How can an American gain employment in the Dutch Caribbean?

Question

I just visited my Dutch family in Curacao and fell in love...I speak Dutch ok but not Papiamento..I would like to consider living in Aruba, St Maarten, or Curacao, maybe Saba or even Bonaire or St Eustasius.

Answer 1

For an American to move to Aruba, unless they are totally self sufficient (independently wealthy) it is VERY difficult to do.

You have to have the job before you apply for the permit.

The employer has to PROVE that there is no one locally to fulfil the job.

Many employers require fluency in Papiamento and Dutch.

http://www.arubachamber.com/relocation.h...

"Temporary or Permanent Work Permit

Any foreigner who wants to exercise a profession/occupation must have a work permit to do so. 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 submitted through a local employer, who has to accept full responsibility for any possible expenses to be incurred by the government relative to its employees. For a trainee position or internship a special work permit is required.

With the exception of tourists, all other foreigners should have a permit document 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."

http://www.arubachamber.com/establishing... Establishing a Business in Aruba

Answer 2

Well, have you thought of setting up your own business? Also, my thoughts are that getting a job there would be the same way as getting a job here. Do you have skills? a degree? etc. Try to stay within your field. Also, you family there should know some people. I mean even if its not the kind of job you ideally want at first, but you could start out somewhere and then go on to something different.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

It depends what it is you do. I would say that you'll have more chance getting a job in Curacao. Last I hear they were looking for like 800 people to work in the tourism industry, Bonaire is booming too. The company that owns the Renaissance in Aruba, Meta Corp, is developing a huge property in Curacao and I do believe the Marriott opened it's doors there too. It seems, but that's hear say (don't quote me on it), that the locals in Curacao don't like working in the tourism business, so Curacao is kind of open right now. Maybe you can look up Meta Corp on the Internet and see what they might be offering in Curacao (and also on Aruba).