My husband and I are U.S. citizens and would love to move to Bonaire permanently. Can anyone tell me the process of getting a work permit or who I could contact? Thanks.

Message moved to "Moving to Bonaire" by moderator.

Julie, if you look down through the threads, you'll see the question comes up quite a bit. (in fact, two down from yours is one to start) Read down through there and if you have questions, there are several people who have made the move that would jump in and help you.

Thanks- I guess I should redirect my question specifically to US citizens. Is there any hope for us? How did you get your work permit?

Just take a look down some of the questions and you'll find answers. This might be a good one. I think most of the questions are from US citizens.

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/137781/229628.html?1126208463

This should be a pretty good list of the most recent questions. See if this helps and then you can ask other questions if you don't see them. It's a LOT of information to absorb!

http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/137781/137781.html?1126208463

Julie,
Here is the link to DEZA which handles permits of all varieties. The challenge in getting one will depend on what it is you want to do, whether to work for someone else or start your own business, buy an existing business etc. This site should answer many of your questions along with the threads Kelly added above.

http://www.bonaireeconomy.org/work_permits.html

The rest of the site is quite informative as well and in English.
Susan

I have read at length the questions and answers about working in Bonaire, but does anyone know if the Work Permit situation would be any different if I obtain residency, buy a house and then seek a part time job on the island?
If I obtain residency on Bonaire, does it entitle me to residency on Curacao too?

Malcolm,
Even having your residency first would not insure that you were able to get a work permit. It is the employers responsibility to apply and satisfy the governments requirements.

Each island has their own requirements so you would not have reciprocal residency on Curacao.

Can one have residency but no work permit?

Ann, retirees can be granted residency but no work permit. I imagine that if someone of any age can show sufficient financial resources to guarantee they will be self-supoporting and not dependent on Govt. resources, he/she would be eligible for residency (going through the usual application and approval process).

You actually get one of two kinds of residency:

Residency - (You get to live on Bonaire)
OR
Residency with permission to work (Like a Green Card in the USA)

Residency is relatively easy, residency with permission to work is difficult. You normally need a "sponsoring company" in order to get a work permit if you are not either Dutch or Antillean.

If you have a Dutch passport you still need to apply for a Residency with permission to work, but it is almost always granted. Antilleans have permission to work automatically.

A little known exception is that if you have had Bonaire residency for more than 10 years, your work permit is automatically granted when you apply.

For more info go to:

Official Bonaire Business guide, published by the Bonaire Department of Labor and Economic Affairs (DEZA) - http://www.bonaireeconomy.org/investment_guide/Bonaire%20Invest%20Guide.pdf