Curaçao: What Buying Property Costs in 2026

Closing costs on a Curaçao home are about 5% to 6% of the price, led by a 4% transfer tax paid by the buyer, as at October 2026. There is no foreign-buyer surcharge.

Key takeaways

Transfer tax: 4% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer at the notary.
Notary and registry: Notary fees are 1% to 2%, and land registry fees about US$450 according to one 2026 agency.
No surcharge: Foreign buyers pay the same as residents and need no permit, unlike islands that charge 10% to 12.5% licence fees.
Annual tax: Property tax (OZB) is about 0.4% to 0.6% of assessed value, or 0.3% to 0.6% in another source.
Capital gains: Agencies say private owners pay no capital gains tax on a home.

Legal framework

Curaçao is an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (since 10 October 2010), with its own parliament, prime minister and courts. Foreign policy and defence are Kingdom matters. Residents hold Dutch nationality, but Curaçao is outside the European Union and the Schengen Area. The currency is the Caribbean guilder, which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder on 31 March 2025 at 1.79 to the US dollar. In practice, the notary collects the transfer tax at closing, usually after a 10% deposit and six to twelve weeks of checks.

Key facts

Legal framework: Curaçao is an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (since 10 October 2010), with its own parliament, prime minister and courts. Foreign policy and defence are Kingdom matters. Residents hold Dutch nationality, but Curaçao is outside the European Union and the Schengen Area. The currency is the Caribbean guilder, which replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder on 31 March 2025 at 1.79 to the US dollar. (Verified)
Transfer tax: 4% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer (Corroborated)
Notary fees: about 1% to 2% of the price, plus surcharges (Corroborated)
Land registry fees: about US$450 (2026 agency) or 0.5% to 1% of the price (older agency) (Disputed)
Appraisal for a mortgage: US$300 to US$500 (Estimate)
Annual property tax (OZB): about 0.4% to 0.6% of assessed value, or 0.3% to 0.6% (Disputed)
Capital gains tax on a private home: none, according to agencies (Estimate)
Agent commission: 2% to 3%, typically split (Estimate)
Mortgages for non-residents: local banks lend; typically a 30% to 40% down payment (Estimate)
Erfpacht: 60-year government lease with an annual canon; no figure was found (Corroborated)

What buying costs

In Curaçao, the buyer pays a 4% transfer tax on the purchase price at the notary. Notary fees run at about 1% to 2%, and agencies add surcharges for the deed work. After the sale, the property is registered at the land registry, with fees quoted at about US$450 by a 2026 agency and 0.5% to 1% of the price by an older one. A mortgage appraisal costs US$300 to US$500. Agent commission is typically 2% to 3%, often split. Foreign buyers pay exactly the same as residents, and no permit is needed, which one agency contrasts with islands that charge licence fees of 10% to 12.5%.

What owners pay each year

Annual property tax (OZB) is about 0.4% to 0.6% of assessed value in most agencies' figures and 0.3% to 0.6% in one, on progressive rates. Private owners pay no capital gains tax on a home, according to several agencies. If the property is on erfpacht land, an annual canon applies, and no figure for it was found. Mortgages from local banks to non-residents typically need a 30% to 40% down payment.

What it costs to live there

No reliable cost-of-living data for Curaçao was found in this research, so none is given. A Dutch real estate adviser notes that water, electricity, internet and property tax are the main fixed outgoings, and that air conditioning and electric boilers drive electricity costs. Ask local agents and residents for current figures.

Worked example: closing costs on a US$750,000 purchase

Transfer tax at 4% is US$30,000. Notary fees at 1% to 2% are US$7,500 to US$15,000, and land registry fees about US$450 on the 2026 agency's figure. The total is about US$37,950 to US$45,450, or 5.1% to 6.1%. This is our calculation from agency figures, not a published total.

Where sources disagree

Land registry fees: about US$450 (2026 agency) against 0.5% to 1% of the price (older agency).
Property tax: about 0.4% to 0.6% against 0.3% to 0.6%. Ask the notary or tax office for the assessed value and rate on the property.
Capital gains tax: several agencies say none for a private home. Confirm with a Curaçao tax adviser, particularly for rental or business use.

Who this suits, and who it does not

Suits: Buyers who want a licence-free purchase, a predictable 5% to 6% closing cost and Dutch-style property law.

Does not suit: Buyers who need exact land registry and property tax figures in advance, or who plan to rent the property commercially without taking tax advice.

Questions and answers

How much is transfer tax in Curaçao?

Transfer tax is 4% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer at the notary.

How much are closing costs when buying property in Curaçao?

About 5% to 6% of the price: 4% transfer tax, 1% to 2% notary fees and land registry fees.

Do foreigners pay more to buy property in Curaçao?

No. Foreign buyers pay the same as residents, and no permit is needed.

How much is property tax in Curaçao?

Annual property tax (OZB) is about 0.4% to 0.6% of assessed value, or 0.3% to 0.6% in another source.

Is there capital gains tax on property in Curaçao?

Several agencies say private owners pay no capital gains tax on a home. Confirm this with a tax adviser.

Related guides

About the data

Figures are the latest available as of October 2026. Next review due January 2027.
This guide draws on 7 sources: 7 agency, adviser or other published source.
4 figure(s) are marked Estimate and 2 Disputed; see Where sources disagree.
Fact statuses: Verified means stated by a primary or official source (Verified (see note) adds a caveat). Corroborated means several independent sources agree, but no primary source was found. Estimate means a single source, an agency figure or an asking price. Disputed means sources conflict. Calculated by Pan Caribbean means our own arithmetic from the figures shown.

Sources and checks

Caribbean House Hunt: Curaçao buyer's guide (agency, adviser or other published source)
Second Home in Curaçao: tax implications (agency, adviser or other published source)
Moret Real Estate: costs of buying a home in Curaçao (agency, adviser or other published source)
Sebastian Sauerborn: Curaçao tax guide (agency, adviser or other published source)
Caribbean Island Living: Curaçao (agency, adviser or other published source)
Wigbold Real Estate: relocating to Curaçao (agency, adviser or other published source)
MTFX: guide for Canadians buying property in Curaçao (agency, adviser or other published source)

About Pan Caribbean

Pan Caribbean is a property listing portal and market data platform covering 23 markets across the Caribbean. Buyers, investors, agents and developers can search, compare and research property throughout the region, all in one place.

This guide gives general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Pan Caribbean is not an estate agent or broker and does not act in any sale or purchase. Confirm the details with a licensed local adviser before acting.

Curaçao:
What Buying Property Costs in 2026