Residence permit to start or run your own business (sole proprietorship / director)

Who does this apply to?

• Foreigners who want to start their own business (sole proprietorship/eenmanszaak) in Curaçao
• Directors of a legal entity (company) incorporated in Curaçao

Costs

• First application: XCG 635 ≈ US$ 355
• Renewal: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Change: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Other costs: Payment at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB). In addition to the residence permit, you need a business permit from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and registration with the Chamber of Commerce and the Labor Registry.
• Fee per year of validity. Since 1 April 2026 you can request the permit for 1, 2 or 3 years and pay each year's fee up front (for example, 3 years = XCG 1.865). See what changed on 1 April 2026 (Spanish) →

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

Decision time

4 months. The first application is expected to be awaited outside Curaçao, unless the policy applicable to directors is ambiguous on this point (see case law).

Requirements

• 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), legalized/apostilled according to the country (except EU)
• Certificate of good conduct from the last place of residence (no more than 3 months old)
• Copy of the establishment permit (business)
• Copy of Chamber of Commerce extract (no more than 6 months old)
• Copy of the company's labor registration / SVB registration
• Company's CRIB number
• OBJECTIVE and verifiable proof of sufficient and durable income: bank statement or statement covering the last 12 months, or actual proof of payments — a self-reported tax declaration is NOT sufficient on its own

Steps to apply

1. Apply for the business permit with the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
   How to get this done

   Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) / Vergunningenloket: establishment permit for a business

   You apply for the establishment permit (vestigingsvergunning) at the Vergunningenloket, the central permit counter. Check the loketdigital.gobiernu.cw portal for the online procedure before going in person; the physical address and opening hours were not confirmed in this research.

2. With the business permit, register the company with the Chamber of Commerce and the Labor Registry.
   How to get this done

   Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel, trade register)

   Willemstad, Curazao (dirección exacta no confirmada en esta investigación) — Google Maps

   +5999 461-3918

   This is where you register the business and get the extracts that several procedures ask for. Check appointment availability and online services at curacaochamber.com.

3. Gather and scan all residence requirements as PDFs.
   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. Submit the residence application online.
   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.
5. Wait for the decision (4 months). If positive, schedule an appointment to collect the permit. 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 Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Betalingsopdracht / Orden de pago: the same form in different languages.

  Form 910. This is the payment order you use at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB) to pay the procedure fees BEFORE you submit your application. You only tick the box for your procedure: the amount is already fixed, you don't have to calculate anything.

  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; you don't have to add anything up yourself.

  Proof of return	XCG 225
  Niet-van-Toepassing declaration	XCG 225
  Van Rechtswege declaration	XCG 615
  First application (study)	XCG 625
  First application (rentier/investor/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

• Application form DOCX · 2.6 MB 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, investor, own business). It has 13 numbered sections. 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, Family reunification, Internship, Study, Own business, Rentier scheme, Rentier/Pensioner). 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, date and place of birth, nationality(ies), FMSCRV number (only if you had a permit before), address abroad AND 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 (stating whether it is per week/fortnight/month/year), and your personal CRIB number.

  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.

  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 had a criminal conviction, community service order, unconditional criminal fine or pending criminal case. 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.

Important notes

What the official rules say

• The Employer Declaration your employer must fill out asks for CONTRACTUAL weekly hours and ACTUAL weekly hours separately (to detect discrepancies between what was agreed and what was actually worked), in addition to gross/net salary, vacation bonus percentage, and requires the company's PHYSICAL STAMP next to the signature — without the stamp, the form may be rejected as incomplete.
• Key legal basis behind all the permit-revocation case law (Art. 10 LTU): 'whoever acts against the conditions of their permit is considered to have acted WITHOUT ANY PERMIT at all' — violating a condition is not a minor infraction, it legally puts you in the same status as having no permit at all.

• Exact criminal penalties for immigration violations (Art. 23-24 LTU):

  1. being without a permit = up to 3 months detention or a fine of up to XCG 1,000
  2. staying after the permit expires = up to 1 month or a fine of up to XCG 500
  3. giving FALSE information to obtain or maintain a permit = up to 1 YEAR IN PRISON (a serious offense, not a minor infraction) — this explains why case law treats any falsified document so severely.
• Directors/owners of a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak): the FIRST permit and the FIRST renewals are for only 1 YEAR at a time (not up to 3 like other purposes), until reaching 5 continuous years of legal residence — only then do extensions move to 2 years and then 3 years. This is more restrictive than what we had documented. (Section 3.3.1(c) HIG 2006)

What real court cases teach

• The 'sufficient means' requirement (middelenvereiste) is the MOST COMMON reason for rejection for directors/self-employed applicants: submitting only a tax statement, CRIB number, and director's permit is NOT enough (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:134 · Sint Maarten, 135, 136, a pattern repeated 3 times with different beauty salon businesses).
• For renewals: submit it complete before the previous permit expires. Since 1 April 2026 an incomplete application is not processed, and in a Bonaire case submitting it on time but completing it later made the 'gap' count against the applicant (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:254).
• Not actually being the owner of the business (even if you were before) causes the application to fail; the administration does not repeat mistakes from prior improper approvals (ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2020:132).

The rules common to every permit (in Spanish) also apply: mandatory health insurance, guarantor liability, renewal deadlines and grounds for revocation.

Related real case law (10)

Real cases from the courts of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands, which share the Joint Court of Justice. We show the island of each one, because each island's rules can differ. Each number links to the original text.

Legal review: pending This page summarises court rulings and has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer. It is not legal advice. What this means

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:137Sint MaartenForeign national won

  WON: when actual proof of payments IS submitted (even if it doesn't cover 100% of the period), the Ministry must properly justify why it isn't enough; failing to do so loses the appeal for them.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:134Sint MaartenGovernment won

  Submitting only a self-reported tax declaration, CRIB number, and director's permit does NOT prove the means requirement; objective and verifiable evidence is needed.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:135Sint MaartenGovernment won

  Second consecutive case with the same pattern: without a company bank account or formal bookkeeping, the case is lost.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:136Sint MaartenGovernment won

  Third consecutive case: confirms the pattern of the middelenvereiste as the most common reason for rejection for directors.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2021:12Sint MaartenForeign national won

  WON for entrepreneurs/directors: when official policy is ambiguous about whether the director must await the decision outside the country, that ambiguity can work in the applicant's favor.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2022:198BonaireForeign national won

  Very valuable WIN: a gap of only 23 days within 9 years of uninterrupted permits, caused by a medical emergency and office closures over Christmas, makes denying indefinite residence disproportionate.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:254BonaireGovernment won

  CRITICAL: 'stay gaps' count against the 5-year continuity requirement even if the renewal application was submitted on time but completed after the previous permit expired.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:248BonaireForeign national won

  The couple's combined income DOES count toward the means requirement, and a long-term 'on-call'/hourly employment contract is presumed to be a normal contract unless the government proves otherwise.

• ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2025:295Sint MaartenGovernment won

  The risk of unfavorable circumstances (e.g. the short duration of a previous permit) falls on the applicant, even if it was not directly their fault.

• ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2020:132CuraçaoGovernment won

  Not actually being the owner of the business (registered under someone else's name) causes the renewal to fail; prior improper approvals do not create a right to continue being so.

Frequently asked questions