Guide to Doing Business
in Saba

Dutch citizens

Regulations regarding Dutch citizens to whom the WTU-BES equally applies are rather flexible. They may reside within the BES islands as a tourist for six months during a period of one year (the so-called free term). During this period it is allowed to look for a job and make enquiries with regard to envisaged residence in the BES islands. In principle, during such a tourist stay it is prohibited to perform paid work for a period exceeding three months. In case it is intended to perform work within the BES islands for a period exceeding three months (commencing on the day of arrival within the BES islands), or in case the envisaged stay is longer than six months, an application for admission by right must be filed. It should be noted that the applicable time limits must be observed by the Dutch citizen himself.

An application for admission by right is granted to Dutch citizens under the following conditions:

• Certificate of good conduct;
• Housing;
• Sufficient means of support.

Please note that a Kingdom Act pertaining to the movement of persons within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Rijkswet Personenverkeer) is expected to be adopted shortly. Admission by right for Dutch citizens as laid down in the WTU-BES will become ineffective as it will be covered by the Kingdom Act. However, due to some (political) controversial elements in this Act, it is unclear when it will be adopted.

End of permission by right

Admission by right ends in case the purpose for which admission by right was granted has ended. With regard to the foreign nationals who (i) are born within the BES islands, (ii) have reached the age of sixteen and (iii) have had continuous admission to the BES islands from birth, admission by right ends in case of a continuous stay outside of the BES islands for a period of three years or longer for other reasons than medical treatment or educational purposes.