Visas in Willemstad

Good to Know

• Every visitor arriving in Curaçao must complete the online Digital Immigration Card (DI Card) within 7 days before departure — it's currently free on the official government site (dicardcuracao.com), but third-party sites often charge $30–$100 for the same free service, so use only the official portal.
• Don't assume Schengen rules apply just because Curaçao is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands — it has its own separate Caribbean immigration system, and a Schengen visa alone does not grant entry.
• If you're American or Dutch, you get a more generous baseline (up to 180 days/year) than most other visa-exempt nationals (typically up to 90 days within 180), so plan longer stays accordingly.
• A tourist/visa-free stay does not permit local paid work — for remote work over an extended period, check whether a separate remote-worker/digital-nomad residence permit route applies (a different topic from this baseline entry rule).
• The application fee is fixed in Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG 535) and paid via bank transfer, typically to a local bank — budget for possible international transfer fees on top.
• This permit does not allow you to work for a Curaçao-based employer or otherwise participate in the local labor market — your income must come from outside the island.
• There is no route from this permit to permanent residency; after the maximum 12 months, you must leave or apply for a completely different, more demanding residence/work permit if you want to stay longer.
• Documents not already in English, Dutch, or Spanish need certified translation, which can add time and cost to your application.