Residence Permit for Work (Employee of a Company)

Who does this apply to?

• Foreigners hired by a company in Curaçao, and directors of an N.V. or B.V. (sole proprietors use the residence permit for your own business)
• Live-in domestic workers and hospitality staff (additional medical requirements)

Costs

• First application: XCG 655 ≈ US$ 366
• Renewal: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Change: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Other costs: XCG 10 adhesive stamp on the Employer's Declaration and on the Guarantee Declaration. Payment at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB) or Banco di Caribe.
• 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 1,885). 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 from when the complete application is submitted (also confirmed judicially in ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2012:BX4950). The first application must be awaited outside Curaçao (uitlandigheidsvereiste); renewals can be awaited within the country.

Requirements

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

• First application: the employer (not the employee) must first apply for the work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) with the Ministry of Labor, and only once it is approved can the residence permit be requested. To renew or apply for a change, the official page accepts the current work permit or proof that it was applied for (the new employer's, if you change jobs) and paid for: do not wait until you have the new one to submit your application
• Proof of payment of fees and charges
• Original, complete, and signed application form
• Copy of valid passport (all nationalities, if you hold more than one)
• Copy of birth certificate (no older than 1 year), legalized or apostilled according to the country (except EU)
• Certificate of good conduct from the last place of residence (no older than 3 months)
• Copy of the valid work permit
• Copy of the employer's Chamber of Commerce extract (no older than 6 months) and of the labor registry
• Original signed Employer's Declaration + copy of the employer's ID
• If the employer is a natural person/sole proprietorship: original Tax Inspectorate statement of their assessed taxable income from 2 years ago, at least XCG 36,000 in that year (not the total of two years)
• Guarantee Declaration signed by the employer (and by their spouse, if married)
• Hospitality staff and live-in domestic employees: health certificate (no older than 2 months) and chest X-ray evaluated by a specialist (no older than 30 days)
• If you are the director of a legal entity (N.V. or B.V.), also: a copy of the company's establishment permit, a copy of the director's permit, a copy of the company's SVB registration and its CRIB number (official page). Note: since August 15, 2023 the Vergunningenloket no longer requires the director's permit to be applied for, although the Toelatingsorganisatie's page still asks for it; ask the Toelatingsorganisatie what to submit instead

Steps to apply

1. The employer applies for the work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning) with the Ministry of Labor (SOAW) — full process, with exact fees and the real forms, in Employer's work permit (Tewerkstellingsvergunning).
   How to get this done

   Vergunningenloket, intake department: where the work permit (TWV) application is submitted once Centrum voor Arbeid has approved the vacancy

   Saliña 127, unit 3-16 (Eurobuilding), Willemstad, Curaçao — Google Maps

   Monday to Thursday 08:00–15:00, Friday 08:00–12:00 (TWV applications)

   +5999 433-3123

   WhatsApp: +5999 433-3127

   Infovergunningenloket@gobiernu.cw

   No appointment is needed to submit a TWV application: you take it to the intake counter with the documents on the requirements list and the payment, once Centrum voor Arbeid has approved the vacancy. The Vergunningenloket only receives the application; the SOAW ministry assesses and decides it (Vergunningenloket, in writing, October 9, 2026). It is the government's general permit counter at Saliña 127 (Eurobuilding); it is not the Toelatingsorganisatie, which since November 2025 has been at Prinsenstraat 90 (Punda).

2. Once the work permit is approved, the residence requirements are gathered and scanned as PDF (right-side up, in color, no staples, no translucent backgrounds).
   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. The residence application is submitted 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 for the decision: 4 months. The first application must be awaited 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: an appointment is scheduled to pick up the permit. If negative: 6 weeks to object 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.
• 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

• Are you the employer and not the worker? Read our full guide for companies, with the process explained from your side: Guide for employers: how to legally hire a foreigner in Curaçao.
• The only way the government has historically exempted someone from this requirement is through a special regularization policy with a cutoff date (Integrashon Responsabel 2021 -> Ribe Luga 2026) — never by litigating an individual case. If you did not qualify for the special 2026 policy based on your entry date, or did not register in time (its registration closed on October 31, 2026), there is no reliable legal shortcut to avoid leaving the country.
• A change of employer or of situation (e.g., finishing your studies and starting to work) must be reported to Immigration immediately, and you have 6 weeks to request the change of permit. Careful: under the 2006 policy (HIG, 3.8 b.1), if the person who signed your guarantee withdraws it, your permit is withdrawn from the moment Immigration receives that withdrawal, after hearing you, and the Toelatingsorganisatie's official FAQ still lists the guarantor withdrawing the guarantee and the employer withdrawing the work permit as grounds for withdrawal. Apply for the change as soon as you can, without using up the 6 weeks, and attend the hearing if you are summoned; whether the 6 weeks also apply in that case is pending confirmation from the Toelatingsorganisatie.
• Renewing: the application is submitted from 4 months before the permit expires and at the latest on the day it expires. The current work permit or proof that your employer applied and paid for the new one is enough: do not wait until you have it. If you apply after the expiry date, you are left with a gap without a permit: up to 3 months later it still counts as a renewal, but the new permit starts on that day and the count of the 10 years for indefinite residence starts again from zero; after 3 months it is a first application (the Toelatingsorganisatie's official FAQ; HIG 2006, 3.1.2). Step by step: how to renew your residence permit.
• The Employer's Declaration your boss 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 and vacation bonus percentage, and it requires the company's physical stamp alongside the signature — without the stamp, the form can be rejected as incomplete.
• Whoever signs the Guarantee Declaration (the employer or guarantor) is legally liable to the State for any costs generated by your stay — legal or illegal — including the cost of a possible deportation/forced departure trip. If the guarantor is married, their spouse must also sign the declaration.

