How do you get permanent residence in Curaçao in 2026?

Official Toelatingsorganisatie FAQ language says you become eligible for a residence permit for an indefinite period after ten consecutive years with a valid residence title. Gaps matter. If a renewal is filed after expiry, even inside the three-month tolerance window that still counts as a renewal, the uninterrupted build for indefinite residence starts over. Absences and withdrawn employer guarantees can also interrupt the story, so keep employment and residence files aligned: Apply for a residence permit.

People already holding indefinite residence may stay abroad for up to one year without interruption under official FAQ language. Longer continuous absence can cancel the right and force a first application on return.

Policy modifications from April 2026 describe additional permanent-residence eligibility frames beyond the decade clock, including pensionado status under the Income Tax Ordinance, an investor threshold above XCG 1,500,000, being born in Curaçao with at least one parent holding a residence permit, and certain historic lawful-residence cases. Those routes still need live Toelatingsorganisatie checklists, fees, and evidence. They are not shortcuts through @HOME, which official programme materials treat as temporary and non-resident.

After any long-stay approval, keep population and identity papers current: Kranshi registration, sedula, and tax identity through a CRIB number. Residents who earn locally also need a filing plan: File taxes. Fold the sequence into Paperwork after moving.