Organization : Department of Economic Affairs
Type of Facility : Business License
Country: Aruba
Website : http://www.arubaeconomicaffairs.aw/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=2&Itemid=58
Business License:
The division Businesses License receives and processes petitions:
** to establish business in Aruba,
** to change an existing license and,
** to act as director of a Limited Liability Company.
Related : Chamber of Commerce & Industry Permits For Businesses Aruba : www.statusin.org/9441.html
According to the Ordinance on the establishment of businesses, everyone requires a license to establish a Limited Liability Company in Aruba. Besides this a foreigner needs a license to establish other types of businesses as well.
Businesses, in which no large investment is involved and no specific know-how is required, are reserved for local entrepreneurs. Furthermore, a director’s license is needed for the company’s foreign managing director.
A petition for a business license, a director’s license, to relocate a business or to change the objective of an established business in accordance with the “Establishment
Ordinance for Enterprises” has to be directed to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Social Affairs & Culture at the attention of the Director of the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry (DEACI), located in the 2nd floor of Sun Plaza Building, L.G. Smith Boulevard no. 160, Oranjestad, Aruba.
The legal representative has to fill out an application form, in the Dutch language. To be taken into consideration this petition should be submitted, together with a receipt stamp of AWG 4.00, a receipt of prepayment for the legal dues, and according to the guidelines, together with all the required documents, at abovementioned department.
As of September 1, 2009 (according Legesbesluit Directie Economische Zaken, Handel en Industrie 2009, AB 2009 no. 74, AB 2010 no. 104) it is required to pay the legal dues in advance to submission of petition. Without payment of the corresponding fees, the petition is not accepted.
The procedure for prepayment is as follows:
1. Present at the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce & Industry, with corresponding petition and necessary documents, to obtain a declaration to be able to make the payment.
2. You can pay immediately, at our office with your Bank Debit Card, or pay corresponding amount at your bank account on the bank account of the Department of Finance, or pay online with internet banking (confirmation received).
3. Present proof of payment at the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry for the processing of permit to initiate.
When introducing the petition, the legal representative of the business has to give additional information on the application to be submitted.
As stated in the law, the Chamber of Commerce has an advisory task in this procedure and a similar invitation may also be received from the Chamber.
Only after mentioned interview(s) and after having received the advice of the Chamber of Commerce, the DEACI can make a decision regarding the petition.
For any additional information, please contact the helpdesk at 297- 5821181 ext. 276.
Business Licensing Guidelines:
You can read the Guidelines on this page or download the Guidelines.
Definitions for the application of the guidelines:
Locals A person born in Aruba holding the Dutch nationality or a person nationalized as a Dutch citizen in Aruba and is 18 years or older and who does not require a business license to establish and/or operate a business in Aruba.
Category A :
A natural person with (long-standing) ties to Aruba but is required to retain a business license, as well as a legal person in possession of the required license pursuant to the “Vestigingsverordening Bedrijven” (Business Licensing Ordinance).
Category B :
All others
A person falls into category A when:
a) he is a foreign born Dutch national residing in Aruba for at least 5 years and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba, and are also in possession of an admission permit for an indefinite period of time or a statement of admission pursuant to the “Landsverordening toelating, uitzetting en verwijdering” (Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance).
b) he is a foreign born to at least one parent who is an Aruban born Dutch citizen and can provide proof by means of official documents.
c) he is a foreigner residing in Aruba for at least 10 years and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba and are also in possession of an admission permit for an indefinite period of time pursuant to the Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance.
d) he is a foreign born Dutch national residing in Aruba for at least 3 years and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba, and are also married to an Aruban born Dutch citizen for at least 1 year and can provide proof by means of official documents, and are in possession of a valid admission permit without a work ban or are of legal residence pursuant to the Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance.
e) he is a foreign born Dutch national residing in Aruba for at least 1 year and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba, and are also married to an Aruban born Dutch citizen for at least 3 years and can provide proof by means of official documents, and are in possession of a valid admission permit without a work ban or are of legal residence pursuant to the Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance.
f) he is a foreigner residing in Aruba for at least 5 years and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba, and are also married to an Aruban born Dutch citizen for at least 3 years and can provide proof by means of official documents, and are in possession of a valid admission permit without a work ban or are of legal residence pursuant to the Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance.
g) he is a foreigner residing in Aruba for at least 3 years and can provide proof by means of a Statement of Registration issued by the Population Register of Aruba, and are also married to an Aruban born Dutch citizen for at least 5 years and can provide proof by means of official documents, and are in possession of a valid admission permit without a work ban or are of legal residence pursuant to the Admittance, deportation and removal ordinance