VisaBonaire, St Eustatius and Saba add tax documents to permit applications
New document requirements took effect on 1 November for certain Caribbean Netherlands work and residence applications.
Official source date: 2026-11-01
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
Obtain the declarations before submitting the application
Applicants on Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba face additional work and residence paperwork from 1 November 2026. IND-CN’s new-procedure notice says applicants must obtain the required declarations themselves from the Caribbean Netherlands Tax and Customs Administration and include them in the file. This is an operative change, rather than a proposal awaiting commencement.
The notice lists a certificate of no debt for paid-employment and self-employment applications, alongside a summary wage statement marked for extension cases. Family-reunification applications require proof of income. For indefinite residence, the additional evidence depends on the previous purpose of stay. The notice directs applicants to the tax authority’s front desk or [email protected] for the declarations. Use the New Application Procedure resource to identify the documents relevant to the actual permit, rather than assume one declaration serves every category.
Check nationality and the correct entry procedure
The immigration service’s main page specifies that the new requirements concern certain applications by people who do not have Dutch or American nationality. Those nationality exceptions should not be confused with an exemption from every residence formality. Use the service’s nationality guidance to establish the applicable route before relying on a holiday admission.
The Other Nationalities residence page explains that listed nationalities, including EU and EEA citizens, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, New Zealanders and Swiss citizens, can generally enter and apply for residence on the islands. Other applicants may first need an authorisation for temporary stay, the MVV, followed by the residence application for its approved purpose. Check the full official nationality list rather than infer eligibility from a nearby country or another Caribbean island. The new tax-document requirement does not itself change which entry permission the individual needs.
Match income evidence to the household and purpose of stay
IND-CN’s Means of Existence resource explains why the income document matters: the required amount depends on the purpose of residence and household size. For paid employment, income should not fall below the gross minimum wage. For a family sponsor supporting one person, the published standard is 120% of the gross monthly minimum-wage income; for several people, such as a partner and children, it is 140%.
The minimum wage differs between islands and is established annually. Applicants should therefore check the relevant island’s current figure instead of copying an old cash amount from a prior application. For an initial self-employment application, the resource requests a bank statement in the applicant’s or business’s name showing at least the applicable gross annual minimum-wage income. Use this guidance alongside the newly required declaration: obtaining a tax document is not, by itself, a decision that the family or business meets the means test.
Submit a complete file through the correct appointment route
The fixed-term residence application page for MVV-exempt nationalities links the form and its document list. It requires an appointment for in-person submission at an IND-CN office and warns that incomplete applications cannot be assessed. Add the new documents to the category’s existing checklist, rather than replace the passport, civil or purpose-of-stay evidence with the tax declarations.
The page asks applicants to allow for at least six months of handling time, while stating an aim to complete applications within three months. These are different planning statements, so neither should be used as a guaranteed approval date. Applicants receive written notification of the decision. After approval, registration with Civil Affairs in the municipal register is mandatory before the local identity document is made. Use the application page to arrange submission and follow the municipal step once the residence decision has actually been issued.
Use the 2026 fee schedule and identify the payment
The official 2026 schedule lists US$326 for paid-employment fixed-term residence without an MVV, US$922 for self-employment and US$196 for adult family reunification. Self-employment extensions are listed separately at US$724. Check the row for the precise procedure; these are existing 2026 charges, not new fees announced with the November document change.
The Fees and Payments page permits debit-card payment at the IND front desk or the stated bank-transfer arrangements. A transfer must identify the CRV number and the applicant’s full name. Use that resource for payment instructions and keep the receipt with the complete application.
