Distillers Alcohol regulations in Curaçao
How to import or export liquor and spirits to Curaçao, how to register products and labels, the import duty and taxes, and how to get a licence to make alcohol there. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Compiled in October 2026 from the public sources listed at the bottom of this page. Duty rates, fees and rules change often: confirm with the regulator, a customs broker or local counsel before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Status
- Legal
- Legal drinking age
- 18
- Legal purchase age
- 18
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Licence to make spirits (distillery and bottling)
- 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
Import licence and registration
- 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
Product and label registration
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:…
Import rules
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…
Import duty on spirits (HS 2208)
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.
Excise and taxes
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…
Retail and distribution
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),…
Online sale and delivery
Allowed for licensed retailers and wholesalers subject to verifying the 18+ minimum purchase age; specific e-commerce delivery restrictions are not confirmed.
Labelling
Regulated under general commodity/food rules; specific mandatory language or alcohol health warning text on bottles is not confirmed.
Advertising
No comprehensive statutory ban on alcohol advertising is confirmed; sales and promotions targeting minors under 18 are restricted.
Legal definitions of spirits
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…
Dry or restricted areas
No dry areas exist. Public drinking on beaches, parks, and streets is generally permitted, with restrictions in government buildings, airports, and public transport.
Recent changes
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…
Opportunities for exporters
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…
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