What is the economy like? After our trip we both would like to live there, but are there any jobs available and how is the pay? My wife is a police officer here in Lexington, KY, and I am a Criminal Investigator and I also am a FAA certified aircraft mechanic. Where could I look to find out about the requirements of living in Bonaire yet keeping our US citizenship?

A resident permit allows you to live here (you have to provide proof you can support yourself like a bank account).

A work permit allows you to work and gets you a resident permit too. Generally, you have to get the job first and your employer applies for your work permit before you come to Bonaire.

KLM, AA, and AirJamaica are the big commercial carriers here. I have no idea on pay scale. Police work might be tough since locals speak either Dutch or Papiamento.

Tod,
Everyone wants to live in paradise! Ahhh, the ultimate dream... If you have only been to Bonaire once, I suggest you go many more times. Learn what the island is about,get to know the people (not just the bartender at your hotel), the culture, the language, etc. You also might pick up Jimmy Buffet's "Don't Stop the Carnival" CD and listen to the lyrics carefully.(It's about an American who tries to make a go of it in paradise). You may decide to wait til you retire.

Hey Tod,

I visited Antigua 5 times before moving there. It is another world living on an island. For me, Antigua was wonderful and horrible. It is a third world so the differences between there and BON are vast. For me Bonaire is modern and has a better infrastructure. My only worry is the size. It's wayyy small and everyone knows what you are doing before you even do it. LOL..

Truthfully I love ALL islands but Bonaire has wind and I have met wonderful people so have decided to give it a go.


Take a month leave and try it out. You might like it.

Annie

We packed everything up and moved to Bonaire for a 3 month trial period in 1997. Either one of us could of just called it quits and we would have left. After a month, we knew we wanted to stay.

Linda

Tod....Herman Wouk has written a book called "Don't Stop the Carnival" which is also required reading before moving to any Caribbean Island....see if you can find a copy and enjoy it. It is funny and it is also very close to what living on an island in the Caribbean is like. Joe and I are planning the day we can up and move to Bonaire, too. It is a verrrrrrry long list, I fear! LOL. Ayo. Carole

Thank you all for the insight, I will welcome more too. I believe in doing research into something before jumping. I would like to hear the Pros & Cons of a move like this. I spent 9 months (obviously not straight)researching Bonaire resorts before settling on Sorobon (Ahhh yes).

PS. I retire 7 Oct 2003 !!! I'm only 41 !!!yippie!!!! after 23 years (10 yrs in the US Marine Corps & 13 yrs in the US Army)active duty in the military...big smile....BIG SMILE....

Wow, Tod! What a lucky fella you are to be able to "retire" and do whatever you feel like doing at the ripe old age of 41!! I can't imagine what that would be like. Congrats on your time "in" and getting out so young. When are you returning to Bonaire?? Ayo. Carole

PS If you get an email from Carole Scaff, she is a very dear friend of mine who lives in La Grange. I do believe she dropped you an email. today. Looks like your family and hers have a lot in common, too.

Hi Tod,
This is a good place to be as a retired person, I know. Probably it will be very difficult to find a job in your or your wife's fields, as mentioned already.
If being retired soon also means that you really don't have to work for your money anymore, then it is a good way to come here, and walk around on the island, and see what you can do here. arranging a job in advance is difficult, not to say impossible, but once on Bonaire, jobs are relatively "easy" to find when you live here, when you are not too picky, and of course don't have too high financial expectations. Best possibilities are, as always, in an own company, with something that is not available or just basically available on Bonaire.
Don't ask me what, there are already so many people that asked that. But for sure, there are possiblities. Always keep in mind that this is a community of 10.000 people, very, very small, and everything is tried already. There is not really any industry here, and most jobs will be in the tourist-business.
Planning on Bonaire is nearly impossible, everything works out different as you expect, and always a lot slower is used "at home"

Good luck, and remember, Bonaire is "heaven on earth...."

