WILLEMSTAD - Due to the various measures that are being taken around the world against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Admissions Organization cannot provide the usual services to the public. As a result, residents who reside in Curaçao with a residence permit run the risk that their residence permit will lapse or has already expired. In view of the situation, the Minister of Justice extends the period in which the permit can be renewed.

Residents usually have 3 months to renew this after their residence permit has expired without consequences for their built-up residence right, the so-called tolerance period (this does not apply to rules for naturalization). This tolerance period will be extended by 3 months as of March 13, 2020. It, therefore, applies to persons whose tolerance period expired during this period of crisis.

For example, the permit of person X expires on March 13, 2019, this person has a 3-month period of tolerance, which is until June 30, 2020, but could not apply for the extension because the counters are not accessible to the public. This person will, therefore, have until September 30, 2020 to submit the renewal of his or her permit.

Stranded tourists

Tourists stranded in Curaçao who are affected by the closure of air traffic routes here and in the rest of the world should make an effort to depart as far as possible via other routes to their country of origin, as soon as this is possible. The legal residence of this group threatens to lapse. For the time being, the group is tolerated on our island. This was decided by the Minister of Justice, Quincy Girigorie.

This applies to tourists who were in their tourist residence as of March 13, 2020, and therefore legally resided in our country and are currently still staying in Curaçao without the possibility of returning to their country of origin. As soon as the opportunity arises and the crisis situation has been lifted, these tourists must travel back to their country of origin or an alternative destination, where they will not be banned from entry under normal circumstances.