Paid Employment and the TWV in the Caribbean Netherlands

A foreign employee who wants to work in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba may need two separate approvals:

  1. a residence/admission basis handled by IND-CN; and
  2. a tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV) obtained by the employer when required under the Wet arbeid vreemdelingen BES.

A residence permit is not the same thing as a TWV, and an employer's TWV does not by itself grant the worker immigration residence.

Employer recruitment comes first

RCN's current work-permit guidance is designed to protect the combined local labour market of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

Before a normal TWV application, the employer is expected to:

  • register the vacancy with the labour unit of the public entity;
  • do so at least five weeks before the TWV application;
  • actively recruit local workers;
  • advertise through at least two different media; and
  • keep the vacancy open broadly enough to give candidates a meaningful chance to apply.

Exceptions can exist, but applicants should not assume a foreign hire can bypass local recruitment.

Immigration route for the worker

Foreign nationals who want to work generally need a residence permit.

Some nationalities — including EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, United States, South Korea and Switzerland — can normally enter first and submit a fixed-term permit application without an MVV.

Many nationals from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, South/Central America and the Caribbean normally need an MVV before entry for work or a stay longer than three months.

2026 income benchmark

IND-CN states that income for paid employment should not fall below the gross island-specific minimum wage.

For a 40-hour week in 2026:

  • Bonaire: $1,852.93/month;
  • Sint Eustatius: $1,839.07/month;
  • Saba: $1,847.73/month.

These are official monthly equivalents for workers aged 21+; the actual wage obligation can depend on age and hours.

2026 immigration fee

The official 2026 IND-CN fee for paid-employment residence is $326 for:

  • MVV;
  • fixed-term residence without MVV;
  • extension; and
  • change of restriction to paid employment.

That fee is separate from any employer-side TWV process/cost and from document, translation or civil-registration expenses.

Processing

The fixed-term permit page says applicants should allow at least six months, while IND aims for three months. A 2024 service update says complete files can move much faster, but that should not be treated as a guaranteed statutory promise.

For MVV cases, the current page says to allow up to three months, with an aim of two months for a complete application.

After approval

After residence approval, the holder must register with Civil Affairs. A Sedula identity document is then produced through the local civil-registration process.

Renewal

RCN advises filing a fixed-term renewal starting four months before expiry when the residence purpose remains the same. A same-purpose extension is often around one year, but the granted term depends on the case.

If the permit expires without lawful continuation, the official guidance says the person must leave the public entities within four weeks.

Route to permanent residence

After five years or more of lawful continuous residence on qualifying fixed-term permits, a person may be eligible to apply for permanent residence, subject to the applicable conditions.

Do not assume a work permit or five calendar years alone automatically produces permanent residence.

Return to the Caribbean Netherlands immigration hub, browse visa types, explore the Caribbean region, review our methodology, and read the legal disclaimer.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba