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Residence permit application if you are Dutch

Depending on your situation, you apply for a Declaration of Admittance by Law or a Non-Applicability Declaration.

Dutch Nationals from beyond Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba

Are you a European Dutch national or are you a Dutch national from Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba?

  • Then you have free entry to Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba up to a maximum of 180 days every 365 days.
  • If you are planning to work or do a traineeship during your stay then a maximum of 90 days every 365 days applies. This also applies if you do not work / do not do a traineeship during the full 90 days.
  • If you initially arrive as a tourist but later start working / doing a traineeship then the 90-day rule also applies, instead of the 180 days.

The period of 90/180 days starts from your date of arrival.

Staying longer

Do you want to stay as a tourist for more than 180 days or more than 90 days while you also (partly) work / do a traineeship? Then you must apply for a Declaration of Admittance by Law.

To apply for a Declaration of  Admittance by Law, you can make an appointment by telephone or e-mail. At the appointment you will need, among other things, a completed 'Declaration of Admittance by Law' form. The annex to the form, lists which other documents you will need.

Do you have Dutch nationality? Then you can also submit an application online.

Island children

In some cases, as a Dutch citizen you may apply for a Non-Applicability Declaration (NVT). You can settle freely on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba with this. This applies to the following persons:

  1. Dutch citizens born on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba;
  2. Dutch citizens born in the Kingdom of whom one of the parents was born on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba;
  3. Dutch citizens who have lived on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba since October 10th, 2009, and were registered until October 11th, 2010;
  4. Aliens who have obtained Dutch citizenship on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba;
  5. If the law does not apply to one of the parents, then it does not apply to the children born in the Kingdom.

Applications ‘Non-Applicability Declaration’

Download Flowchart Island children