To establish a business in Aruba, a Business License is necessary. The division Businesses License receives and processes petitions:

The division Businesses License receives and processes applications:

• to establish business in Aruba,
• to change an existing license and,
• to act as director of a Limited Liability Company.

According to the Ordinance on the establishment of businesses, everyone requires a license to establish a Limited Liability Company in Aruba. PDF Vestigingsverordening Bedrijven
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 and/or for another corporation that will act as managing director of the company. However, the statement mentioned in Article 22 of the Limited Liability Company Ordinance (Lvo. V.B.A.), regarding the legal representative and the (foreign) managing director of the company must be taken into account.
If you are born in Aruba and you have the Dutch nationality or you are nationalized as a Dutch citizen in Aruba and are 18 years or older you do not need to apply for a business license if you want to start a Sole Proprietorship (EZ) or General Partnership or to become the director of a Corporation (NV), a Limited Liability Company (VBA) or an Aruba Exempt Corporation (AVV).

However a business license is required if you are born in Aruba but you do not have the Dutch nationality, or you are not born in Aruba but you have the Dutch nationality, but you are not naturalized as a Dutch citizen in Aruba. Also a business license is required if you are not born in Aruba and you have another nationality and you want to start a Sole Proprietorship (EZ) or other legal entities such as a General Partnership (VOF), a Corporation (NV), a Limited Liability Company (VBA), an Aruba Exempt Corporation (AVV) or other legal entities.
In some cases, background screening process of the owner, partner(s), shareholder(s) and director(s) is/are required.

All applications must comply with the Business Licensing Guidelines. PDF Guidelines (This booklet will help you among other things understand the licensing requirements for your business entity type)

To be taken into consideration this petition should be submitted according to the guidelines, legal fees and, together with all the required documents and a receipt of prepayment for the legal fees.

As of September 1, 2009 according to “Legesbesluit Directie Economische Zaken, Handel en Industrie 2009”, (AB 2009 no. 74, AB 2010 no. 104) PDF Legesbesluiten it is required to pay the legal fees in advance to submit the application for the business license. Without payment of the corresponding fees, the application will not be accepted.

All application for a business license, according to the Ordinance on the establishment of businesses, has to be submitted through the following “E-form”
For more information how to submit this application you have to follow the related procedure conform.

Take into account that when introducing an application (for a new company), an interview for additional information can be taken.

Business application form
Required Documents
Office Hours
Make an appointment

As stated in the law, the Chamber of Commerce has an advisory task in this procedure.
DEACI will, depending the business activity, ask for advice from other departments/authority, like among others the Civil Aviation department, Department of Health.

Only after mentioned interview(s) and after having received the advice of the Chamber of Commerce and eventually from other departments/authorities, the DEACI can make a decision regarding the application.
An application will be approved if it complies with the Ordinance on the establishment of businesses and according with the Business licensing guidelines for the establishment of companies. PDF Guidelines

Important notes:

• Granting of license pursuant to the Business Licensing ordinance does not imply automatic approval of other required licenses.
• Pursuant to the Regional development ordinance (Lvo. Ruimtelijke Ontwikkelingsplan en voorschriften (ROPv)), all business types are required to have an adequate place of business.
• The business activities per location should be related to each other at all times.

The Business licensing ordinance is not applicable to:

• Companies in the Free zone;
• Credit institutions;
• Insurance companies;
• Trust companies;
• Vendors;
• Businesses pertaining to public law;
• Agriculture, livestock and fishery businesses (as Sole proprietorship).

For any additional information, please contact the DEACI at 297-5212400.