: surname, first names, gender, date, place and country of birth, nationality(ies), FMSCRV number (only if you had a permit before), address abroad (first application only), address and postal address in Curaçao, phone, email (the decision is sent there), passport details, and marital status (married/divorced, with dates).

  Section 5 — Partner's details: Only if you have a spouse or cohabiting partner: the same basic details as section 4. Not applicable? Write 'n/a'.

  Section 6 — Children's details: Up to 6 children under 27: name, date of birth, country, nationality, and their current address if they don't live with you. Not applicable? Write 'n/a'.

  Section 7 — Employment details / sources of income: Employer's name, your position, your income from work and your other income (for each, whether it is per week, fortnight, month or year) and your personal CRIB number. If it does not apply, tick n.a.

  Section 8 — Guarantor's details: The 'guarantor' is whoever vouches for your stay: your employer (person or organisation) or the person you are joining. If it is a person: name, birth details, address, CRIB. If it is an organisation/company: company name, address, Chamber of Commerce (KVK) number, contact person, company CRIB.

  Section 9 — Questions about your stay in Curaçao: Since when you have been in Curaçao and when you plan to settle. LITERAL WARNING ON THE FORM ITSELF: if you answer that you are already in Curaçao WITHOUT a valid residence title, the form itself warns that 'this may be a reason to refuse your application'. Think carefully about this answer and get advice if your situation is irregular.

  Section 10 — Expiry date of your current permit: Only for a renewal or change: the exact date your current permit expires. The form itself reminds you that a renewal can be submitted at most 4 months before the expiry date and at the latest on the expiry date itself; submitting it later affects the residence rights you have built up.

  Section 11 — Grounds for your application: Free space to explain your situation in your own words; add a blank page if you need more room. Here you can mention special circumstances (e.g. a child's medical condition, long-standing family ties) that case law shows the government must explicitly weigh.

  Section 12 — Declaration on criminal record: Sworn statement that you have never been given a prison sentence or other custodial measure for an offence, community service or a work sentence, or an unconditional fine; that you have never accepted a settlement (transactie, an agreement with the Public Prosecutor) for an offence; and that you are not currently being prosecuted. If you CANNOT truthfully declare this, there is space to explain why. Do NOT lie here: concealing a record is a separate ground for refusal confirmed by case law (more serious than honestly stating the record).

  Section 13 — Where you have lived in the last 5 years: First application only: list the countries where you have lived in the last 5 years.

  Section 15 — Authorisation and signature: You authorise Immigration to request information about you from the Public Prosecutor, Interpol, the Tax Office, SVB, SOAW, banks and insurers. You sign and declare that everything is true: a false statement is a criminal offence and can affect your permit. Children aged 12 or over must sign THEMSELVES, not only a parent/guardian.

  Tips

  • Use CAPITAL LETTERS in every text field: the form asks for it explicitly.
  • For a family reunification application, each family member needs a separate form: you do not fill in one form for everyone.
  • Keep a copy of the signed form before you submit it: you will need it as a reference if you have to object to a negative decision.
• 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.

