Employer's work permit (Tewerkstellingsvergunning): how to hire a foreign worker

Who does this apply to?

• Companies or individuals in Curaçao who want to hire a foreign worker who does not yet have a valid work permit.
• Employers who already have a foreign worker with a Tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV, the employer's work permit) that is about to expire and needs to be renewed.

Costs

Official fee by permit duration:

• IMPORTANT — current policy, quoted word for word from the official page: right now ONLY the 0-6 and 6-12 month categories are being processed; the 12-24 and 24-36 month ones exist in the table but are not being handled.
• Payment is made at the Vergunningenloket counter (debit card, no cash) or by deposit at Maduro & Curiel's Bank, account 32061300, with the reference: the foreign worker's name + 'storting leges Tewerkstellingsvergunning'.
• The application is NOT processed until ALL the documents have been handed in AND the fee has been paid — both conditions at the same time.

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

Decision time

Not officially confirmed. The official page does not publish a decision period for the TWV itself — the only confirmed timing is that the vacancy must be registered at least 5 weeks before you can apply for the permit. Do not assume it is the same 4-month period as the residence permit (that is a different procedure, handled by a different ministry).

Requirements

• Mandatory first step — register the vacancy with Centrum voor Arbeid / Sentro pa Labor (the labor office) at least 5 weeks before applying for the TWV, by email to vacaturemelding.soaw@gobiernu.cw, using the form that matches your type of employer (individual or legal entity/company) — you must be able to show that you actively looked for candidates in Curaçao during those 5 weeks.
• From the employer: name, address, phone/email, CRIB number (tax number), Chamber of Commerce registration number; a description of the position and the place of work; the diplomas/experience the position requires; and a justification of why a foreign worker needs to be hired.
• Documents to hand in: the completed application form, a draft employment contract, proof of payment of the fee, a copy of the cover page of the labor registry (Landsverordening tot inschrijving van arbeidskrachten), an establishment permit if applicable, proof of the vacancy notification, an original declaration from the Tax Inspector confirming that the employer has a taxable income of XCG 36,000 or more per year, a copy of the Chamber of Commerce registration (less than 6 months old, stamped), a copy of ID, and a letter of authorization if a third party files the application.
• From the foreign worker: a full copy of the valid passport, 2 passport photos (less than 60 days old), certified copies of diplomas and employment references if applicable, and a director's permit if the position is a directorship.
• Hospitality sector: in addition, a copy of the restaurant/coffee house/hotel/casino permit.
• If the worker is going to live in the employer's home: a floor plan of the room where they will live, a medical declaration if they will be caring for an elderly or dependent person, a notarial cohabitation agreement if applicable, and a marriage/family record book or proof of guardianship of minors.
• Agricultural sector: a plan of the land, a description of the infrastructure and the crop, a copy of the ownership/lease, and a measurement certificate (meetbrief).
• For the work permit, the official page requires paying at least the full statutory minimum wage to every worker aged 18 or over: with a work permit the youth minimum does not apply. The full minimum is XCG 11.93 per hour in 2026.
• To renew a valid TWV: the same documents as the first application, plus a copy of the previous TWV. The real difference: the first application only requires the cover page of the labor registry (arbeidsregister); the renewal requires the registry completely filled in. The 5-week vacancy notice applies to renewals too, it is not only for first applications.

Steps to apply

1. Register the vacancy with Centrum voor Arbeid / Sentro pa Labor (Bon Bini Business Center, Schottegatweg Oost 10, ground floor) by sending the corresponding form to vacaturemelding.soaw@gobiernu.cw — do it at least 5 weeks before the date you need the permit.
   How to get this done

   SOAW — Centrum voor Arbeid / Sentro pa Labor (where the employer registers the vacancy: the FIRST step, 5 weeks before applying for the work permit)

   Bon Bini Business Center, Schottegatweg Oost 10, planta baja, Willemstad, Curaçao — Google Maps

   +5999 434-0300

   vacaturemelding.soaw@gobiernu.cw

   The vacancy is registered by emailing the 'vacaturemelding' form to vacaturemelding.soaw@gobiernu.cw. We found no evidence that you have to go in person for this step; it appears to be handled by email.

