Your first 90 days in Curacao: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The Dutch connection misleads people constantly: Curaçao is not in the EU, not in the Schengen area, and a Dutch or EU residence permit buys you nothing at the counter. Plan the immigration file as you would for any non-EU country, because that is exactly what it is.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register with the Kranshi (Civil Registry) for your address and apply for the residence permit at the Immigration Department
Within days of arrival for the civil registry; the residence permit must be applied for before the admitted stay expires
Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its OWN immigration law — a Dutch residence permit does not transfer, and Dutch nationals themselves need an admission-by-law declaration rather than an automatic right.
Get your Persoonsnummer / crib number (tax identification number)
Employment, banking, utilities and every filing with the Inspectorate of Taxes key off it.
The persoonsnummer is assigned by the Kranshi at civil registration; the tax (crib) number follows from the Inspectorate of Taxes when you register as a taxpayer.
Open a bank account
MCB, Orco Bank and Banco di Caribe open accounts on the residence permit and Kranshi registration. Curaçao uses the Netherlands Antillean guilder pegged to the US dollar; the island also has exchange-control licensing on some cross-border flows, so ask specifically about international transfers rather than assuming EU-style ease.
Enrol in healthcare
The BVZ basic insurance covers registered residents through the SVB, with Curaçao Medical Center as the main hospital; employed residents are enrolled through payroll. Foreign residents outside the scheme buy private cover, and specialist cases are routinely referred to Colombia or the Netherlands.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence is accepted for a limited period after registration; residents then convert through the Kranshi, with Dutch and several other licences exchanging on paper and others requiring a test. Driving is on the right, unlike most of the Caribbean.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Curacao: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Curacao?
Register with the Kranshi (Civil Registry) for your address and apply for the residence permit at the Immigration Department — Within days of arrival for the civil registry; the residence permit must be applied for before the admitted stay expires. Curaçao is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its OWN immigration law — a Dutch residence permit does not transfer, and Dutch nationals themselves need an admission-by-law declaration rather than an automatic right. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Persoonsnummer / crib number and do I need one?
Persoonsnummer / crib number (tax identification number) is Curacao's personal tax/ID number. Employment, banking, utilities and every filing with the Inspectorate of Taxes key off it. The persoonsnummer is assigned by the Kranshi at civil registration; the tax (crib) number follows from the Inspectorate of Taxes when you register as a taxpayer.
Can I drive in Curacao on a US license?
A foreign licence is accepted for a limited period after registration; residents then convert through the Kranshi, with Dutch and several other licences exchanging on paper and others requiring a test. Driving is on the right, unlike most of the Caribbean. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Curacao?
The BVZ basic insurance covers registered residents through the SVB, with Curaçao Medical Center as the main hospital; employed residents are enrolled through payroll. Foreign residents outside the scheme buy private cover, and specialist cases are routinely referred to Colombia or the Netherlands. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Curacao's system treats foreign residents.