Important notes

What the official rules say

• When to renew. You can apply to renew from 4 months before expiry and at the latest on the day it expires. If you miss it, there is a 3-month tolerance period: it is still handled as a renewal (with all documents within those 3 months), but the new permit starts on the day you apply and the time built up toward indefinite residence starts again from zero. After the 3 months, it counts as a first application. (Official FAQ, archived copy from 2023)
• The minimum income of the person bringing you depends on their nationality: XCG 1,500 gross a month for a spouse if they are Dutch and XCG 3,000 if foreign, plus per child XCG 250 (aged 0 to 5), 350 (6 to 11) and 500 (from 12). If you apply only for children, the first child counts as the spouse: that child needs the XCG 1,500 or 3,000, and each additional child adds 250, 350 or 500 (note 5 of the official page). It is a big difference: check it before gathering your documents.
• Important real case law: if the government withdraws a permit it has already granted and the person already has their family in Curaçao, it must first explicitly assess the impact on family life (Art. 8 ECHR); if it does not, the withdrawal is annulled. The court said so in 3 cases from 2012 about regularisation permits under the Brooks Tower programme, not family permits, withdrawn because the person had not declared an earlier removal order.
• Real case law: if there is a child with a documented medical condition, the government must explicitly evaluate that factor before denying the permit, even if other requirements (such as income) are not fully met.
• Real case law: the government can require that the first application be awaited from abroad, even with spouse and children already on the island — this is not considered a violation of the right to family life if the family was formed knowing the stay was irregular.
• Whoever signs the Guarantee Declaration (the guarantor) is legally liable to the State for any expenses arising from your stay — legal or illegal — including the cost of an eventual deportation/forced departure trip. If the guarantor is married, their spouse must also sign the declaration.
• These are two different legal routes, each with its own amounts. This procedure is the residence permit with family: the minimum for a spouse is XCG 1,500 gross a month if the person bringing you is Dutch and XCG 3,000 if they are a foreign national. The Van Rechtswege declaration for family (gezinshereniging_vorming) is for family members who are Dutch nationals (Art. 3 LTU, letters f and h) and for the family of consuls, military and government-seconded staff; for the family of someone coming to work, that page asks for XCG 1,900 for a spouse. Confirm with the Toelatingsorganisatie which one applies to you.
• If the relationship ends. If the marriage or cohabitation ends (divorce, separation, death) before 5 years have passed since you were admitted on the basis of that relationship, in principle you have no right to stay, unless there are compelling humanitarian reasons: your permit is withdrawn or not renewed, and you get at most 6 weeks to put your affairs in order, which can be extended if reasonable (moving, divorce). There are exceptions: abuse within the relationship (including sexual abuse) is a possible reason to let you stay, not a guarantee; if your partner died before the 5 years, as a rule you may stay, unless they only had a temporary right of residence; and higher education (HBO or university) of value to the island can count. If the relationship ends after you have been admitted on its basis for more than 5 years, you can apply for your own permit (temporary and without restrictions), if you meet the general requirements and apply on time. (HIG 2006, sections 4.6.2 and 4.6.3)
• Separation of 5 years or more = the bond is presumed broken, with 2 exceptions (there is no acceptable future for the child in the country of origin — greater material well-being in Curaçao does not count as an exception on its own; or the child was 'unlocatable' in a war situation that prevented timely reunification). The burden of proving the exception falls on the applicant. (Section 4.10 HIG 2006)
• Children aged 18 to 27: they keep the permit alongside their parents as long as they continue studying and remain financially dependent — this includes studying a university degree abroad, as long as it is solely for study purposes and they remain financially dependent on their parents in Curaçao. Each renewal requires proof of current school/university enrollment. (Section 4.11 HIG 2006)

• If only one parent brings the child (the other stays in the country of origin), the following is required in addition to the normal requirements:

  1. a declaration that the parent who stays behind consents to the child residing in Curaçao with the other parent, or
  2. a court ruling granting sole parental authority/custody to the parent living in Curaçao. (Section 4.12 HIG 2006)

• There is an 'extended family reunification' route (verruimde gezinshereniging, hardship clause) for elderly parents who want to live with an adult child already settled in Curaçao. You must prove the relationship with legalized or apostilled official documents and that leaving them behind would be disproportionately harsh, and the policy also requires:

  1. that the parent lives alone in their country, proven with legalized documents
  2. that (almost) all of their children live in Curaçao: if a child who can care for them remains there, admission is refused
  3. that all children living here have a residence permit and a strong right of residence; and
  4. that one or more children, jointly if needed, have sufficient, lasting means to support them.