2. While you wait out those 5 weeks, gather every document on the official requirements list (see the downloadable forms above).
3. Pay the fee for the duration you are going to apply for (XCG 500 for 0-6 months, XCG 1,000 for 6-12 months — today those are the only categories being processed) at the Vergunningenloket counter or by deposit at MCB, account 32061300.
4. Hand in the complete application (documents + proof of payment) at the Vergunningenloket, Afdeling Intake.
   How to get this done

   SOAW — Vergunningenloket, Afdeling Intake (where the work permit application is submitted once Centrum voor Arbeid has approved the vacancy)

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

   +5999 434-0300

   This is the government's general permit counter, the Vergunningenloket at Saliña 127 (Eurobuilding); it is not the Toelatingsorganisatie, which since November 2025 has been at Prinsenstraat 90 (Punda). We found no information that a separate appointment is needed; the application is submitted after Centrum voor Arbeid approves the vacancy.

5. Wait for the decision (SOAW does not publish an exact period). Only once the TWV is approved can the foreign worker start their own residence procedure — see residence permit for work (employee).

Downloadable forms

• Work permit application (employer is an individual) DOCX · 42 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Aanvraagformulier tewerkstellingsvergunning natuurlijk persoon: ONLY in Dutch; this guide explains each part. The employer submits it, not the worker.

  With this form an employer who is an INDIVIDUAL (a family hiring a domestic worker, or the owner of a sole proprietorship) asks SOAW for the work permit for a foreign national. Where it says 'Ja / Nee*', strike out what does not apply, and answer every question fully but briefly.

  Section 1 — Gegevens van de aanvrager (employer's details): Surname, first names, ID number, address, email, phone, CRIB number and, if they have a business, the Chamber of Commerce number. If they are employed, their employer's name and their position; if not, their main source of income. If someone else handles the application, that authorised person's details (gemachtigde): the foreign national cannot be the authorised person.

  Section 2 — Gegevens betreffende arbeidsplaats (the job): The foreign national's position, place of work, monthly salary, date the vacancy was reported, and whether an advertisement was placed and the contract and job description are attached. Then why a foreign national is needed: replacing someone, the employer needs care (with a medical statement), is often away from home, has minor children (how many and ages, with proof), and whether the foreign national already worked for them 4 weeks before. Finally: first application, renewal with the same employer or change of employer.

  Section 3 — Gegevens van de vreemdeling (foreign worker's details): Surname (Naam), first names (Voornamen), date, place and country of birth, current address abroad, email, future address in Curaçao, phone, marital status, sex (man/vrouw: strike out what does not apply), passport number and expiry date.

  Section 4 — Live-in domestic staff: Only if the person will live in the house: whether you had live-in help before (from when to when and why it ended), size of the room, whether it has its own bathroom and entrance, floor material, what is in the bathroom and room. In this case both spouses or partners sign, with copies of their IDs.

  Section 5 — Hospitality staff: Hospitality only: whether you hold a valid café, restaurant, hotel or casino licence.

  Section 6 — Agricultural staff: Agriculture only: size of the land, whether you have a Land Registry survey (meetbrief), whether it is owned, rented or leasehold (erfpacht), what you grow, and size and facilities of the worker's room.

  Section 7 — Signature: Date in Willemstad, stamp if it is a sole proprietorship, surname, first name, ID number and signature of the applicant (and of the partner, for live-in domestic staff). By signing you authorise SOAW to ask the Tax Office for your taxable income.

• Work permit application (employer is a company) DOCX · 37 KB Fill it in here
  How to fill out this form

  Aanvraagformulier tewerkstellingsvergunning rechtspersoon: ONLY in Dutch; this guide explains each part. The company submits it, not the worker.

  With this form a COMPANY (legal entity) asks SOAW for the work permit for a foreign national. Where it says 'Ja / Nee*', strike out what does not apply, and answer every question fully but briefly.

