Curaçao is a Caribbean autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a status that gives the island sovereignty over domestic affairs (including taxation), while matters of defense and foreign relations are the remit of the Netherlands.
Crucially, however, there is no such thing as Curaçaoan citizenship. Curaçaoans are Dutch nationals and, by extension, EU citizens – with all the rights thereto pertaining. The CIIP, therefore, is an EU golden visa program and offers a path to Dutch citizenship in five years.
Prospective participants have three different investment options, each with its own residence permit category:
Qualified investment types include, but are not limited to:
In order to maintain residency for the three year, five year and indefinite programs, the applicant is required to spend at least one day per year in Curaçao.
Under Dutch nationality law, those who reside legally in Curaçao for five consecutive years and can pass a Civic Integration Exam that includes a basic language component are eligible for Dutch citizenship.
For purposes of obtaining Dutch citizenship, “residing in Curaçao” is defined as physically residing at a local address (as demonstrated by proof of home ownership or long-term lease) for no fewer than four months each year.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Admissions Organization (Toelatingsorganisatie), Curaçao Ministry of Justice.
Legislation upon which this program is based The Residency Act of 1986 (law 1986-012).
As noted in the program qualifications above, an investor can qualify for this program with a local property purchase above the minimum investment threshold. View eligible properties curated by IMI and our real estate partners:
Kenneth Green talks about Curaçao’s EU golden visa, Dominica’s Entrepreneur visa, and the intensifying competition for government mandates.
The right to live in both the Caribbean and the EU, with a path to EU citizenship in five years, now starting at US$280,000 in Curaçao.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.