Local fees and import duties on Curacao

Once the ship has arrived in Willemstad or the plane has landed at Hato and the VAT-free products have been cleared through customs on Curacao, you will receive a message that you can pick up your shipment at our Cavalier. When picking up the goods you always have to pay the local costs. These local costs consist of the trade/customs costs plus import duties.

Currency of Curaçao – Caribbean guilder (XCG)

Since March 31, 2025, the Caribbean guilder (XCG) has been the official currency of Curaçao. All local prices on this page that were previously listed in ANG are now displayed in XCG. The Caribbean guilder has the same value as the former Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG): 1 ANG = 1 XCG.

Trade/customs charges Curacao

The handling/customs costs are the costs for taking out your shipment, checking your European or Dutch products, preparing your shipment and declaring the products to Curaçao customs so that the products may be released into free circulation. In plain language, these are the costs incurred so that you can "finally" take home the products you have been waiting for.
These costs are categorized by CIF value and/or volume/weight. The cif value stands for "Cost, Insurance, Freight." So the cif value is value of goods + any transportation insurance + transportation costs.

The handling/customs fees in XCG are as follows (excl. 6% sales tax);

Via sea freight:

-Pakket(ten)/colli met een CIF waarde minder dan <125XCG en een maximaal volume van 160L (0,16m3);
25xcg voor het eerste pakket
Elke pakket extra is 20xcg per pakket

-Package(s)/parcels with a CIF value equal to or greater than 125XCG> and a maximum volume of 160L (0.16m³);
55xcg for the first package (25.00xcg handling fee + 30.00xcg customs fee)
Each additional package is 20xcg per package

-Pakket(ten)/colli met een volume tussen de 161L> (0,161m3) en <1000L (1m3);
87.55xcg voor de eerste colli (57.55xcg handling kosten + 30.00xcg douane kosten)
Elke colli extra is 20xcg per colli

-Larger shipments via ocean freight equal to or greater than 1,000 L (1 m³);
147 x CG handling/customs fees, including the first cubic meter (1 m³)
+ 40.50 x CG per additional cubic meter (1 m³)

Via air freight:

-Package(s)/parcels with a CIF value of less than 125XCGand a maximum weight of 150KG;
25xcg for the first package
Each additional package is 20xcg per package

-Package(s)/parcels with a CIF value equal to or greater than 125XCGand a maximum weight of 150KG;
55xcg for the first package (25.00xcg handling fee + 30.00xcg customs fee)
Each additional package is 20xcg per package

-Larger air freight shipments weighing more than 150 kg>;
151.50 x CG handling/customs fees per shipment
+ 0.78 x CG per kg

Import duties Curacao

Then import duties. Import duties are the taxes on products imported from abroad. These taxes are there to create a threshold with which Curacao tries to protect its own market from products from abroad. Because of this, products from Curacao have or should have an advantage in price over products that are imported. Because almost everything comes from outside Curacao, almost every product for sale on the island faces these import duties. These import duties and import ob are always calculated on the CIF value (CIF value = value of goods + possible transport insurance + transport costs).

Below are some import duty rates (excluding 9%ob on import);

Are the correct import duties not listed here or curious about all other import duties on Curaçao? Then click here.

Example calculation

This calculation is a sample calculation in Euro`s including all costs;

Suppose you want to buy a computer or laptop from bol.com for €1,500
First of all, 21% VAT is deducted from that amount, so that alone saves you €260.33.
Bol.com offers free shipping on orders of €20 or more.
To use our Shop + Ship service , you’ll pay €63.30 for this example , including shipping to Curaçao via sea freight.
The import duties (computer 0% + 9% VAT on import) based on the CIF value are €117.27
The handling/customs fees for this package are 55.00xcg, which converts to €28.10
A 6% VAT of €1.68 is added to this amount

Total price €1450.02

Would you like more information about local costs or would like more information about our service. Get in touch via the contact page or check our website at your destination.

CAUTION! Prices, percentages and rules are indicative by 3rd party expenditure information. The customs on Curacao is in the above always final decision and we as a company in the Netherlands have no influence.