Harrie

Nobody mentioned virtually everything (except electricty and water) has to be brought to the island which increases costs. If you break something you have to wait and wait OR rely on the good will of strangers to send what you need. Fresh food tends to disappear from the shelves quickly so that by the end of the week it is slim pickings, gas and water costs almost the same (well maybe not but it sure seems like it), there is one dentist and a medical clinic, but if you become seriously injured you must be airlifted to Curacao, and I know one person so pleased with medical treatment in Curacao he checked himself out and flew to Miami. Thankfully he did because he was mis-diagnosed and is probable alive today because of his actions. The "coconut telegraph" is alive and well, so everybody knows everything... there are no real tax breaks, there are annual taxes on vehicles (diesel is worse). And a large part of the land is on lease, which means you may own your house, but you don't own the land it is sitting on.

Bonaire may be a diver's paradise, but unless you have spent considerable time getting to konw the island, I would strongly suggest you approach it like Jake and Linda, come, plan to stay but be ready to call it quits if either partner says so.

I definately agree with the idea of trying it out first and being ready to make a retreat back to the U.S. if necessary. We also are planning on making a few more trips to Bonaire to Recon the situation first. We are also looking at the possibility of buying a house/appartment and renting out for the time being, we already checked on the regulations for this. We still have 3 girls in school (1st, 4th, & 11th grades)so this will not be a spur-of-the-moment move, and it may not even be to Bonaire :-(. A U.S. territory (USVI)would be easier to do.

USVI maybe, you say?
There are two good on-line newspapers you might like to click on:
Virgin Islands Daily News
http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/
and the "Source" papers: one for each island
http://www.new.onepaper.com/stcroixvi/ for St Croix (which is the one I have bookmarked) and similar addresses for St John and St Thomas.
Frankly, given the choice, the time, and the money, I'd opt for Bonaire.
Holly.

Tod, since you have school aged children, I believe I remember either Jake or Linda commenting that the schools on Bonaire teach in Dutch. So the kids would have to learn Dutch

Tod, I can speak to the school thing a bit since we enrolled Maggie at a local school. It will be very hard for your 4th and mostly 11th graders. Might make more sense to home school the 11th grader? Don't know..such a critical time for college applications, SATs and all.

I was told Maggie should go back a grade but she wants to try her grade in Bonaire and understands she will probably have to repeat it. They take a test in grade 6 that tracks them into their future level of education. I worry her scores (since the test is in Dutch) will be low and she will not go into a track that she would belong in reality.

Take your time. Keep in mind, St. Thomas is a BIG AMERICAN CITY in the Caribbean. Not sure it's what you want. It's not easy living in the islands. And, moving to Bonaire is $$ and a challenge due to paperwork and more. But I hope it's going to be worth it..We are still not even sure it's going to be a year round thing. Time will tell.

Ann

Hi, My family and I are planning to move to Bonaire in the near future. Are there any Private English Schools on the island? or any English schools?

No English schools of any kind. All the local schools are in Dutch with papiamentu at the younger ages.

However, if you want to start a private English school, there is some interest among many parents here on Bonaire in such :-)

Jake

Hey,
Im going to Bonaire in August for about half a year and was wondering if there were any art type events around the island or if they take volunteers to work in the marine park as I have not found any on the web.
maxine

Does anyone know if Curacao has a 'Bonaire Talk' website like this one and how I may access it. This site is absolutely fantastic. Can a UK citizen get residency in the Dutch Antilles as a retired person with means.
Many thanks for your help Guys !!

Ken Jordan UK

Hi Ken,

I hold a European Union passport and had to go thru the same routine as a non EU National. I have an Irish Passport and US.

Ken,

Nowhere else has a site like BonaireTalk :-) (and certainly not Curacao)

There is a "penshonado" status that a foreigner can get in the Netherlands Antilles, where if you are 50 or over, and buy a house worth over some amount of money (I think US$350,000) you can get a 10% income tax rate. Doesn't apply to people already living on Bonaire or the Antilles though. Check with a tax-oriented accounted who is familiar with the Antilles for details on this.

Jake

Thanks Ann & Jake for the information and do you have an email contact for an accountant or lawyer who would have all the relevant details?

Ken

Not on Curacao. Sorry.

Jake

Hold the horses Hilda....50 years old, buy a nice house, 10% tax rate. What's the catch?