• Exact legal basis of the Guarantee/Employer's Declaration: the employer commits in writing to cover

  1. the repatriation costs of the worker and their family, and
  2. all expenses the government would have to bear if the worker (or their family) becomes indigent or needs hospitalization paid for by the government.

  The guarantor must demonstrate sufficient means to be able to fulfill this. (Art. 4(4) and 11(2)(3) Toelatingsbesluit)

• Key legal basis behind all the case law on permit revocation (Art. 10 LTU): 'anyone who 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; legally it 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. overstaying after the permit expires = up to 1 month or a fine of up to XCG 500
  3. knowingly providing false information to obtain or maintain a permit = up to 1 year of imprisonment or a fine of up to XCG 1,000 (a crime, not a minor infraction) — this explains why case law treats any false document so severely.
• The permit does not become independent of the employer after 5 years: the 2006 rule that said so (HIG 2006, 3.3.1) was repealed in 2019, and the policy in force since April 1, 2026 keeps it repealed. What still stands: if you change employer, you must report it to Immigration immediately and you have 6 weeks to request the change of permit (HIG 2006, 3.1.3), and until you have an indefinite permit your employer renews the work permit every time it expires (written reply from the Toelatingsorganisatie, September 30, 2026).

• Exact and very specific rules for guarantors:

  1. an N.V. or B.V. is not asked for proof of means, because it is a legal entity (Toelatingsorganisatie in writing, October 12, 2026; the 2006 policy spoke of asking for the profit-and-loss statement if its capital was in doubt)
  2. a sole proprietor (eenmanszaak) acting as guarantor needs taxable income of at least XCG 36,000, plus an additional XCG 18,000 for each additional foreign worker they guarantee
  3. individuals with live-in domestic staff need XCG 36,000 of proven income per person they guarantee (e.g., a pair of caregivers = XCG 72,000/year)
  4. for your family, the two sources do not match: the 2006 policy said an employee cannot be the guarantor for their own family (their income depends on the employer) and that, if the family migrates together with the worker, the employer is the guarantor for all of them; today's official page instead asks for the family's guarantee declaration to be signed by the main applicant (the person already living in Curaçao), together with their employer's declaration, their CRIB number and a copy of their permit (residence permit for family members).

  (Section 3.8-b.1 HIG 2006; official page “Verblijfsvergunning bij familie”)

• The guarantor's liability does not end when they withdraw the guarantee in writing — they remain liable for all costs (repatriation, medical care, and immigration detention costs at a rate of XCG 200 per each 24 hours) until the foreigner actually leaves the country. If the guarantor does not pay voluntarily, the government can initiate judicial collection via bailiff/seizure. (Section 3.8-b.1 HIG 2006)
• Health insurance: while your application is pending (without a permit yet) you cannot use the public system (SVB/BVZ), which is only for those who already have residency. To collect the permit you are asked for health insurance valid for 1 year, from the SVB or from a private insurer accredited by the government (HIG 2006, 3.8 and 3.12). The US$15,000 of cover that is sometimes quoted is the minimum the Dutch government asks of tourists to enter (see the travel requirements guide), not a residence-permit rule.

What real court cases teach

• What the cases say: in the rulings we analysed, the court applied the requirement to wait for the decision outside the country (uitlandigheidsvereiste) to people who were already on the island, and they almost always lost: in Curaçao, for example, ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2011:BQ0628, ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2011:BV2092, ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2012:BY7643, ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2019:308 and ECLI:NL:OGEAC:2021:126; also in Sint Maarten (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2019:211) and in Aruba (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2022:48). The only one we found that was won (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2021:12) was in Sint Maarten, because that island's guide for directors was ambiguous: it does not help in Curaçao. In ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2024:22, from Curaçao, the Integrashon Responsabel policy did exempt people from this requirement, and they still lost because they did not meet the other ones (they had no establishment permit and no work permit).
• The residence permit for work is legally dependent on first having the Ministry of Labor's work permit approved; if that is denied, the residence permit is automatically denied as well (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2021:279 · Bonaire).
• If the reason for your permit changes or ends (divorce, end of studies, dismissal), the official instruction (HIG 2006) requires you to inform Immigration immediately and gives you 6 weeks to request a change of permit. If you don't report it and it comes to light later, the permit is treated as withdrawn from the day the reason changed: the Joint Court applied this in a Sint Maarten case (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:206).
• A criminal record weighs on renewals: in Bonaire, a minor fine was enough to deny a renewal on 'public order' grounds (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2020:103). In Curaçao, the law allows even an indefinite permit to be withdrawn after a final conviction for a crime to 3 months or more of unconditional imprisonment (LTU, art. 14; ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2026:71).
• Submitting a false document (e.g. a declaration from an employer that does not exist) proves nothing and is a crime (LTU, Art. 24): in a Sint Maarten case, the rest of the evidence was not objective and verifiable either and the person lost (ECLI:NL:OGHACMB:2023:208). Prove your income with objective documents.

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

Related real case law (15)

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