I plan to move to Aruba and work there for the rest of my life....

[islandguy32]

....and I'm looking for some information. I know many of these questions have been asked again and again, so I'll avoid being overly repetitive with my inquiries.

First off, let me say, that I understand (somewhat) how the process works for getting a job over there. If a potential employer wants to hire you, first they must seek locally for someone to fill the spot, and if they don't, you could be offered the job and, I believe, the employer will take care of the work permit for you (at your own expense).

Okay, so with that out of the way...let me just say, that while I've got designs on starting a business down there in the future, to begin, I would just like to work at a resort.

So my question to you folks, who know and love Aruba, is: do resorts even hire foreigners, or are those jobs not so readily available? Does it help me any that I have a Dutch passport, and speak both English and Dutch? I plan to learn Papiamento when I'm on the island, but that will take some time.

Any and all info will be greatly appreciated,


Derek

[Jarubian]

FAQ's: Jobs/Moving/Living/Business in Aruba
http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/permanent%20residency.html Permanent Residency

http://www.arubachamber.com/relocation.htm Relocation to Aruba
"Temporary or Permanent Work Permit
Any foreigner who wants to exercise a profession/occupation must have a work permit to do so. The work permit will normally be granted only if there are no qualified persons locally available. In general, requests for work permits will only be taken into consideration if submitted through a local employer, who has to accept full responsibility for any possible expenses to be incurred by the government relative to its employees. For a trainee position or internship a special work permit is required.

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 (unless a tourist) should not travel to or be on the island pending a request for a residence and/or work permit."

http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/jobs.html Jobs in Aruba

http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/moving+to+aruba.html Moving to Aruba

http://www.aruba.com/forum/f34/openning-bank-account-aruba-33983/ Opening a bank account in Aruba

http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/shipping%20car.html Shipping A Car to Aruba

http://www.arubachamber.com/establishing.htm Establishing a Business in Aruba
See details regarding "authorized capital" or "so-called minimum issued capital."

http://www.arubachamber.com/tips.htm Helpful Tips for Entrepreneurs
"Permits to Establish a Business:
As an Aruban you do not need a permit to establish a business in Aruba, when it concerns a sole proprietorship. You still need to register your business in the Commercial Register at the Chamber. If you are not an Aruban born Dutch national, you always need a permit to establish a business. Whether you will receive a permit depends on what sort of business you intend to start. The main criteria are if the business provides enlargement of the economic basis and if it is capital intensive."

Additional resources:
http://www.cbaruba.org/ Centrale Bank van Aruba (Aruba's Central Bank)
http://www.arubachamber.com/ Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aruba
http://www.catcaruba.com/ Caribbean Accounting & Tax Consultants
http://www.dimasaruba.com/ Departamento di Integracion, Maneho y Admision di Stranhero (DIMAS)
http://www.gobiklaw.com/publications/index.html Publications Gomez & Bikker Law Offices
http://www.gobiklaw.com/publications/english/pub_eng_2.html Business and Environment in Aruba
http://www.gobiklaw.com/publications/english/pub_eng_3.html Entry and Residence in Aruba

Moving to Aruba FAQ
Aruba Real Estate Services
Mortgages in Aruba & Requirements
Relocation to Aruba
Aruba Real Estate
Aruba Yellow Pages Online Listings for Real Estate Agents
Aruba Real Estate - Search Real Estate for Sale in Aruba

There are some other links to realtor's websites here.

connecting to electricity/water/cable tv/internet

Property tax
Aruba Taxes & Costs
Liability for Taxation
Capital Gains

ULILITY
Water >>
Electricity >>
Telephone >>
Internet Connection >>
Gas (Cooking) >>
Cable >>
DirecTV >>
TAXES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT CHARGES
Long-lease fee >>
Property transfer tax >>Real estate property tax >>
Car taxes >> Tax Deductions >>
Duties >>
OTHERS
Notary costs >>
House insurance >>Household appliances >>
Retiring in Aruba >>Owning a home in Aruba >>

[islandguy32]

Thanks, but I've already read all that...my question remains. Are the resort jobs only given to the locals? Does speaking Dutch help?

[Andrea J.]

no not all of the resort jobs are given to aruban residents

that being said, being aruban helps, speaking dutch helps, spanish, english and papiemento helps too

do not count on being able to work on aruba....................non arubans, non dutch are way way down the list of work permit issuees.

a friend of mine (an aruban) told me "you have a better chance of getting into heaven than a work permit in aruba"

andrea

[islandguy32]

But I am Dutch...? Surely thats got to count for something? Between having a Dutch passport, speaking Dutch, and hopefully some spanish or papiamento before I get there, surely that's would help out my employability down there?


I dont have my heart set on Aruba necessarily. It would be a wonderful option, but I've considered some of the other Dutch islands as well.

