Relocation intelligence

🇨🇼 Moving to Curaçao: tax, residency and cost of living

Curacao levies a progressive income tax of 9.75 to 46.5 percent combined with mandatory social premiums (AOV, AWW, BVZ and AVBZ). Residents are taxed on worldwide income. There is no separate capital gains tax and no wealth tax, but there is an inheritance tax. People aged 50 and over who lived outside Curacao for five years can opt for the penshonado regime, a flat 10 percent rate on foreign income. Corporate profit tax is tiered: 15 percent on the first ANG 500,000 and 22 percent above that.

Thinking of moving to Curaçao? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.

Key facts

Top income tax
46.5%
Corporate tax
22%
Capital gains
0%
Wealth tax
No
Inheritance tax
Yes
Cost of living index
70
Safety
6/10
Internet quality
7/10
Visa-free destinations
185
Foreigners can own property
Yes
Residency in
6 months
Citizenship in
5 years

Taxes

Progressive income tax of 9.75 to 46.5 percent across six brackets, plus employee premiums AOV 6 percent, AWW 0.5 percent, BVZ 4.3 percent and AVBZ 2 percent. AOV and AWW are deductible for income tax, BVZ and AVBZ are not. A basiskorting tax credit of ANG 2,601 reduces tax due. No capital gains or wealth tax.

Residency and visas

For Dutch nationals settling is simple; other nationalities need a residence and work permit. There is an investor permit for wealthy foreigners, and the penshonado regime requires buying property worth at least ANG 450,000. Dutch nationality is possible after around five years of lawful residence.

Property ownership

Foreigners can freely own real estate, including freehold and long-lease (erfpacht) land. There are no special restrictions on non-residents.

Cost of living and quality of life

Tropical climate outside the hurricane belt, colorful UNESCO heritage in Willemstad, excellent diving and snorkeling, and a blend of Dutch, Caribbean and Latin American culture. Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamentu are widely spoken.

Passport and mobility

Residents with Dutch nationality travel on a Dutch passport with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 189 destinations. Curacao has its own international airport with direct links to the Netherlands, North and South America.

Why people move to Curaçao

  • 10 percent penshonado regime

    Retirees and wealthy individuals aged 50 and over can have their foreign income (pension, dividends, interest, rent) taxed at a flat 10 percent instead of the progressive brackets up to 46.5 percent.

  • Dutch Caribbean with a Dutch passport

    As a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, relocation is straightforward for Dutch nationals, the Dutch passport applies with broad visa-free access, and most people speak Dutch, English and Papiamentu in a stable, tropical setting.

Honest trade-offs

  • Curacao belast inwoners op hun wereldwijde inkomen en het toptarief van de inkomstenbelasting bedraagt 46,5 procent, wat hoog is voor een Caribische bestemming.
  • Bovenop de inkomstenbelasting betaal je verplichte sociale premies (AOV, AWW, BVZ en AVBZ), waardoor het werknemersdeel samen ruim 12 procent van het loon kan bedragen.
  • De kosten van levensonderhoud liggen hoog omdat vrijwel alle consumptiegoederen worden ingevoerd, en water en elektriciteit zijn relatief duur.
  • In delen van Willemstad komt criminaliteit voor en de veiligheidsbeleving ligt lager dan in veel Europese steden.

See how Curaçao scores for your situation

Get your personal Freedom Score and a full relocation comparison based on your income, family and goals.

Calculate my score

Sources

Other destinations

AndorraUnited Arab EmiratesAfghanistanAntigua & BarbudaAnguillaAlbaniaArmeniaAngolaArgentinaAmerican SamoaAustriaAustralia