  Watch out for health insurance: after age 60 it is hard or expensive to get, and without it the permit is refused. (HIG 2006, sections 4.15 and 4.15.1)

• Marriage to a Dutch national: until March 31, 2026, the 2019 policy gave the foreign spouse of a Dutch national a 5-year permit after 5 years of marriage. Since April 1, 2026 the permit is requested for 1, 2 or 3 years, paying for all of them up front (in a first application, the first at that fee and the others at the renewal fee; when renewing, all at the renewal fee), and anyone who already had a 5-year permit before that date keeps that duration if they renew on time; if they renew after the tolerance period, they lose it (Changes from April 1, 2026 (ES)).
• How many years to apply for. Since April 1, 2026, a family member's permit lasts as long as that of the person bringing them: you will not get 3 years if theirs is for 1, so do not apply or pay for more years than theirs (each year is paid in advance). (Policy in force since April 1, 2026, section 4)
• Also: the foreign spouse of a Dutch national has no restriction on working, which is why the minimum income required of the Dutch guarantor (XCG 1,500) is lower than for the foreign guarantor (XCG 3,000) — the spouse married to a Dutch national can generate their own income. (Section 3.7(a) HIG 2006)
• Working with this permit. If the person bringing you is a foreign national, your permit does not allow you to work: the 2006 policy grants a spouse's permit on condition that they do not work, look for or accept work (HIG 4.4), and for any job held by any family member (spouse, children or parents) the employer must first apply for a work permit (TWV). Under Art. 10 of the Eilandsbesluit Arbeid Vreemdelingen, you do not need one if you are married to a Dutch national or are their partner with a notarial cohabitation agreement made in the Netherlands, or if you hold an indefinite permit (in those cases, with a valid werkboekje). Working without a TWV can cost you your permit: not meeting a condition of the permit is a ground for withdrawing it (LTU, Art. 14, letter f). (HIG 2006, sections 4.2 and 4.4)

• Exact legal list of what does count as income for the means requirement (Section 3.7(a) HIG 2006):

  1. salary as an employee
  2. self-employment income
  3. social security benefit/pension
  4. capital/asset income
  5. alimony received
  6. holiday allowance/vacation pay
  7. overtime (if structural)
  8. thirteenth month (if contractual)
  9. military pay (soldij).

• List of what does not count (Section 3.7(a) HIG 2006):

  1. state benefits
  2. the portion of a scholarship earmarked for tuition/materials
  3. alimony paid to an ex-spouse
  4. non-periodic gifts
  5. income from stocks/bonds (unless durable).
• No 1-year deadline. The 2006 policy (HIG, section 4.8) only allowed family reunification to be requested up to 1 year after the first arrival of the person bringing the family, and family formation up to 1 year after the wedding. On October 12, 2026 the Toelatingsorganisatie confirmed in writing that this section has been repealed since 2014, and that the applications of the family members (father, mother and children) can all be submitted at the same time.
• Getting married in Curaçao. If you live in Curaçao without a residence permit, you cannot marry here: on October 13, 2026 Publieke Zaken (Kranshi) replied in writing that a foreigner without a residence title cannot marry in Curaçao; the Loket Digital page does not say so. On October 14, 2026 Publieke Zaken clarified that this applies to people who live here without a permit: if you do not live in Curaçao, for example a couple of tourists, you can marry here (they call it “wedding tourism”, huwelijkstoerisme). If either of you is not a Dutch national, the notice of marriage (ondertrouw) requires a D-79 form approved by the Toelatingsorganisatie. Certificates must be original and recent (no more than 1 year old; proof of marital status, no more than 6 months) and, if issued abroad, legalized or apostilled. Those in Dutch, English or Spanish do not need to be translated; those in any other language must be translated by a sworn translator. (Publieke Zaken in writing, October 13, 2026; Loket Digital: Trouwen op Curaçao)

What real court cases teach

• Full 'broken family bond' rule (the legal basis behind the case ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2018:227): parent-child separation of less than 5 years = the bond is presumed intact, with 3 exceptions (the child already lives independently and supports themselves; the child married or formed their own family; there is a child protection measure or guardianship over the child)

Related real case law (11)

Frequently asked questions