Curaçao · Retire or live on savings
Curaçao Hibernator short stay
Savings needed: XCG 36k+ ≈ $20k
Short-stay permit for hibernators and short-stay investors
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Hibernator short stay is a retire or live on savings route for Curaçao. Applicants need savings of XCG 36k+ ≈ $20k. You can stay 6 mo. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- XCG 36k+ ≈ $20k
- Government fees
- XCG 535 ≈ $300
- First stay
- 6 mo
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee XCG 535 ≈ $300; savings to show XCG 36k+ ≈ $20k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesXCG 535 ≈ $300
- XCG 535 (≈ $300)Fee per application.
Shown, not spentXCG 36k+ ≈ $20k
- XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100)Funds at disposal; alternatively proof of owning a house or apartment in Curaçao or a pleasure yacht of at least 10 metres, or a local bank guarantee of at least XCG 650,000 (≈ $363,000).
Renewal6 months max in total
The permit allows a stay of up to six months.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of CuraçaoGovernment of Curaçao programme
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
A hibernator or short-stay visitor does not become a resident of Curaçao, so this stay does not lead to permanent residence.
ProcessingOfficial timeline
The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao
Where to applyFrom abroad
You must wait outside Curaçao for the decision on a first application; for an extension you can wait in Curaçao.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 6 months in total
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Applications are made from outside Curaçao, not after arriving
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is a hibernator or snowbird, or a high net worth investor staying up to six months.
What you must show2
- At least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100) in funds, or a house or apartment in Curaçao, or a pleasure yacht registered in Curaçao of at least 10 metres on the waterline.
- Fee of XCG 535 (≈ $300) per application.
Documents3
- A bank guarantee of at least XCG 650,000 (≈ $363,000) from a local bank, not older than three months, can also show solvency.
- A copy of the passport photo page, with the passport valid for at least six months when applying.
- For each dependent family member: a separate short-stay application with proof of the family relationship.
Steps1
- Apply online through the permit portal and pay at Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe.
After you arrive1
- The permit allows up to six months; hibernators cannot work for a local employer.
When you become tax resident
How Curaçao decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 6 months in total
- Tax residence
Liability follows where a person lives, not the type of permit.
- Foreign-source income
People living in Curaçao pay income tax on a progressive 2026 scale from 9.75% to 46.5%, and foreign-source income is also taxable with relief against double taxation.
All tax rules for Curaçao Tax records checked
Full official text
Permit of up to six months for winter visitors and capital-strong short-stay investors who show funds, a Curaçao home or a yacht. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100) · Funds at disposal; alternatively proof of owning a house or apartment in Curaçao or a pleasure yacht of at least 10 metres, or a local bank guarantee of at least XCG 650,000 (≈ $363,000). 1
- A fee of XCG 535 (≈ $300) · Fee per application. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a hibernator or snowbird, or a high net worth investor staying up to six months. 1 2
- At least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100) in funds, or a house or apartment in Curaçao, or a pleasure yacht registered in Curaçao of at least 10 metres on the waterline. 1
- Fee of XCG 535 (≈ $300) per application. 1
- A bank guarantee of at least XCG 650,000 (≈ $363,000) from a local bank, not older than three months, can also show solvency. 1
- A copy of the passport photo page, with the passport valid for at least six months when applying. 1
- For each dependent family member: a separate short-stay application with proof of the family relationship. 1
- Apply online through the permit portal and pay at Maduro & Curiel's Bank or Banco di Caribe. 1
- The permit allows up to six months; hibernators cannot work for a local employer. 1 2
Stay
- Stay of up to six months.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
All nationalities can apply.
Work
No local work.
Family
Dependent family members each apply for the short-stay permit.
Official sources
- Short stay: remote workers, hibernators and short-stay investors · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- @HOME in Curaçao: frequently asked questions · Government of Curaçao programme (Curaçao Tourist Board) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permits and declarations · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
Hibernator short stay and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibernator short stay | Needs savings of XCG 36k+ ≈ $20k | 6 mo | No |
| Rentier permit | Fee XCG 1,865+ ≈ $1,040 | 3 yr, renewable | No |
| Pensioner permit | Fee XCG 1,865+ ≈ $1,040 | 3 yr, renewable | No |
| Retiree permanent residence Mexico | Needs income of MXN 134k+ a month ≈ $7,310 | – | Yes |
| Pensioner visa M Colombia | Needs income of COP 5.3M+ a month ≈ $1,640 | 3 yr | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Hibernator short stay?
Savings of at least XCG 36,000 (≈ $20,100). Funds at disposal; alternatively proof of owning a house or apartment in Curaçao or a pleasure yacht of at least 10 metres, or a local bank guarantee of at least XCG 650,000 (≈ $363,000). A fee of XCG 535 (≈ $300). Fee per application.
How long can I stay on the Hibernator short stay?
Stay of up to six months.
How long does the Hibernator short stay take to process?
The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide.
Can I work on the Hibernator short stay?
No. No local work.
Can I bring my family on the Hibernator short stay?
Dependent family members each apply for the short-stay permit.
Does the Hibernator short stay lead to permanent residence in Curaçao?
Time on the Hibernator short stay doesn't count toward permanent residence in Curaçao.
More in Curaçao
Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Short stay: remote workers, hibernators and short-stay investors · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- @HOME in Curaçao: frequently asked questions · Government of Curaçao programme (Curaçao Tourist Board) · checked 2026-10-11
- Permits and declarations · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.