  Section 1 — Gegevens van de aanvrager (company details): Company name, registration number, address, email, phone, CRIB number and Chamber of Commerce number. If someone else handles the application, that authorised person's details (gemachtigde): the foreign national cannot be the authorised person.

  Section 2 — Gegevens betreffende arbeidsplaats (the job): The foreign national's position, place of work, monthly salary, date the vacancy was reported, and whether an advertisement was placed and the contract and job description are attached. Then why a foreign national is needed: replacing someone, the company is expanding, it is for a project or another reason, and whether the foreign national already worked at the company 4 weeks before. Finally: first application, renewal with the same employer or change of employer.

  Section 3 — Gegevens van de vreemdeling (foreign worker's details): Surname (Naam), first names (Voornamen), date, place and country of birth, current address abroad, email, future address in Curaçao, phone, marital status, sex (man/vrouw: strike out what does not apply), passport number and expiry date.

  Section 4 — Hospitality staff: Hospitality only: whether you hold a valid café, restaurant, hotel or casino licence.

  Section 5 — Agricultural staff: Agriculture only: size of the land, whether you have a Land Registry survey (meetbrief), whether it is owned, rented or leasehold (erfpacht), what you grow, and size and facilities of the worker's room.

  Section 6 — Signature: Date in Willemstad, company stamp, and surname, first names, ID number and signature of the person authorised to sign (tekenbevoegde). By signing you authorise SOAW to ask the Tax Office for the taxable income.

• Requirements list — first application
• Requirements list — renewal

Important notes

What the official rules say

• Important and up to date on what kind of position you can hire someone from abroad for: since 20 June 2025 a new, much shorter moratorium applies (Regeling moratorium tewerkstellingsvergunningen, P.B. 2025, no. 78), which repeals the previous 2021 regulation (P.B. 2021, no. 44). The longer lists you may find come from earlier rules. Published officially at gobiernu.cw/nl/laws/regeling-moratorium-tewerkstellingsvergunningen-voor-specifieke-beroepen-en-functies/.

• TODAY only 6 occupations are restricted for new TWVs:

  1. low-skilled administrative staff (laaggeschoold administratief personeel)
  2. security guard (bewaker)
  3. warehouse worker (magazijnmedewerker)
  4. shelf stacker (rekkenvuller)
  5. salesperson (verkoper)
  6. shop/retail staff (winkelpersoneel).
• Hospitality and bar staff (horecapersoneel en barpersoneel) do not appear on the list of the 2025 moratorium, which does not mention them. If your position is in that sector, confirm it with the Vergunningenloket.
• Construction workers, electricians, plumbers, welders, gardeners, domestic staff, and agricultural work do not appear on the list in force in 2025 — if you have seen elsewhere that they do, that information comes from earlier, repealed rules.
• The law also requires this moratorium to be evaluated within its first year (Art. 2), so it may change again — always confirm the current list directly with SOAW (Infovergunningenloket@gobiernu.cw, +599 433-3123) before ruling a position out.
• This is a different procedure from the worker's residence permit — it is handled by a different ministry (SOAW, Ministerie van Sociale Ontwikkeling, Arbeid en Welzijn, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare), with its own fee, its own forms, and its own office. Do not mix them up or assume that paying for one covers the other.
• Official contact for the Vergunningenloket: Infovergunningenloket@gobiernu.cw, phone +599 433-3123, WhatsApp +599 433-3127, open Monday to Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm and Friday 8:00am-12:00pm, no appointment needed.

Still to be confirmed

• No detailed official procedure was found for exactly what happens if a local candidate applies during the 5-week vacancy notice period. What the law does require (Art. 3 Eav) is that the employer be able to justify the need to hire the foreign worker and the real efforts made to fill the position locally — be ready to prove that if you are asked.
• No evidence was found of a system of numerical quotas per sector, but there are additional document requirements specific to hospitality, live-in domestic staff, and the agricultural sector (see the requirements above).

Frequently asked questions