License applications

Welcome to the Section for Applying for a Business License

Dear client,

We are pleased to announce that in order to facilitate your application for a business license, we are now offering the use of digital forms (e-Forms). Our goal is to facilitate you through this process in the most efficient way possible. You can apply for a business license from the comfort of your office or home on a 24/7 basis, however in order to accomplish this we will require your cooperation. We ask you to read the instructions carefully before starting to fill in the e-Forms. This will allow you to have all the needed documents scanned and ready to add to your digital application.

Once your application is submitted and reviewed by our business advisors you will be informed if your application and documents submitted are complete and accurate. If your application is not complete and accurate you will be informed of what was missing and you can submit a new application when you are ready. If your request is complete you will receive an email with the payment information. You will have 10 working days to complete the payment and submit the proof of payment. When you have completed the payment, the process of evaluation starts and you will be informed of the result on average in 3 weeks depending on the type of request and/or business. Keep in mind that business requests in the health, aviation and tourism accommodation sector will require more time as we need to receive advise from other government departments.

Amendment “Business Licensing Ordinance” with the introduction of Book 2 on Legal Entities in the Civil Code of Aruba

In connection with the introduction as of January 1, 2021 of Book 2 on Legal Entities in the Civil Code of Aruba, the “Business Licensing Ordinance” has been amended insofar as it concerns what is stated in article 1, second paragraph, and all other articles, where the words “Aruba Exempt companies” has become due, and “cooperative associations” have been replaced by “cooperatives”.

It has also been determined that the aforementioned companies, i.e. the “Aruba Exempt Company”, must change their articles of association at the next amendment of the articles of association, at the latest within three years thereafter (as of 1 January 2024), in accordance with the provisions stated in that book, by converting it into a company with limited liability or another legal form”.

In connection with the abovementioned, the “Business Licensing Guidelines” have been amended and where the words “Aruba Exempt Companies” or abbreviated to “A.V.V.” or “AVV” are mentioned, have been deleted.

Video Tutorials

Please find below video tutorials (in Papiamento) that covers the process of application for a business license.

Video Tutorials in Papiamento

Application for licenses in accordance with the Business Licensing Ordinance

Check the following information before you fill in and send the webform

On DEACI’s website you can find General Information about the establishment of a business on Aruba. For more (general) information you can make an appointment.
In the Business Licensing Guidelines you will find established general rules that are applicable for the granting (or not) of a license under the Business Licensing Ordinance.
In the Document List, you will find a list of required documents and information to be submitted with the application. These are necessary to be able to evaluate the request. In special cases additional documents need to be submitted.
If entitled party (ies) (participants) need a document from the “Registry Office and Population Register Aruba”, we will consult this digitally in the Censo register. However, you will be charged the relevant costs.
If a document is written in a language other than Dutch, English or Spanish, a translation must be submitted from a sworn translator or a translator on Aruba.
The required documents, legible and valid, need first to be scanned, separately, in PDF only and saved before you fill in the E-form.
It is important that all questions and information be answered correctly and completely.

DEACI specified standard business objectives

List of standard business objectives
An interview is needed only if you desire another objective than the listed business types/activities described by the DEACI. You will receive an e-mail or a call for an appointment if an interview is needed.
For each business address the activities to be developed must be as related as possible to each other.
In all cases you must take into account an adequate location, in accordance with the requirements of the “National Ordinance on Spatial Development”.
The requested business objectives will be mentioned as such in the license to be granted.
The Ministerial decree (decision) regarding the application will be in the Dutch language.

Process for submitting the digital application - Eform

The application must contain information about the entitled parties (participants), the business address, a description of the business activity and all the required attachments.
If your request is incomplete, you will receive an e-mail with the details of the missing documents. You must submit a new application.
If your application is complete, you will receive an e-mail with information about the payment of the fees owed, in accordance with the DEACI Legal Fee Decree.
You must send the relevant payment receipt back, by replying on the link of the received e-mail. If you do not submit the proof of payment within ten (10) working days, then your application will be considered not complete and you must submit a new application, as no request will be processed until proof of payment has been submitted.
If when processing the application some information is still missing or incorrect, this will be requested as a supplement via your mentioned contact-email.

Procedure process

In anticipation of the introduction of the data protection law (privacy legislation) you are informed that the application with information attachments will be send digitally to several external authorities/department to request their advice in accordance with the Business Licensing Ordinance and the Business Licensing Guidelines or for information purposes. These external local authorities include the Chamber of Commerce, the “Bureau Interne Diensten” (BID), the Labor and Research Department, the Aruba Security Service, the Technical Inspection Service, the Departamento di Integracion, Maneho y Admission di Stranhero (DIMAS), The department for Infrastructure Management and Planning (DIP), the Ministry of Tourism, the Public Health Care Department or the Department of Aviation.

Disclaimer

Paying the required fee (according to DEACI Legal Fee Decree) does not mean that the requested business establishment license will be granted.

The interested party is aware of the Business Licensing Guidelines, in particular with regard to the (physical) location of the business pursuant to the Regional development ordinance (Lvo. Ruimtelijke Ontwikkelingsplan en voorschriften (ROPv)). If a request does not meet these guidelines, it will be rejected.

It must also be taken into account that other permits/licenses or requirements may be required based on other regulations. In the event of uncertainty, it is recommended to contact the competent department for more information.