Hiring Foreign Workers

Hiring foreign workers in Curaçao requires following specific government procedures to obtain work and residence permits

Check documentation

Check if standard permits and registrations are current. In the case of a foreign born employer, check if their personal immigration papers are in order.

Agency

Chamber of Commerce Curaçao, Tax Authority, SVB, Permit Desk,

To do

Hyperlink Websites:
Chamber of Commerce Curaçao,
Tax Authority,
SVB,
Permit Desk

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Payment form

Online Banking

Additional information

Check Chamber of commerce registration, social security, business license, crib nummer, employment registry.

Register Vacancy

You must first register the vacancy with the Labor Department to show that no suitable local candidate is available
Request vacancy form

Agency

Department of Labor

To do

Manda un email [email protected] pa pidi e formulario di vakatura òf pasa buska esaki personal

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Fill in vacancy form digitally (not handwritten) and submit

Agency

Department of Labor

To do

Manda un email [email protected] pa manda e formulario di vakatura òf entregá personalmente

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Expect formal approval notice via email to start work permit application process

Agency

Department of Labor

To do

Receive via email address on file

Duration (in Business Days)

35

Application work permit (Non-Dutch citizens)

to obtain official approval for the employment of a foreign worker.
Fill out application form and collect all required documentation

Submit application for work permit

Agency

Permit desk “Vergunningenloket”

To do

Apply in person at Permit desk (Vergunningenloket)

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

1000 ( 1 year)

Payment form

Pay on location or Online Banking

Complete payment for work permit

Agency

Permit desk “Vergunningenloket”

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Payment form

Online banking or swipe in person

Expect confirmation via email to pick up license

Agency

Permit desk “Vergunningenloket”

To do

Receive via email on file

Collect work permit at the Permit Desk

Agency

Permit desk “Vergunningenloket”

To do

Pick up in person at Permit desk

Duration (in Business Days)

180

While application for work permit is in process, employee arranges a copy of their passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate and certificate of good conduct from home country to prepare for applying for a residency permit.

Agency

Employee

To do

Contact relevant institutions at country of origin

Duration (in Business Days)

10-15

Application Residency Permit (For Non-Dutch & Non-US citizens)

The residence permit legally allowes the foreign worker to live and work in Curaçao.
Gather and review all required documentation to submit together with the residency permit application

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

Review and scan (if applicable) all required documentation

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Buy 2 stamps to place on guarantor and employer's declarations

Agency

Tax Authority or Cpost

To do

Visit the Tax Authority offices or a Cpost branch to buy stamps

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

20 (in stamps)

Download and fill in guarantee declaration and employer declaration and place stamps

Pay fees and retributions prior to sending in application and documentation

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

655

Payment form

Online Banking

Fill in the residency permit application form and submit all required documents via email in pdf format

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Await approval abroad and monitor status of residency permit processing

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

120

Receive approval notification and review next steps

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

Receive via email address on file

In case of rejection, employee or employer as representative must submit objection notice within legal time limit (6 weeks)

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

Mail notice of objection to [email protected]

Duration (in Business Days)

30

Arrange visa to enter Curaçao depending on country of origin of worker

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

Arrange visa at Dutch consulate or embassy

Duration (in Business Days)

TBD

Employee enters at border and receives entry stamp in passport

Agency

Immigration at border

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Pay required permit deposit and receive voucher as proof of deposit

Agency

Tax Authority

To do

Visit the Tax Authority office to pick up the voucher after payment

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

500

Arrange local private health insurance (Dutch and US nationals are exempt)

Agency

Insurance company

To do

At insurance companies or brokers

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

2000

Hand over the deposit voucher to employee for own record keeping

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Employee makes appointment to collect residence permit as a stamp in passport. Employee visits the Admission Office Curaçao to get the permit stamped in passport

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Employee makes appointment online to register at the civil registry and create ID (sédula)

Agency

Civil Registry “Kranshi”

Duration (in Business Days)

Employee visits Kranshi to register and create ID (sédula)

Agency

Civil Registry “Kranshi”

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

15

Payment form

Pay on location

Employee collects BB10 form to be able to import household items free of charge

Agency

Civil Registry “Kranshi”

Duration (in Business Days)

3

Request declarations (for Dutch & US citizens)

Admission declarations are simplified immigration procedures available to citizens of the Netherlands and the United States, under special agreements with Curaçao.
Gather and review all required documentation to submit together with the application for a declaration

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

See Read more & Required documents

Additional information

Introduction: Dutch & American citizens that want to live and work in Curaçao need to apply for a Declaration of Legal Entry (“Verklaring van Rechtswege”). Dutch Citizens from the other Dutch Caribbean islands or Dutch citizens who were not born in Curaçao should apply for Declaration of Legal Entry (“Verklaring van Rechtswege ). If You cannot have both declarations.
The Declaration Not Applicable (Niet van Toepassing) depends on where your parents were born. If you were born on the other islands and lived in curacao by 10 10 10 see website for more information.

Pay fees and retributions prior to sending in application and documentation to request declaration

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Costs in XCG

615

Buy 1 stamp to place on employer declaration

Agency

Tax Authority or Cpost

To do

Visit the Tax Authority offices or a Cpost branch to buy stamps

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

10 (in stamps)

Download and fill in guarantee declaration and employer declaration and place stamp.

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Additional information

Van Rechtswege you do not need a guarantee declaration. Niet van Toepassing you do not need none of the declarations.

Apply for the declaration online and submit all required documents in PDF

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Await approval and monitor status of application

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

120

Receive approval notification and review next steps

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

To do

Receive via email address on file

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Make an appointment to receive declaration as a stamp in passport.

Agency

Admission Office Curaçao

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Employee makes appointment online to register at the civil registry and create ID (sédula)

Agency

Civil Registry “Kranshi”

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Employee visits Kranshi to register and create ID (sédula)

Agency

Civil Registry “Kranshi”

Duration (in Business Days)

1

Costs in XCG

15

Payment form

Pay on location

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