To be eligible for a $10 reduced rate or a full exemption, supporting documents must be presented to the agents at the airport or seaport. Below is a list of all supporting documents required for each category. If the supporting documents are invalid, incorrect, and/or cannot be presented, the full fee of $75 must be paid.
1. Children 12 years of age and younger
- A passport
2. Residents of Bonaire
- A valid Bonairean ID card (SEDULA)
OR
- An extract from the Population Register that is no older than 3 months
3. Residents of the other 5 islands of the former Netherlands Antilles (Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten)
- A valid ID card (SEDULA)
OR
- An extract from the Population Register of the island where you are a resident that is no older than 3 months
4. Non-resident Children Born on the BES Islands
- Passport, born on one of the BES islands (Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius)
OR
- A birth certificate showing that you were born within the Kingdom and that one of your parents was born on one of the BES islands. A detailed extract from the Population Register for one of your parents, listing both the parent’s birth details and your birth details, may also serve as proof.
OR
- A “Not Applicable” (NVT) Statement from the IND.
This statement is issued by the IND to visitors who meet the definition of an “Island Child” according to the IND’s flowchart.
A “Not Applicable” (NVT) Statement can be requested online here.
If the statement was requested before departure to Bonaire, a refund of $65 for the tourist tax paid upon entry can be requested within 6 months of receiving the statement via taxsupport@bonairevisitortax.com. The statement must be picked up in person at the IND office on Bonaire after 2 weeks and is valid for life.
5. Bonairean students studying abroad
A) Students who fall under the definition of the BES Student Financial Aid Act;
1) receive BES student financial aid pursuant to the BES Student Financial Aid Act;
or
2) receive student financial aid under the Student Financial Aid Act 2000 and have been granted a startup allowance as referred to in the BES Student Financial Aid Act;
Receive a certificate of exemption from RCN Student Financial Aid (OCW) each academic year.
This certificate is sufficient to obtain an exemption from the tourist tax, along with a passport to prove that the certificate belongs to the student in question;
B) Students who do not fall under the definition of the BES Student Finance Act require additional supporting documents to obtain an exemption:
- Proof of enrollment at an educational institution (full-time program of at least one year)
- Passport (student must be no older than 30 years of age at the start of the program and must have been born on the BES islands)
If not born on the BES Islands:
- Proof that at least one parent or guardian is a resident of Bonaire (proof of the parent/guardian-child relationship [birth certificate or guardianship order] and proof of the parent’s or guardian’s registration in Bonaire (residence certificate or extract from the population register no older than 3 months.
Tip: Children may also be listed on a detailed extract from the population register; in that case, a birth certificate is not required)
OR
- Proof that you are an “Eilandskind” through a Declaration of Non-Applicability from the IND.
A Declaration of Non-Applicability can be requested online here.
Tip: If the declaration is requested before departing for Bonaire, you can request a refund of the $75 tourist tax paid upon entry within 6 months of receiving the Declaration of Non-Applicability via taxsupport@bonairevisitortax.com The certificate must be picked up in person at the IND office on Bonaire after two weeks and is valid for life.
