Netherlands Antilles

Rentier or Retired Residence Permit

The Curaçao Rentier or Retired Residence Permit (Rentenier of gepensioneerd vergunning) allows foreign nationals to reside in Curaçao while living entirely on passive income — from investments, savings, rental returns, or pension and retirement benefits. The permit is issued by the Immigratiedienst Curaçao under the Ministry of Justice, and is based on the Landsverordening Toelating en Uitzetting (LTU), the national ordinance governing admission and stay. There are two sub-categories: rentiers who live on investment income or savings, and retired persons who live on pension benefits. Retired applicants aged 50 and older may additionally qualify for the Penshonado preferential tax arrangement, which provides a 10% flat tax rate on foreign-sourced income.

• Foreign national able to demonstrate sufficient passive income or savings without local employment
• Minimum income of ANG 3,000 gross per month (or ANG 1,500/month if spouse holds Dutch citizenship), demonstrated by an original bank declaration
• Additional monthly income required per dependent child (ANG 250–500 depending on age)
• No local employment or self-employment permitted
• Clean criminal record (declaration of good conduct from last country of residence, not older than 3 months)
• Valid health insurance; all Curaçao residents must enrol in the BVZ basic health insurance scheme administered by the SVB
• Must remain outside Curaçao while awaiting the first permit decision

Penshonado Tax Arrangement (optional, for retirees)

Retired persons aged 50 or older who have not resided in Curaçao for at least 60 consecutive months prior to application may apply for the Penshonado tax arrangement. This requires owning property in Curaçao worth at least ANG 450,000 within 18 months of registration. Two options are available:

• Option 1: 10% flat tax on foreign-sourced income
• Option 2: Standard progressive tax rates applied to a fixed fictitious income of ANG 500,000 regardless of actual income

Once chosen, switching from Option 1 to Option 2 requires a 3-year waiting period.

First application:

• Proof of application fee payment at Maduro & Curiel's Bank (ANG 635)
• Completed and signed application form
• Valid passport copy
• Birth certificate copy (not older than 1 year; original required for inspection)
• Declaration of good conduct from last country of residence (original, not older than 3 months)
• Original bank declaration confirming sufficient financial means
• For retirees invoking the Penshonado arrangement: statement from a local Curaçao accountant or audit firm

Renewal:

• Proof of fee payment (ANG 615)
• Signed application form
• Passport copies
• Copy of current permit (decree and seal)
• Bank declaration confirming continued sufficient financial means

The permit is valid for 1 year and must be renewed annually. Renewal applications may be submitted from 4 months before the expiry date, and the holder may remain in Curaçao while the renewal is processed. After 10 years of uninterrupted legal residence, holders may apply for a permanent residence permit (verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd).

Dependent family members must each submit a separate application including proof of family relationship and the applicable fee. Additional income must be demonstrated for each dependent child: ANG 250/month (ages 0–5), ANG 350/month (ages 6–11), ANG 500/month (age 12 and older). Spouses of Penshonado holders are subject to the same employment restrictions and may not work locally.

All Curaçao residents are subject to income tax on worldwide income under the standard territorial tax system, unless qualifying for the Penshonado arrangement. Regardless of Penshonado status, residents must pay BVZ (basic health insurance) premiums and social insurance contributions (AOV/AWW). The AVBZ exceptional medical expenses premium applies to all residents. The Penshonado arrangement is forfeited if the holder or spouse earns local employment income, files incomplete tax returns for two consecutive years, loses qualifying property for more than 6 months, or violates work restrictions for two consecutive years.

1. Collect all required documents in PDF format (straight scans, no edits, colour copies for identity documents).
2. Pay the application fee (ANG 635 for first application) at Maduro & Curiel's Bank, including your full name and date of birth in the payment reference.
3. Submit electronically via the Immigration Service portal at permit.immigrationcur.org, or by email to intake@immigrationcur.org.
4. First-time applicants must await the decision outside of Curaçao. The Admission Office has a maximum of 4 months to decide.
5. If denied, applicants have 6 weeks to file a notice of objection (bezwaarschrift) by email to info@immigrationcur.org.
6. Upon arrival in Curaçao, register with the civil registry (bevolkingsregister) and enrol in the BVZ health insurance scheme.

Dutch and American nationals may be eligible to apply for a Declaration of Admission by Right (Verklaring van Rechtswege) rather than a standard residence permit, providing equivalent legal status through a simplified procedure.

Links

• https://immigrationcur.org/en/dep/rentenier/
• https://immigrationcur.org/en/dep/submit-application/
• https://belastingdienst.cw/particulier/themas/penshonadoregeling/

Other Digital Nomad Visas in North America