The Border Control department monitors both sea and airport, falls under the Unit Supervision of Foreign Nationals and Border Control.
As part of the KPC (Police Force Curaçao), this unit also has the following mission:
“We, men and women, police of Curacao, are making an effective, high-quality contribution to make the Curaçao a habitable and safe community – a community where people can live in harmony with each other.”
Serving and protecting our community is also a high priority for this unit.
At the border of Curaçao, a border management system (B.M.S.) is therefore used to register the entry and departure of people.
Tourists must adhere to the LTU, Admission resolution and the pursued policy on foreign nationals of the Minister of Justice when entering and leaving the country.
The Minister of Justice (the highest Admission authority) has put forward guidelines for the enforcement of this policy and it is of great importance that foreign nationals who do not meet the admission requirements, listed in the Admission resolution, are not granted access to the territory of Curaçao.
It is important that the traveler can show a valid passport. A visa is also applicable for some countries.
Traveling with a ‘sedula’ (ID-card) is pursued between the Caribbean countries. In addition, upon entry a tourist must show his purpose, duration of stay and financial resources during his stay.
On behalf of the Minister of Justice (the Admission authority), it is strictly checked whether foreigners to be admitted meet the admission requirements as listed in the Admission resolution and the policy rules of the Admission authority.
Visa
Provisions and conditions regarding the granting of visas for entry to the countries of the Kingdom are regulated in the State Visa Act. This State Visa Act en de Regulation exemption visa requirements State Visa Act officially entered into force as from July 1, 2018.
For Curaçao, the competent authority is the Minister of Justice.
Since October 10, 2010, the visa, if not territorially restricted, is valid for all (islands) countries in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The visa must at least be valid on entry. A visa does not entitle you to access and admission, but is one of the requirements to gain access and admission.
A visa is in principle valid for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. If the visa says “valid for” T.B.G.V (territorially limited valid visa), then this is only valid for the country indicated as the main destination.
Countries without visa requirements
The Regulation exemption visa requirements State Visa Act, which entered into force on July 1, 2018, includes all nationalities, bearers of diplomatic passports, as well as various countries with visa requirements that are subject to conditions exempted or excluded from visa requirements.
Countries with visa requirements
The rest of the individuals who have the nationality of the countries that are not included in the aforementioned arrangement, need a visa to travel to Curaçao.
People with visa requirements must request and obtain their visa before traveling to Curaçao.
The application for a visa must be submitted in person at an embassy, consulate (diplomatic missions) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands or, if applicable, an external service provider.
For information about applying for a visa and for information about opening hours and making an appointment, you can contact the embassy or consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the country of origin. More information can also be found on the website of the embassy or consulate in question. The addresses and websites of diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands can be found by country via the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Traveling to the Netherlands or the Caribbean part of the Kingdom | Nederlandwereldwijd.nl | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Curaçao International Airport, officially, ‘Hato International Airport’ (Formerly Dr. Albert Plesman International Airport), is the only official and legitimate airport of Curaçao.
Most travelers arrive via the airport.
It is important that when traveling to Curaçao, in addition to the usual travel documents, it is also mandatory to fully and truthfully complete an ‘Embarkation and Disembarkation Card’ (ED card) and to hand it over to the disembarkation officer immediately upon arrival or upon departure from Curaçao.
Filling a digital ED card (digital immigration card) is preferred. The online ED card can be completed in the comfort of your home before you even start your flight to Curacao. Entering the Online ED card significantly reduces the amount of time spent in the immigration line. This can be done on the following website: www.dicardcuracao.com
Visiting Immigration on arrival and departure for travelers above 12 years old is done through the e-gates. The digital ED Card will be in accordance with the Automatic Border Management System, referred to as e-Gates. The traveler then enters the country via a digital portal.
In accordance with article 20 of the Admission Decision, no persons are disembarked outside the ports of Willemstad, Caracasbaai, Fuikbaai, Bullenbaai.
For large ships, the disembarkation officers will go on board to take the passports/seaman’s book to register the traveler in the border management system. In the case of smaller ships, the passengers themselves must go to the Immigration (seaport) for registration.
In addition to the officials of the Border Control who are part of the KPC and who are charged with border control at the (air)port, the tasks with regard to the maritime border control are also entrusted to the Coast Guard. Pursuant to article 16 of the Coast Guard Kingdom, the Ministers of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten involved in the performance of duties of the Coast Guard must ensure that the director and the personnel of the Coast Guard are granted supervisory and detection powers in the context of the proper execution of the tasks of the Coast Guard. The executive part of the Coast Guard personnel charged with the execution of the detection tasks has been granted the status of special police officer in Curaçao.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for publishing information on this website. The information has been collected with care and accuracy. The Ministry of Justice does its utmost to keep the information as up-to-date as possible. However, no rights may be derived from this website. This website is managed by the Ministry of Justice. The information on this website may be shared, provided the source is acknowledged.