Curaçao · Business / Startup
Curaçao Sole proprietor permit
First stay: 3 yrs
Residence permit for a sole proprietorship (own business)
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedRecord corrected 11 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Sole proprietor permit is a business / startup route for Curaçao. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- XCG 635 ≈ $350 · +2 more
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesXCG 635 ≈ $350 · +2 more
- XCG 635 (≈ $350)First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined.
- XCG 1,250 (≈ $700)First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined.
- XCG 1,865 (≈ $1,040)First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
RenewalRenewable
The permit can be extended. You can ask for an extension from four months before it expires, and each application can cover up to three years.
Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of CuraçaoAdmission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao
Permanent residenceAfter 10 years of residence
An indefinite residence permit is granted after ten years of uninterrupted lawful residence in Curaçao.
Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
Dutch nationality by naturalisation needs five years or more in the Kingdom with a valid residence permit that allows you to stay permanently, plus the integration test. Some exceptions shorten the five years.
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 first need an establishment permit from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and must register the business, then apply for the residence permit and 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.
- Applications are made from outside Curaçao, not after arriving
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant starts an own business (sole proprietorship) in Curaçao.
- The applicant first gets an establishment permit from the Ministry of Economic Development, then registers the business with the Chamber of Commerce and the labour register.
What you must show and pay3
- A fee of XCG 635 (≈ $350) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined.
- A fee of XCG 1,250 (≈ $700) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined.
- A fee of XCG 1,865 (≈ $1,040) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
Documents4
- A copy of the establishment permit and a Chamber of Commerce extract not older than six months.
- A copy of the labour register entry and the company's CRIB number.
- An original bank statement not older than three months.
- A copy of the passport, a birth certificate not older than one year and a certificate of good conduct not older than three months.
Steps1
- Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years.
After you arrive1
- An extension needs a current Chamber of Commerce extract and the CRIB number.
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 3 years at first, renewable
- 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
What you need to arrange
- Bank account / funds
An original bank statement not older than three months
- Police certificate and civil documents
A copy of the passport, a birth certificate not older than one year and a certificate of good conduct not older than three months
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence permit for foreigners who start their own sole proprietorship in Curaçao after getting an establishment permit and registering the business. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of XCG 635 (≈ $350) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined. 2
- A fee of XCG 1,250 (≈ $700) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined. 2
- A fee of XCG 1,865 (≈ $1,040) · First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined. 2
Requirements
- The applicant starts an own business (sole proprietorship) in Curaçao. 1
- The applicant first gets an establishment permit from the Ministry of Economic Development, then registers the business with the Chamber of Commerce and the labour register. 1
- A copy of the establishment permit and a Chamber of Commerce extract not older than six months. 1
- A copy of the labour register entry and the company's CRIB number. 1
- An original bank statement not older than three months. 1
- A copy of the passport, a birth certificate not older than one year and a certificate of good conduct not older than three months. 1
- Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years. 1
- An extension needs a current Chamber of Commerce extract and the CRIB number. 1
Stay
- Permit requested for up to three years; extension possible.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign nationals; Dutch and US citizens and people with a Dutch parent born in Curaçao use declarations instead of permits.
Work
Own business.
Family
Spouse or partner, children and parents can apply for a family permit; the permit holder must show sufficient means for each family member.
Official sources
- Work and sole proprietorship permits · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit with family · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026 · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands · checked 2026-10-11
Sole proprietor permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor permit | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Freelance professional M Colombia | Needs income of COP 8.8M+ a month ≈ $2,740 | 3 yr | Limited |
| BC Entrepreneur · Base Canada | Needs an investment of CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k | – | – |
| E-1 Treaty Trader United States | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Self-employed residence Uruguay | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Sole proprietor permit?
A fee of XCG 635 (≈ $350). First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 1 year; fees and levies combined. A fee of XCG 1,250 (≈ $700). First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 2 years; fees and levies combined. A fee of XCG 1,865 (≈ $1,040). First application for a residence permit (own business, rentier or pensioner purpose) requested for 3 years; fees and levies combined.
How long can I stay on the Sole proprietor permit?
Permit requested for up to three years; extension possible.
How long does the Sole proprietor permit take to process?
The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide.
Can I work on the Sole proprietor permit?
Own business.
Can I bring my family on the Sole proprietor permit?
Spouse or partner, children and parents can apply for a family permit; the permit holder must show sufficient means for each family member.
Does the Sole proprietor permit lead to permanent residence in Curaçao?
Time on the Sole proprietor permit counts toward permanent residence in Curaçao, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
How are Sole proprietor permit holders taxed in Curaçao?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Sole proprietor permit. The standard rules apply: 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.
More in Curaçao
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
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.
- Work and sole proprietorship permits · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit with family · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026 · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11
- Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands · 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.