--- title: "Curaçao Sole proprietor permit requirements 2026: 3-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/self-employed/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- 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 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-cw-self-employed) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 3 yrs (Permit requested for up to three years; extension possible.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (Foreign nationals; Dutch and US citizens and people with a Dutch parent born in Curaçao use declarations instead of permits.) - **Family:** Family can join (Spouse or partner, children and parents can apply for a family permit; the permit holder must show sufficient means for each family member.) ## 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 fees: XCG 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. **Renewal: Renewable** 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 Curaçao](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/werken/) [Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Beleidswijziging-TO-Curacao-per-1-4-2026.pdf) **Permanent residence: After 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](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Beleidswijziging-TO-Curacao-per-1-4-2026.pdf) **Citizenship: General 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. [Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Netherlands](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/becoming-a-dutch-national-in-the-caribbean-part-of-the-kingdom) **Processing: Official timeline** The Admission Organisation has four months from the date of the application to decide. [Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/werken/) **Where to apply: From 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](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/werken/) ## 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 apply - 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 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. - **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. #### Documents - 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. #### Steps 1. Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years. #### After you arrive - 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## 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. (sources 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. (source 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. (source 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. (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant starts an own business (sole proprietorship) in Curaçao. (source 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. (source 1) - A copy of the establishment permit and a Chamber of Commerce extract not older than six months. (source 1) - A copy of the labour register entry and the company's CRIB number. (source 1) - An original bank statement not older than three months. (source 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. (source 1) - Apply online through the permit portal after paying the fee; the permit can be requested for up to three years. (source 1) - An extension needs a current Chamber of Commerce extract and the CRIB number. (source 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. Checked 2026-10-11 · partly verified ## Official sources 1. [Work and sole proprietorship permits](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/werken/) · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Betalingsopdracht-2.docx) · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Residence permit with family](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/verblijfsvergunning-bij-familie/) · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Beleidswijziging-TO-Curacao-per-1-4-2026.pdf) · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/m-profesional-independiente/) Colombia | Needs income of COP 8.8M+ a month ≈ $2,740 | 3 yr | Limited | | [BC Entrepreneur · Base](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/pnp-bc-entrepreneur-base/) Canada | Needs an investment of CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k | – | – | | [E-1 Treaty Trader](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e1-treaty-trader/) United States | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Self-employed residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/uruguay/permanent-independent-entrepreneur/) 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 [@HOME remote worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/remote-worker/) [Investor · indefinite](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/investor-indefinite/) [Investor · 3 years](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/investor-3y/) [Investor · 5 years](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/investor-5y/) [Rentier permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/rentier/) [Pensioner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/pensioner/) [Hibernator short stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/hibernator-short-stay/) [Work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/employee-permit/) ## Business / startup visas elsewhere [🇪🇨 Professional / tech visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ecuador/temporary-professional/) [🇩🇴 Business permit NG-1](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/business-permit-ng1/) [🇸🇻 Business owner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/el-salvador/temporary-business/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## 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. 1. [Work and sole proprietorship permits](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/werken/) · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Payment order form 910: fees and levies by permit type and period](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Betalingsopdracht-2.docx) · Department of Immigration (Admission Organisation), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Residence permit with family](https://immigrationcur.org/dep/verblijfsvergunning-bij-familie/) · Toelatingsorganisatie Curaçao, Ministry of Justice of Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Implementation of policy changes as of 1 April 2026](https://immigrationcur.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Beleidswijziging-TO-Curacao-per-1-4-2026.pdf) · Admission Organisation (Toelatingsorganisatie), Ministry of Justice, Curaçao · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Becoming a Dutch national in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom](https://ind.nl/en/dutch-citizenship/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](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.