The Netherlands Antilles – a group of five islands in the eastern Caribbean – is one of the best-kept secrets in the world of alternative residence and second passports.

These tropical islands form an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And they simply aren’t well known in the United States. But if you qualify for and maintain legal residence on one of these islands, there’s a big payoff after five years. You’re eligible to apply for citizenship and a passport from the Netherlands, a member of the European Union.

With a Dutch passport, you have visa-free access to more than 120 countries including Canada, Mexico and the USA. You can live or work anywhere in the EU. And unless you choose to live in the Netherlands, you won’t be subject to Dutch taxes. For U.S. citizens or long-term residents considering expatriation, a Dutch passport provides a first-class alternative travel document that can be used virtually anywhere in the world.

The Netherlands Antilles consists of two groups of islands: Curaçao and Bonaire, off the Venezuelan coast, and St Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten, located southeast of the Virgin Islands.

Aruba, also off the Venezuelan coast, while still part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is no longer part of the Netherlands Antilles. And indeed, the Netherlands Antilles confederation is slated to dissolve as a unified political entity on December 15, 2008.

At that time, the five islands are scheduled to attain new constitutional status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This is a positive development, because it will eliminate an increasingly redundant and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy between the Netherlands and each constituent island.

Each one of these islands has its own character: from bustling St. Maarten to sleepy Saba. On some of the islands, Dutch is widely spoken. On others, English as well as a regional language called Papiamento are more commonly heard.

To qualify for residence in the Netherlands Antilles, you must demonstrate that you’re in good health, of good moral character, and provide evidence of financial self-sufficiency. Since the permitting process is arduous (for starters, most forms are in Dutch), it’s extremely helpful to have assistance from an intermediary.

Representatives of The Nestmann Group have experience in obtaining these types of permits, so we can assist with this process. We can also provide guidance for choosing the most appropriate island for residence, depending on your unique requirements.

For more information on obtaining residence in the Netherlands Antilles, contact The Nestmann Group, Ltd. at info@nestmann.com.