The island of Curaçao, located in the Dutch Caribbean, is known for its tranquil coves and coral reefs. Curaçao also offers a second residence program.
This article discusses how to get a Curacao residence by investment, what is involved in the application process, the benefits, and how it can lead to Dutch Citizenship.
If you’re looking for residence by investment, contact Nomad Capitalist, and we can discuss your options, including Curaçao or English-speaking alternatives.
Where in the World Is Curaçao?
Curaçao is located in the Southern Caribbean Sea, around 43 miles (70km) north of the coast of Venezuela.
Which Island Group Does Curaçao Belong To?
Curaçao helps to form the ABC Islands in the South Caribbean Sea, along with Aruba and Bonaire.
Do They Speak English in Curaçao?
Yes, they do speak English in Curaçao. However, the official language is Dutch. Spanish and Portuguese are also sometimes spoken in Curaçao.
Why Curaçao?
Curaçao’s forward-thinking government has made business transparency its focus. The Global Business Complexity Index rates Curaçao as the second-simplest jurisdiction in the world, after the Cayman Islands. There is a priority on securing business investment from high-net-worth investors in return for residence permits.
For wealthy individuals investing in jurisdictions such as Curaçao can help to provide asset protection. Curaçao Citizenship by investment means you and your family members will be granted citizenship for an investment that is for the tiny island nation’s development.
The government’s Open Arms initiative is focused on attracting foreign investors through citizenship by investment. After five years, it will also give you residency and Dutch citizenship, opening the door to the European Union.
Does gaining residency in the Caribbean, which also makes you eligible for European citizenship, sound appealing?
Residence by Investment in Curaçao
The forward-thinking mindset of the government gave the country the confidence to launch its Curaçao Investor Permit Program in 2014.
Who does this government initiative work for? The Curaçao Investor Permit Program benefits:
- Those who want to become eligible for Dutch citizenship and obtain a Dutch passport
- Those who want a residence permit with minimal physical presence requirements
- Those who want to invest in real estate or acquire a business and gain a residence permit.
Investment may include real estate (residential or commercial), buying a local business, or securities on the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange. The issuer of the securities can be a local company or a foreign entity. It must have at least one regional director or legal representative, and local operational costs and financial administration must be local.
The applicant can choose between three different permit programs:
- Three-year renewable residence permit with an investment of a minimum of $280,000
- Five-year renewable residence permit with an investment of a minimum of $420,000
- Indefinite residence permit with an investment of a minimum of $838,000.
Nationals of any country can apply for the Curaçao Investor Permit Program. At present, there are no restrictions on applicant nationalities.
The requirements for applying for this program:
- enough funds to meet the minimum investment
- hold no criminal record
- have a private health insurance policy
The Curaçao Residency Application Process
Official documents needed for this golden visa residence permit are:
- source of funds declaration to establish financial security
- certified copy of your birth certificate
- legible color copy of your valid passport
- another form of identification that needs to be legalized
- original bank reference letter not older than three months
- certified copy of a utility bill in your name to demonstrate proof of home address
- bank statement from a Curacao bank with local business investment of at least $280,00
- declaration of good behavior
Once documents are prepared and legalized, each Curaçao residency applicant should allow two weeks to receive a decision about their residence permit.
Family members who qualify under the Curaçao Investor Permit Program include children below 18, provided they are full-time students.
To maintain residence for the three-year, five-year, and indefinite programs, the applicant must spend at least one day per year in Curaçao.
Access to Dutch Citizenship
A residence permit qualifies holders to apply for an extended visa to the Netherlands and, consequently, the European Union when they meet the applicable conditions.
Thanks to Curaçao’s relationship with the Netherlands, residence permit holders in one territory effectively have rights of movement and settlement throughout the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
This means that investors who obtain a residence permit in Curaçao can also spend as much time as they please in the Netherlands.
Therefore, the Curaçao Investment Permit Program is effectively as good as an EU golden visa that offers a five-year path to European Union citizenship.
The solid Dutch passport provides visa-free access to 188 countries (including the Schengen area) and is ranked 9th in terms of travel freedom according to the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2023. Making it one of the most powerful and beneficial passports you can hold.
In the case the investor wants to obtain Dutch citizenship and a Dutch passport, they must:
- Maintain the primary residence in Curaçao for five years (by renewing the residence permit for the duration of the period)
- Stay a minimum of four months per year on the island at home (a legitimate address in Curaçao which they demonstrate proof of ownership of or a long-term rent)
- Stay nine months per year within the Dutch Kingdom for five years
- Pass a Civic Integration exam which will test their Dutch language skills
Conclusion
What are the benefits of the Curaçao investor permit program? The Curacao Residence by Investment program is designed for investors looking for opportunities with minimum investment. Giving investors a temporary permit to conduct business in a strategically beneficial location provides real economic benefits.
But the stand-out benefit is that this business investment can provide a temporary residence permit in an EU nation. A global investor can not only obtain resident permits in a Caribbean country but also become eligible for Dutch citizenship and visa-free travel.
Are you looking for a stable country for investment? At Nomad Capitalist, we are here to help you focus on the best options that are right for you. Contact our team, and we will create and execute a holistic strategy, providing asset protection and maximizing your freedom.
Curaçao Residency by Investment FAQ
The payment for the three-year Curaçao Investor Permit consists of the following fees:
Government Fees: $1,050 for one applicant, $2,150 for a couple, and $4,350 for a family of four (couple and two children under 16)
Due Diligence: $3,500 for one applicant and $10,000 for a couple and a family of four (couple and two children under 16)
Government deposit: (may vary depending on which country the investor and the family members originate from): $2,000
Legal Fee: $7,500 for one applicant, $8,500 for a couple, and $10,500 for a family of four (couple and two children under 16)
ID Issuance: $50.
The five-Year Curaçao Investor Permit Program requires an investment of at least the following payments:
Government Fees: $1,730 for one applicant, $3,500 for a couple, and $7,040 for families seeking residency (couple and two children under 16)
Due Diligence: $3,500 for one applicant and $10,000 for a couple and family of four
Government Security Deposit: $2,000
Legal Fee: $7,500 for one applicant, $8,500 for a couple, and $10,500 for a family of four
ID Issuance: $50
The minimum investment for the Indefinite Investor Permit Program is to provide sufficient financial resources comprising the following:
Government Fees: $3,450 for one applicant, $6,960 for a couple, and $13,980 for a family of four requiring residence permits
Due Diligence: $3,500 for one applicant and $10,000 for a couple and a family of four
Government Deposit for international investors: $2,000
Legal Fee: $7,500 for one applicant, $8,500 for a couple, and $10,500 for a family of four
ID Issuance: $50
Dual citizenship is restricted. People who apply for Dutch citizenship by investment via naturalization are, as a rule, required to give up their other nationality if possible. There are some exceptions where you can maintain citizenship. The exceptions are where residence rules make it possible for Dutch nationals to legally hold dual citizenship in several circumstances, including:
Those who acquire another citizenship at the time of birth (for example, a child born to Dutch parents in the United States would hold both US and Dutch citizenship)
Persons who acquire Dutch citizenship through the option procedure (including former Dutch citizens resuming citizenship)
Persons who become naturalized Dutch nationals if they obtain an exemption from the requirement to renounce their foreign citizenship, such as those who are married to Dutch nationals
Dutch nationals who naturalize in another country who are exempted from the loss of nationality rule, such as those married to a national of that country.