[lizzardo]

I will tell you to expect nothing or plan nothing until after the elections are over on Sept 25th. The new government tends to change all the rules and what you may have "assumed " before may not be true with the new gov't.

Also there is big concern with the Valero closing about the number of working permits granted. That is a big topic among who's running of office.

[islandguy32]

Originally Posted by lizzardo

I will tell you to expect nothing or plan nothing until after the elections are over on Sept 25th. The new government tends to change all the rules and what you may have "assumed " before may not be true with the new gov't.

Also there is big concern with the Valero closing about the number of working permits granted. That is a big topic among who's running of office.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep my eye on the election. Is there a site you could suggest that would keep me posted on such things? I'm completely ignorant to the politics of Aruba right now. Hope to change that.

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by islandguy32

Thanks for the info. I'll keep my eye on the election. Is there a site you could suggest that would keep me posted on such things? I'm completely ignorant to the politics of Aruba right now. Hope to change that.

http://www.diario.aw/
www.diarioaruba.com/
http://www.24ora.com/

Sorry they are in Papiamento.

[Arubalisa]

Dutch citizens sent back home
10 Sep, 2009, 08:31 (GMT -04:00)
http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_62271.php

ORANJESTAD — Since the end of last month, there is considerable unrest among the European Dutch citizens after the immigration refused them entry onto the island. It concerns Dutch citizens who have exceeded the maximum stay of 180 days per calendar year. This never occurred before. Since the implementation of the new computer system, the immigration can simply keep track of how long the Dutch citizens stay on the island.

Those exceeding the 180 days will therefore be expelled. Another problem is the lack of clarity on the residence regulation. In the Immigration Policy for Foreigners, it states that European Dutch citizens may stay on the island for 180 consecutive days per calendar year. The regulation that was employed, was that someone was allowed to stay on Aruba for a maximum of 180 days, and subsequently had to leave the island for thirty days, and return afterwards – without any problem at all – to stay another 180 days on Aruba. This has been changed recently, the immigration organization of the government, Dimas, finally admits.

In first instance, a co-worker of Dimas stated that the rule of 180 days on Aruba, and thirty days off, was still in force. The supervisor of the immigration department at the airport is contradicting this message. He argues that a European Dutch citizen is allowed to stay for 180 days per twelve months. “That has always been the case, but nobody ever checked it.”

The supervisor continues, “Before the new computer system, we had to count the days with the help of the stamps in the passports. This was not done. Now we have a new system which makes this control easier.”

After 1½ week, Dimas is finally capable of providing clarity. According to adjunct director Ayesha Staring-Engelbrecht, it is indeed since recently that the immigration has been counting the number of days that person had been on the island. “No one without a permit may stay on the island longer than 180 days per calendar year”, says Engelbrecht.

Engelbrecht also explains that according to the government, the calendar year starts on the first day that someone arrives on Aruba. “It could therefore also start in August.” This confused among the European Dutch citizens as they think that a calendar year runs from January up to and including December. Engelbrecht said that she currently has contact with ‘a number’ of Dutch citizens who have also encountered this situation. The adjunct director said she had ‘come up with a solution’ for these people so that they could still stay on Aruba longer than the 180 days. However, this group must be in the possession of a so-called ‘renteniersbrief’ (letter confirming this person is living off private means).

“It is true, that the control on the 180 days-rule should have been communicated better”, said Engelbrecht. “It is an uncongenial measure, but I do want everyone to respect the current rules.”

According to the immigration department, the Immigration Policy for Foreigners from November 2007 has changed since last month. Upon inquiry with Engelbrecht, it appeared that there was only a document stating the admission requirements for tourist. The document was dated September 8th, the day before yesterday. In this document, the word ‘consecutive’ – which had always led to an interpretation difference between the duped European Dutch citizens and the government – has been deleted. Based on the aforementioned, the Dutch citizens thought that after 180 days on Aruba and thirty days abroad, they could return to Aruba; this was actually tolerated for more than ten years until last month.

No sunny Christmas
The group or European Dutch citizens, has meanwhile started a discussion on the internet. From this and other reactions, which the editorial office received, it appears that the duped are not anxious to sound the alarm with the government, especially for fear of ‘retaliation’. “We only bring money to the island”, is one of the reactions. Others also wonder why Aruba is so strict, as they do not make use of the social provisions. Many have a second home here, and remain registered as well as insured in the Netherlands.

A married couple with a second home says, “Upon arrival on Aruba, the immigration counted the number of days that we’ve been here. The plan was to return around Christmas, but now we don’t know. I really wouldn’t know what to do, if I return at Christmas, and there’s a chance that I’ll be sent back.” Another reaction, “We regularly visit Aruba, but now we do not know what we’re up against; actually we dare not visit the Dimas or phone the Customs, like we say… ‘Let sleeping dogs lie.”

[lizzardo]

Again - this all might change after the elections - so don't freak out yet.