We are looking to move to Bonaire and already have purchased a townhouse. But really have no feel for what it would cost for "normal living expenses" any help would be appreciated. thanks walt

Walter,

Welcome love! Soon you will be here yipee! Talk with you when you get here for your visit!

Liz

Question: I am ready to come for a 1 - 3 month trial, but am really worried about finding an cottage or apartment for such an odd length of time. Does anyone have any suggestions for reasonably priced rental housing?

Let me come with and I can help you look. ;)

Hi, Walt!
Can't recall whether we discussed your question at Gibi's, but I'd say my cost of living averages out about the same, except for taxes.
Gas is more expensive than in the US. Electricity is expensive, and the cost of that just went up.
Fresh fish purchased from a fisherman is reasonable.
You have no heating costs in winter. AC can run up your electrical costs unless you just let the wind cool you down. (I have AC in every room but never turn them on.)
The big cost difference is the tax situation.
If you buy an expensive house, you can get a 10% tax rate, but if you don't, you pay extremely high taxes down here plus still must pay taxes to the US. My tax burden therefore has shot up. On the other hand, the tax law for expats has just changed, beginning with the 2005 tax year, so that will improve the situation, plus one of these years we should get a tax treaty with the US or maybe begin to fall under the Netherlands tax treaty.
You also need to factor in how much you would want to leave the island. Air fares can deplete your bank account.
I have no regrets about moving here, money or no money. It was the smartest thing I ever did, and I have never been happier.
Tish

Tish, it is not often heard "and I have never been happier" .... seems like everybody is too busy thinking, "I'd be so much happier if only ...." Good for you!!!

Hey, I live in paradise, Denise! Life is fabulous!!!!!! I'm living my dream.
Everybody should be so lucky.
Tish

Tish

We are making the move it will take a few months but we are on the way. It looks like we will retire and just goof off. Where can I get more info on this tax thing?? I only expect to bring in my living expenses, which must be a small amount since I am retiring.

Tish

I have to admit we never had such a great time doing nothing as we did when we met at Gibbies. Liz and Ed have been a great help in the move. Hope to see you soon.

Hi, Walt!
Anybody who is granted residency in the Netherlands Antilles must pay taxes here on world-wide income. You will also be taxed on world-wide income by the US, even though you are no longer a US resident.
NA reduces the tax rate for those who buy a very expensive home. I did not qualify for that.
Double taxation is tough.
You can get some info on the Sunbelt Realty web site. But talk to a Bonaire accountant.
Look forward to seeing you both soon.
Tish

I have heard mostly that one should come to Bonaire with an open mind and a willing spirit. With that in mind, what do you (residents & ex-pats) see as being NEEDED most in Bonaire, vis-a-vis businesses, possible jobs? Be specific: SCUBA instructors? Teachers? Book Store? Recycling plant? Bartenders? Construction crews? Wait staff? Iguana herders? Enquiring minds . . .

Hello. I just joined Bonaire Talk and am from the US. After many visits to Bonaire we are considering buying land and building a small home for vacation and eventually retirement. I have seen conflicting comments about moving to Bonaire. Some say you must have a job first in order to become a resident. The research I have done says as long as you can support yourself (say in retirement) then you can become a resident without working. Which is correct?

Thanks for your help.

Jim,
You do not need a job to live here as long as you can show that you can support yourself by proof of an account with around $10,000 (or 18,000 naf equivalent). There is a bit of a paper chase and you may want to hire an administrator to handle it for you. Susan

Searching for residency will give you more background but do know that "rules" are not a constant here.

Thank you Susan. That was my understanding as well.

BTW - Thanks for the great book on shore diving. It is my bible.

Jim,
Thank you. I am having a lot of fun with it. Susan

Hi,
When we were in Bonaire and had a fantastic time, my wife and I decided to look for a home to stay and looking for work. At the moment I can't find a proper site or link to look for a job on Bonaire. Can someone help or provide us with the necessary information how to search for a job and a home. ( my wife has a medical assistant certificate and I'm a General Manager of a company in Europe).
tx
Patrick