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Residence Permit - Sole Proprietorship

CuraçaoStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This route is for a person who wants to start their own company in Curaçao as a sole proprietorship; the official work page distinguishes this from joining a company as an employee.

See recorded sources
  • Work page: General, own company
    If you want to start up an own company, you need a business permit and a residence permit. You must then submit an application to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the business permit. After receiving the business permit, you must register the company with the Chamber of Commerce and in the Labor Register. After this, the application for the residence permit can be submitted.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

The applicant needs a business permit and a residence permit. They apply to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the business permit, then register the company with the Chamber of Commerce and in the Labor Register before submitting the residence-permit application.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited page does not establish a separate minimum of clients, contracts, job creation, innovation or revenue for this route.
  • Work page: General, own company
    If you want to start up an own company, you need a business permit and a residence permit. You must then submit an application to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the business permit. After receiving the business permit, you must register the company with the Chamber of Commerce and in the Labor Register. After this, the application for the residence permit can be submitted.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

The first-application checklist for sole proprietorship asks for an original bank declaration, alongside the establishment permit, Chamber of Commerce certificate, Labor Register record and company tax number. This official page does not state a fixed capital or investment minimum for this route.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited official page does not quantify the required financial resources or establish a revenue or profitability threshold.
  • Work page: sole proprietorship first application
    Sole proprietorship FIRST APPLICATION Are you going to submit a first application with the purpose of your own company (sole proprietorship)? Here you will find the requirements for submitting a first application with the purpose of your own company. Proof of paymentº Fees & Retributions (show original for inspection); Complete and signed original application form; Copy of valid passport. If several nationalities, copy of all passports; Copy of birth certificate1 (not older than 1 year). Show original for inspection; Declaration of good conduct from the last place of residence (not older than 3 months). Submit original; Copy establishment permit; Copy certificate Chamber of Commerce (not older than 6 months); Copy of the Labor register; Copy SVB-registration of the company; CRIB No. (Tax Registration Number) of the company; Bank declaration. Submit original.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

From 1 April 2026 dependent family members (family reunification or formation) follow the principal applicant in permit duration. The official source does not state what business activity the holder may carry out or any restrictions on it.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The scope of permitted business activity and restrictions are not stated.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

Renewal can be requested from 4 months before expiry; from 1 April 2026 a permit can be requested for up to three years (fees per year); ten years of uninterrupted lawful residence leads to an indefinite permit.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Physical-presence obligations are not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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