Alcohol regulations in Curaçao

Licences needed

Business establishment permit (vestigingsvergunning), operational/nuisance permit (hindervergunning), and excise registration under the Landsverordening accijns op gedistilleerd

Authority

Ministry of Economic Development (Ministerie van Economische Ontwikkeling - MEO) and Douane Curaçao (Ministry of Finance)

Documents

not confirmed

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Registered local businesses holding a Chamber of Commerce (KVK) registration, a business establishment permit, a CRIB tax number, and a wholesale liquor licence (grossiersvergunning) under the Vergunningslandsverordening to sell spirits in bulk

Licences or registrations

KVK registration, CRIB number, vestigingsvergunning, and grossiersvergunning (wholesale licence for quantities over 2 litres)

Authority

Ministry of Economic Development (MEO / Loket Vergunningen) and Douane Curaçao

Documents

Single Administrative Document (Enig Document - ED) import declaration, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

not confirmed

Process

No US-style COLA brand/label pre-approval system is confirmed; imported food and beverages are subject to general public health and food safety oversight (Warenlandsverordening)

Authority

Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN)

Documents and samples

not confirmed

Fees

not confirmed

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

There is no state import monopoly. Commercial imports require filing an Enig Document (ED) declaration with Douane Curaçao (typically via a licensed customs broker/expediteur) along with a CRIB tax number. Non-resident travellers aged 18+ may bring 1 litre of spirits (>22% ABV) duty-free (residents receive half the allowance).

Assessed under HS heading 2208 of the Landsverordening tarief van invoerrechten (Customs Tariff Ordinance, updated via the 2024 tax revision bill); exact current tariff rate per litre or percentage is not confirmed.

Spirits are subject to specific excise duty (accijns op gedistilleerd) per hectolitre of 100% pure alcohol at 15°C under the Landsverordening accijns op gedistilleerd, plus import sales tax (Omzetbelasting - OB) levied at import and on domestic supply (exact current rates not confirmed).

Private sector system with no state monopoly. Under the Vergunningslandsverordening, retail and hospitality sales require specific licences: slijterijvergunning (off-premise retail of strong liquor in closed bottles), grossiersvergunning (wholesale), tapvergunning (bars/on-premise strong and weak alcohol), hotelvergunning, restaurantvergunning, or bierhuis-/koffiehuisvergunning (weak alcohol up to 21% ABV). Licensees must visibly display their permit, licensee name, licence type, and age prohibition outside the main entrance. Spirits and wine are widely sold in supermarkets, wholesale clubs, and liquor stores.

Allowed for licensed retailers and wholesalers subject to verifying the 18+ minimum purchase age; specific e-commerce delivery restrictions are not confirmed.

Regulated under general commodity/food rules; specific mandatory language or alcohol health warning text on bottles is not confirmed.

No comprehensive statutory ban on alcohol advertising is confirmed; sales and promotions targeting minors under 18 are restricted.

Under Article 1 of the Vergunningslandsverordening, 'sterke drank' (strong liquor/spirits) is defined as: (a) any beverage containing more than 21% alcohol by volume at 15°C, and (b) unblended distilled alcoholic beverages as well as liqueurs and bitters regardless of strength. 'Zwak-alcoholische drank' (weak alcoholic beverage) includes beer, wine, and other beverages with 21% ABV or less at 15°C. Specific statutory definitions for individual spirit categories (whisky, rum, gin, vodka) are not confirmed.

No dry areas exist. Public drinking on beaches, parks, and streets is generally permitted, with restrictions in government buildings, airports, and public transport.

• In February 2024, the Ministry of Finance submitted the Ontwerplandsverordening herziening en reparatie belastingverordeningen 2024 to the Parliament (Staten) of Curaçao, updating the 496-page customs tariff schedule (Bijlage bij de Landsverordening tarief van invoerrechten).
• In March 2025, Curaçao replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG/NAf) with the Caribbean guilder (XCG) at parity (1 USD = 1.79 XCG), affecting the currency denomination of customs duties, excises, and licence fees.

Curaçao's thriving tourism sector, cruise port, and permissive hospitality environment create steady demand for imported premium spirits, rums, whiskies, and cocktail liqueurs. Exporters can access the market through private local wholesalers and supermarket importers without facing state monopolies or complex brand registration barriers.

• Douane Curaçao (Customs Administration)
• Ministerie van Economische Ontwikkeling (MEO) / Loket Vergunningen
• Government of Curaçao (Gobiernu di Kòrsou)