General legal rules that apply to any residence permit

Who does this apply to?

• Anyone who holds (or is applying for) a residence permit in Curaçao — these rules do not belong to one specific procedure, they come from the general law (LTU / Toelatingsbesluit / HIG 2006)

Steps to apply

No detailed steps published for this procedure yet.

Important notes

• Legal basis for the fees (Art. 32a, 2014 act): the full leges table matches the one on the payment form. The refund of leges (Art. 32b) only applies when the application is rejected and that decision becomes final and irrevocable (kracht van gewijsde) — it does not apply to withdrawn or incomplete applications. It also confirms that there is a separate 'retributie' (administrative charge) of XCG 55 for new applications and XCG 45 for renewals, already included in the totals we quote. (Art. 32a and 32b, Eilandsverordening leges 1992 (as amended in 2014))
• A precision about the grace period: if your permit expires and you do not file the renewal application within the 3 months following expiry, that alone becomes grounds for removal (verwijdering)
• The maximum period to leave voluntarily after a removal order is 6 weeks (the same period that appears in the case law), but it can be extended if you request it directly from the Gezaghebber (the island authority), explaining your personal circumstances (moving out, return ticket, etc.)
• The family members of someone who is removed are generally removed together with that person, if their own permit is not independent. (Sections 9.4.1, 9.4.2, 9.4.3 HIG 2006)
• Health insurance requirement in detail: every permit requires valid health insurance for 1 year, covering a general practitioner, medication, specialist treatment and hospitalisation (minimum 90 days of cover for domestic and self-employed workers), from an insurer accredited by the government (SVB or a private one on the official list), and it must not be cancellable mid-year unless you can prove you have left the country or switched to another accredited insurer. (Section 3.8-b.3 HIG 2006)
• Moving to another island (e.g. from Curaçao to Aruba) while holding a valid permit cancels that permit's domicile condition and requires you to file for a change — but it is treated as a wijziging/verlenging (simpler), not as a first application. Living outside the islands continuously for more than 6 months within a 1-year period (regardless of your intention) means your main residence is assumed to have moved, and the permit ends — unless the absence is for study or medical treatment and you return within the year. (Section 3.9 HIG 2006)
• An important nuance about refusals on 'public order' grounds during a tourist stay: being on the island within the permitted tourist period (30 days, or extended to 90) is not illegal and cannot be used as a generic ground for refusal — the government must prove an actual violation with concrete facts (dates, a police report), such as being caught working illegally during the tourist period. Refusing 'in the general interest' without setting out specific facts makes the decision voidable for lack of reasoning. (Section 3.18 HIG 2006)

• The exact grounds for revoking a permit that has already been granted (Art. 14 LTU):

  1. a conviction for giving false information (Art. 24/25 LTU) or a final conviction for a crime to 3 months or more of imprisonment — NOTE: giving false information can revoke the permit even when it is discovered many years later (the case law cites up to 12 years afterwards)
  2. a threat to morality or public order (this includes terrorism)
  3. extreme destitution (begging or vagrancy)
  4. breaching the conditions of the permit.

  There is a legal distinction between a 'normal' revocation (not a sanction: e.g. the guarantor withdrew their guarantee, or the employer withdrew the work permit — in this case you can request a change of conditions) and a 'sanction' revocation (e.g. working when you were prohibited from doing so — here you cannot request a change of conditions afterwards). (Section 3.19 HIG 2006)

• Before revoking a permit, the Vreemdelingendienst must formally summon the person concerned to be heard (it can only revoke without this if the person is genuinely untraceable). After the revocation, the person has 6 weeks to leave the country voluntarily under their own arrangements. (Section 3.19 HIG 2006)
• If you are going to collect your permit and your occupation is 'cook' (kok), you must also present a valid health inspection card from the GGD (the public health service). Also: the permit can only be registered at Kranshi (the population registry) if it is valid for at least 4 months — a shorter permit cannot be registered. (Section 3.12 HIG 2006)
• ⚠️ very recent change: since 7 September 2026, Kranshi requires a mandatory appointment to register — without one, they will not process the registration (you used to be able to walk in). Call +5999 434-1600 or write to info.bsbv@gobiernu.cw to book.
• Renewals: you can file the application from 4 months before expiry up to the exact day it expires. If you do not file on time but you do file within the 3 months after expiry (the tolerance period), it is treated as an extension application — but you lose the accumulated residence seniority, which starts counting again from the date of that late application. If more than 3 months pass after expiry, it is treated as a first application (not a renewal).
• 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.
• 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. You need temporary PRIVATE insurance with minimum coverage of US$15,000 that includes hospitalization, emergencies, and repatriation (including in case of death).
• The largest local insurer with a physical office in Curaçao is ENNIA (product "Ziektekosten Algemeen") — it is the easiest option to arrange in person on the island, rather than an international insurer. We have no commercial relationship with any insurer: compare with at least one other local insurer (for example Guardian Group Fatum) before you sign up.
• Once your permit is approved, you enroll in the SVB (BVZ), the mandatory basic system for residents, and you can normally cancel the private insurance.