Expert: Rosemarie Lavelle - 5/4/2010

Question
Hi Rosemarie, Im curious to know what I would have to do to live full time in Aruba. If its possible without a citizenship that would be good but if not what would I have to do to aquire one? Also I am fluent in portuguese but I know that they speak dutch, pap, english and spanish. I wasnt sure if they spoke porto or not? Thanks

Answer
Dear Pat,

My first question is where are you a citizen currently? Here is a website that gives you info about becoming a citizen of Aruba http://www.arubachamber.com/relocation.htm Please find also listed below a bit more info

VISITOR ENTRY,  RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMITS

TOURISTS | TEMPORARY PERMITS | PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMITS
TEMPORARY/PERMANENT WORK PERMITS | WRITTEN PERMITS | APPLICATION FORMS
ASSISTANCE WITH RELOCATION/PERMITS



Tourists
Tourists may enter Aruba without a written permit and may remain for a period not exceeding 14 days. For tourists who are subjects of countries, which have an agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands to abolish the visa obligation - this agreement also being applicable to Aruba - the aforementioned period is three months. Citizens of the Netherlands or the Netherlands Antilles may stay up to six months.

For entering Aruba tourists from the United States of America must be in possession of:

a passport valid for Aruba or a valid "laissez passer" of the United Nations;
a birth certificate or affidavit of birth (when it concerns US citizens born in the USA);
a certificate of naturalization as a US citizen (when it concerns US citizens born outside the USA);
a re-entry permit or an Alien Registration Card (when it concerns a person residing in the USA but not being a US citizen), or
a Voter's Registration Card.
Tourists are not allowed to work, look for or accept any work during their stay, neither are they permitted to do business or participate in any business on the island.

Tourists should have in their possession:

a return ticket, or a ticket to travel elsewhere outside Aruba;

the necessary documents for returning to the country of origin, or for further travel elsewhere (visa, etc.)

sufficient means at their disposal to be able to support themselves during their stay in Aruba and must be able to prove this, if requested. upon arrival in Aruba

Click here for more information on visas, Aruba Customs/Immigration.
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Temporary Permits
The same conditions stated above are required for a temporary residence-permit. The persons concerned are not allowed to work, to look for or accept work without the explicit consent of the authority who issued the (written) temporary residence-permit. Neither are they permitted to do business, participate in any business, or start any business on the island.

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Permanent Residence Permit
When requesting a residence-permit without a working permit, one must submit:

bank references indicating that the applicant is financially self-supporting or any other proof that he/she will not become a financial burden to the local government or community
the home and business addresses for the last ten years
the reasons for wanting to reside in Aruba
police-clearance (good conduct-paper, not older than 2 months)
Persons desiring a permanent residence-permit must be in possession of:

a passport valid for Aruba
three passport photographs of true likeness
a valid vaccination certificate for smallpox, not more than three years old
a medical declaration that the holder is not suffering from any contagious disease or mental sickness, issued within 30 days before the trip started
a proof of payment of the required legal fee
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Temporary or Permanent Work Permit
Any foreigners who want to exercise a profession must have a work permit. The work permit will normally be granted only if there are no qualified persons locally available. In general, requests for work-permits will only be taken into consideration if filed through a local employer, who has to accept full responsibility for any possible expenses to be made by the government relative to the employee(s).

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Written Permits
With the exception of tourists, all other persons should have a written permit to prove their legal presence on the island. This means that one (unless a tourist) should not travel to or be on the island pending a request for a residence-and/or work permit.

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Assistance

For assistance with relocation and work or residence permits contact:



Webpage: H.T.R. TRUST n.v.
E-mail: htrtrust@arubarealestate.com



Application Forms

These forms (for written permits) can be obtained free of charge by writing to:

Departamento di Integracion, Maneho y Admision di Stranhero (DIMAS)
The Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission

Wilhelminastraat 31-33
Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: (297) 5221500
Fax: (297) 5221505
Call center: (297) 5221590
Appointment line: (297) 5221502
Fax short stay department (visa): (297) 5221501
Click here to email



I hope this was helpful

Best regards,

Rose