The Land Registry in Curaçao: Your Guide to Buying a Home

If you're considering buying a house in Curaçao, it's important to understand the Land Registry and the public registers. This institution form the backbone of real estate transactions on the island. They ensure legal certainty and transparency, which is crucial for both buyers and sellers.

What is the Land Registry?

The Land Registry in Curaçao is responsible for registering real estate, such as land and buildings. It also manages the public registers where rights, mortgages, and liens are recorded. This registration provides clarity on property ownership and any associated restrictions.

Services of the Land Registry

1. Inspection and extracts
   Want to know who owns a plot or whether there are any mortgages on it? The Land Registry offers access to the public registers and provides extracts that contain this information.
2. Certificates
   For legal procedures or public sales, a certificate of a property can be requested. This document contains information about former and current rights holders and relevant facts about the plot.
3. Reproductions of cadastral maps
   These maps provide a visual representation of parcel boundaries and are essential for planning construction projects or resolving boundary disputes.
4. Survey documents and fieldwork
   When splitting or merging plots, or establishing apartment rights, official measurements and documents are required. The Land Registry performs these measurements and issues the necessary survey documents. A survey document is the official designation of the size of a plot and its exact location.

Legal documents and declarations

There are several 'products' you can purchase online via the website of the Land Registry in Curaçao.

Title Deed
This document shows who the current owner of a plot is. It's relevant when buying or selling property, as the correct owner must be mentioned in the purchase agreement.

Full inspection
You receive an overview of all relevant deeds and notes related to a plot, such as transfers, mortgages, and liens.

Declaration of no real estate
This declaration confirms that a person has no real estate registered in their name. It's often required when applying for leasehold land or social housing.

Building and establishment permits

When building in Curaçao, permits are mandatory:

Establishment permit: for companies wishing to establish themselves on the island.
Building permit: for constructing on a plot. This requires, among other things, a survey document, a site sketch, and building plans.

Read more about applying for a building permit on Curacao here.

Historical research and undivided estates

Historical research
The Land Registry offers the possibility to investigate the ownership history of a plot. This is important to prevent potential legal complications.

Undivided estates
An undivided estate arises when an owner dies without the property being legally divided among the heirs. This can lead to complex situations where no one has a clear title of ownership. Since 2007, legislation has made it possible to settle ownership through the court, provided certain conditions are met.

Forms of ownership: freehold, leasehold, and rented land

Freehold
With full ownership, you are the absolute owner of the land and the building. This offers the most certainty and freedom.

Leasehold
Leasehold is a long-term lease of land, usually issued by the government. You pay an annual fee and have the right to use the land as if you were the owner.

Rented land
Rented land is less common and offers less security. You rent the land for a short period and have limited rights.

Read more about all forms of ownership in our article: Freehold, leasehold, and rented land in Curaçao: what’s the difference?

Contact details Land Registry Curaçao

Address: Pres. Romulo Bethancourt Blvd. #4, Willemstad, Curaçao
Phone: (599-9) 461-1188
Email: info@kadaster.cw
Website: www.kadaster.cw
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 07:30 - 11:30 and 13:30 - 16:30, Friday 07:30 - 11:30 and 13:30 - 16:00

For counter visits, an appointment is required. Make an appointment via this link.

Need help buying a house in Curaçao?

At International Fine Living, we’re here to guide you through every step of the buying process. From finding the perfect home to navigating the legal details, we make sure your experience is smooth and worry-free.
Contact us today for personalized advice.

International Fine Living does its best to inform people buying or selling a house in Curaçao as thoroughly as possible. However, our time is limited, and we may not always be able to publish the latest updates. We therefore always recommend verifying the provided information with the relevant authorities or companies; no rights can be derived from the accuracy of the information. To other real estate agents in Curaçao: all our texts are copyrighted. It is not permitted to copy texts or parts thereof. However, anyone is welcome to place a link to our blog.