Wouldn’t it be perfect if you could live in Aruba? A lot of people fall in love with Aruba and are thinking about spending (a part of) their lives here. In order for you to actually be living in Aruba, you will need to comply with some rules and regulations. Any foreigner who wants to exercise a profession in Aruba must have an work permit to do so. The work- permit will only be granted if there are no qualified Aruban citizens available.

You can only obtain a work permit if your employer requests one for you. It is therefore important that you make clear agreements on that with your future employer. The local employer has to accept full responsibility for any possible expenses related to the employee. It is forbidden to work in Aruba without a work permit. The employer is going to give the necessary papers to DINA (Directie Immigratie en Nationalisatie Aruba) and they will process your permit. Be aware that the processing can take a long time, so make sure your employer gives the request to DINA as early as possible. Contact your employer for which documents are necessary.

Work permits are valid for only one year, after one year you will need to renew it. As of 2002, the maximum renewal has been set to 3 years.

If you are not planning on working in Aruba because you have sufficient funds to support yourself without working (for example for persons who are retired) you will have to be able to prove this with bank references.

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 should not travel or be on the island pending a request for a residence and/or work permit.

The Aruban government has recently changed its departments that handle permits. We will try to keep you updated on any changes in rules or regulations that may apply. Please be aware that the above information is subject to changes and that EnjoyAruba.com is not liable for any errors on any of the sections found here. For more detailed information, call DINA at Phone: [00 297] 5857484 or DOOV Phone: [00 297] 5843322
Fax: [00 297] 5843258