Rentier (living off your income or interest)

Who does this apply to?

• Anyone who wants to live in Curaçao off rental income, interest or investments, without working on the island.
• Residence permit track: the one for almost all foreigners. The Toelatingsorganisatie grants or refuses it after reviewing your means.
• Van Rechtswege track (declaration by operation of law): only Dutch and US citizens, who already have the right to live in Curaçao by law. It asks for fewer documents and the first application costs XCG 615.

Costs

• First application: XCG 635 ≈ US$ 355
• Renewal: XCG 615 ≈ US$ 344
• Other costs: Van Rechtswege track: XCG 615. Change of situation (for example, you stop working and start living off your income): XCG 615.
• 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, on both tracks. Permit track: wait for the decision on a first application outside Curaçao; a renewal can be awaited inside.

Requirements

• Proof of payment of fees and charges (when paying, give your full name and date of birth as the reference)
• Copy of your valid passport (if you have several nationalities, of every passport)
• Copy of your birth certificate, apostilled or legalized depending on the country (no older than 1 year; certificates from EU countries do not need it). If paternity was acknowledged, the acknowledgment certificate too
• Certificate of good conduct from your last place of residence (no older than 3 months)
• Permit track only: original application form, completed and signed
• Permit track only: original bank statement showing you have enough means to support yourself and your family. If you bring your spouse, the standard for a foreigner is at least XCG 3,000 gross a month, plus XCG 250 to 500 a month per child, depending on age
• Van Rechtswege track only: proof of durable means, with bank statements for the last 12 months or proof that you hold bonds
• To renew (permit track): copy of your current permit (decision letter and sticker) and an updated bank statement; the birth certificate and the certificate of conduct are not repeated

Steps to apply

1. Gather the requirements for your track and scan them as PDF
   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.
2. Pay the fee at Maduro & Curiel's Bank: XCG 635 the first time on the permit track, XCG 615 on the Van Rechtswege track
   How to get this done

   Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB): to pay immigration fees (account 31967908, in the name of the Toelatingsorganisatie)

   Foto: Kattiel, CC BY-SA 4.0

   Plasa Jojo Correa 2-4, Punda, Willemstad, Curaçao (sede principal/Punda Head Office) — Google Maps

   Monday to Friday 08:00–14:00 (main branch; other branches may differ)

   No appointment is needed for a regular deposit or transfer. It is not confirmed whether payment can be made 100% through online banking or the app without visiting a branch: MCB offers digital banking, but we have not verified that transfers with a free-text reference (name + date of birth) are accepted without a branch visit. Ask the bank directly.

   How to pay the fee for your procedure

   Payment is made by deposit or transfer at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (MCB), account 31967908, in the name of the Toelatingsorganisatie (Rib'e Lugá also accepts payment at Banco di Caribe, account 36286001). ALWAYS put your full name and date of birth in the payment reference (some forms also ask for your passport number): without that reference the payment cannot be matched to your application. 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 1 April 2026, if you apply for a permit for more than 1 year, you pay the fee for each year requested in advance; 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.
3. Submit the 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.
4. Wait for the decision (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.
5. If positive: book an appointment to collect the document. If negative: you have 6 weeks to file an objection
   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

• Which track is yours. If you hold a Dutch or US passport, the Van Rechtswege track: it is not a permit the Toelatingsorganisatie grants at its discretion, but the record of a right you already have by law, as long as you meet the requirements. Everyone else takes the rentier residence permit. Who else qualifies by operation of law: Van Rechtswege. Official requirements for rentiers on that track: Toelatingsorganisatie page.
• Renewal can be requested starting 4 months before expiration.
• A change of situation (e.g. stopping work to become a rentier) gives you 6 weeks to process the change.

Still to be confirmed

• Important (real case law): in long-term residence renewals, a short and involuntary gap (e.g. due to a medical emergency or office closures) should not be enough to deny the renewal — see case cited below.

Related real case law (1)

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:2022:198BonaireForeign national won

  A Colombian national with 9 years of nearly uninterrupted permits had a gap of only 23 days due to a medical emergency and the Christmas office closure. The Court ruled it disproportionate to deny him indefinite residence for that reason. Although the original case was in Bonaire (not Curaçao), the proportionality principle applies equally to Curaçao's system.

Frequently asked questions